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The history of this place is like a fairy tale: once upon a time there were two cities. The inhabitants of one of the cities preferred living in a valley (Mouans), while the inhabitants of the other preferred living on a mountain (Sartoux). Time passed, the cities joined together and have been flourishing since then. By the way, they were joined by none other than Napoleon III, who signed a special decree in 1858.
That’s how, only 12 km from Cannes, a city appeared which today successfully combines a love for silence and beauty with a passion for art.
A perfect example of this is the art of perfumery. In many places of the Côte d’Azur, including Mouans-Sartoux, flowers are grown all the year round. Around here, people hold the secrets to composition of fragrances. Anyone who wants to comprehend these mysteries, even a child – a “perfumery school” holds workshops on a regular basis. At the same time, the Perfume Association makes sure that the rules of farming and manufacturing are observed; one of its main tasks is preservation of ecosystems, a caring attitude towards nature and creation of the appropriate environmental setting in Mouans-Sartoux and its surrounding. There is a reason why Mouans-Sartoux has been awarded the Blue Flag, Clean Water Certificate, the First National Environmental Policy Award and an Honorary Diploma for the landscapes and beauty of France protection.
One more example is a passion for reading. Mouans-Sartoux is the traditional venue of the annual Book Fair. What is most important in the opinion of the Festival’s organizers is the movement for human freedom, safety of life and a clean planet. Everyone who dislikes thinking in stereotypes will be a welcome guest.
Apart from the Festival, there are many permanent and temporary exhibitions in Mouans-Sartoux, in L’Espace de l’Art Concret, in particular. The ‘concrete art center’ was created by two famous collectors arguing with each another and assisting each other at the same time. Perhaps, in the old days one of them would have lived in the valley, while the second would have lived in the mountains; but today there are constant art shows and workshops held in the gallery created by their joint efforts.
There is duality in the very location of Mouans-Sartoux. It’s only 11 km from Cannes with its aristocratic glamor and international airport, and only 8 km from Grasse, with mountain forests, mysterious paths and stunningly beautiful landscapes. Both places are connected by a railroad going through Mouans-Sartoux.
The city’s architecture is dual itself. The peaceful old part, where houses are arranged in a medieval plan, neighbors on dynamic modern districts, where there is everything for shopping, entertainment and a cultural holiday. There is also a riding stable and agencies organizing mountain tours in the city.
The streets are dominated by a tower of a rare triangular shape. This is Mouans Castle built five centuries ago, but still remaining a center of modern art. And on the quiet streets, housewives still bring out wicker chairs to have a talk in the shade.
Mouans-Sartoux is a dual city, but there is also some unity in it. It’s enough to see the warm tints of the building fronts, the abundance of flowers and fountains, shady streets, to hear a cheerful greeting in a tiny shop, to breathe almost the cleanest alpine air on the planet – and Mouans-Sartoux can undoubtedly be included in the list of real pearls of the French Riviera and the world.
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