Mougins: A Village, A School, A Way of Life

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-05

### Mougins: The Village I Came Back To *A personal look at living in one of the Riviera’s most sought-after villages* There are places on the Riviera that you discover as an adult. And then there are places that become part of your life before you really understand what they mean. For me, Mougins is one of those places. When my sister and I first moved to the South of France, we went to the International School of Mougins. It was much smaller then than it is today. Every morning, my father would drive us to school. We would stop at the boulangerie on the way, pick up a croissant, and then he would drop us at the school. It was an ordinary school morning. But looking back, it was also the beginning of a completely different life. Today, Mougins School has grown considerably, with a much larger campus and an international community. But the school is still part of what makes this area so attractive to families moving to the Riviera. And Mougins itself has changed too. Although the famous hilltop village remains at its heart, the wider area has become one of the most desirable places to live between Cannes and Sophia Antipolis. ### Mougins Is More Than the Village at the Top When people talk about Mougins, they often picture the old village. The winding streets. The stone houses. The restaurants. The galleries. The views. And yes, the village is beautiful. But living in Mougins is about much more than that historic centre. The commune spreads out around the village into residential areas of villas, gardens, mature trees and quiet roads. This is where you begin to understand why people choose Mougins as a home rather than simply somewhere to visit. You can have a house with a garden and pool, plenty of outdoor space and a sense of privacy, while still being close to Cannes, Sophia Antipolis and the coast. ### One of the Riviera's Most Convenient Locations Mougins sits in a particularly useful position. Cannes is close. Le Cannet is just below. Grasse is up in the hills. Valbonne and the villages around Sophia Antipolis are easily accessible. Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are within reach. And Nice and the airport connect you to the rest of France, Europe and beyond. For someone moving to the Riviera, that makes a real difference. You don't have to choose between living somewhere green and having an easy connection to work, schools, the coast and the airport. Mougins gives you access to all of them. ### The International School — A Personal Connection The International School of Mougins is particularly important to me because I experienced it myself. When my sister and I arrived here, the school was a much smaller place. Today it has grown into a substantial international school, with students from many different countries and a purpose-built campus serving children through their secondary education. For international families, that is a major consideration. Children can have an international education while growing up in the South of France. And parents can build a life here without feeling that they have sacrificed the educational opportunities they would have had elsewhere. For me, there is something quite nice about seeing how much the school has grown since I was there. It is a reminder of just how much this part of the Riviera has changed. ### Mougins and Valbonne Mougins and Valbonne are close neighbours, but they have very different personalities. Valbonne has a lively village centre, its Friday market, restaurants, cafés and a particularly international atmosphere. > “Mougins gave me a childhood I wouldn’t trade for anything. It’s a place where the past and present meet, and where you can still hear the echoes of your own footsteps.” If you’re considering a move to the Riviera, here are a few things to keep in mind: - **Housing:** Expect a mix of Provençal villas, modern apartments, and charming stone houses. Prices range from around $500,000 for a small apartment to over $5 million for a luxury estate. - **Schools:** The International School of Mougins offers IB and British curricula. Annual fees are approximately $20,000–$30,000. - **Climate:** Mild winters (around 50°F) and warm summers (around 80°F) make it a year-round destination. - **Transport:** Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is just 15 miles away, with frequent flights to major European cities and the US. Mougins isn’t just a place on a map. It’s a way of life. And once you’ve experienced it, it stays with you.