Bormes-les-Mimosas, from the hilltop village to the beaches

A village set back from the sea

Backed by the first slopes of the Maures and overlooking the plain and coast, old Bormes stands several kilometres from the beaches. Wooded hills surround it, while its slopes face the Mediterranean and the Hyères islands. This hilltop setting also offered protection against attacks from the sea: people took refuge on the hillside, then behind the walls of the medieval village.

Rue Carnot runs through the old village between shops and workshops. On either side, narrow lanes climb flights of steps or pass beneath houses. These covered passages, known as “cuberts”, allowed residents to move between homes without taking long detours.

Rendered façades alternate with walls built from local mica schist. Its layers and brown tones give the houses and old ramparts a different appearance from the limestone villages of inland Provence.

Saint-Trophyme and Francis of Paola

Saint-Trophyme church was built between 1775 and 1783 in a style inspired by Romanesque architecture. A sundial adorns its façade above the Georges-Pompidou forecourt. Inside, restoration work in 1999 revealed frescoes dating from the church’s construction, long hidden beneath layers of plaster.

In the late 15th century, Francis of Paola travelled through Provence to join Louis XI, who had summoned him. According to local tradition, Bormes offered him hospitality while plague closed the gates of other towns. In gratitude, the friar is said to have obtained protection for the village against the epidemic through his prayers.

The Saint-François-de-Paule chapel, built in the 16th century at the foot of the village, commemorates this episode. The painter Jean-Charles Cazin is buried in the adjoining old cemetery; his works feature in the collections of the Bormes museum.

How Bormes became “les Mimosas”

The name Bormes-les-Mimosas dates only from 1968. It recognises the importance of this tree native to Australia, acclimatised in the region’s gardens during the 19th century. Its winter blossom colours the hillsides and gardens, while greenery fills the village streets well beyond this short season.

Gonzalez Park continues this history of acclimatisation. Its terraces hold collections of Australian plants: acacias, eucalyptus, banksias and grevilleas. In the lanes, bougainvillea and other climbing plants cover façades, while trees shade the small squares.

The museum, from painters to village history

On Rue Carnot, the Bormes Museum of History and Art, or MHAB, brings together art collections and local history. Works by Jean-Charles Cazin and Henri-Edmond Cross sit alongside historical reconstructions viewed on a tablet. The visit explores the medieval village, activities along the coast and presidential stays at Brégançon. The museum terrace overlooks the plain and the sea.

From the castle at the top of the village

Above the rooftops, the castle remains recall the lordship of the Fos family. Roger de Fos settled here in 1257, in a fortified residence overlooking the village. The castle is now privately owned; its walls and tower remain visible from the surrounding area.

The village viewpoints overlook the Batailler plain, the La Favière neighbourhoods and Cap Bénat. Offshore lie the Hyères islands. From these heights, the village keeps watch over the plain and coastal beaches.

The beaches of L’Estagnol and Brégançon

South of the village, the road reaches a coast of pine woods, rocky headlands and sandy beaches. At L’Estagnol, the rounded bay shelters shallow water near the shore. Umbrella pines line the cove and separate the beach from the parking areas.

Further east, the Cabasson area and the small beach of Brégançon face the fort. Standing on a rocky islet linked to the shore, it has commanded this stretch of coast since the Middle Ages. It became an official residence of the presidents of the French Republic in 1968. Its silhouette remains visible above the sea from the beach.

The beaches of Le Lavandou, a shared history

Further east, the beaches of Le Lavandou continue this coast of bays and hills. The former fishing quarter belonged to Bormes until 1913, when it became an independent municipality.

Continue towards Giens or the mimosas of Tanneron

Towards Hyères, the Giens peninsula continues the coastal exploration with salt marshes, harbours and coastal paths. In winter, the mimosas of Tanneron offer another getaway devoted to the flowering trees, further east in the Var.

Further east, the harbour of Saint-Tropez leads from traditional pointus to racing yachts, then up to the citadel and its maritime history museum.