Bormes-les-Mimosas

Bormes-les-Mimosas is a Provencal town which is located a bit off the beaten track, somewhere between Toulon and Saint-Tropez. It’s certainly worth visiting Bormes – and not only during the flowering of the mimosa.

Bormes-les-Mimosas is situated between Toulon and Saint-Tropez, or, more precisely, between Hyeres and Le Lavandou. This small town consists of an historic Old Town, built on a hillside; a peninsula; and several beaches.

Bormes-les-Mimosas

The mimosa trail (la route du mimosa) begins in Bormes-les-Mimosas and ends in Grasse. This 130 km route is worth traveling in February when the mimosa is in full bloom – you can then admire these unique “yellow forests”. Additional information about the trail can be found at routedumimosa.com.

The center of Bormes-les-Mimosas

Bormes is located on the Maures Massif, so the whole area is hilly, and winding roads lead to the town. Free parking (Parking Saint François) is right outside the center, and exploring the town is all about slowly discovering the squares, walkways, restaurants, and shops.

Take your time in Bormes, as there are many lovely alleys and, of course, flowers everywhere. The town is considered to be one of the most flowered-adorned in France.

Beaches in Bormes-les-Mimosas

The Old Town is some distance from the coast, but the town’s territory extends all the way to the sea and covers most of the peninsula. On its eastern side is the La Favière beach district, adjacent to Le Lavandou. On the west side, there are the picturesque Estagnol, Grand Jardin, and Cabasson beaches.

From these beaches you can see Fort de Brégançon, the summer residence of the French president.

The summer residence of the President of France

Fort de Brégançon has been the summer residence of French presidents since 1968. Georges Pompidou, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron have all spent their holidays here.

Hollande decided to make the facility available to tourists. Admission is paid and it’s best to ask the tourist information office in the town for details (1 Place Gambetta).

Finally, a tip for wine lovers. There are many interesting vineyards in this area. Domaines Ott Clos Mireille is certainly one of the best, but this is in the territory belonging to the neighboring town of La Londe-les-Maures. In the area belonging to Bormes, however, Domaine Sainte Marie stands out; it is located just off the D98 road and you can see it when coming from Saint-Tropez.