Bloomin' marvellous in St Tropez

In the winter months, the hills of the Cote d'Azur shine with the golden bloom of the Mimosa flower, one that has become a symbol of the region.

Beginning at the end of December and lasting through until March this beautiful bloom is celebrated along the Riviera in some of the region's most colourful festivals, including the Corso Fleuri in Bormes les Mimosas. This large festival organised annually in February, attracts some 12,000 visitors to enjoy a wonderful floral parade.

The mimosa flower which was imported from Australia at the end of the 19th-century flourished in the gardens of the British aristocrats on the French Riviera. It enjoyed the mild climates of the South of France and it is now celebrated as part of the local culture and economy. 

There are several tourists routes that take you through the countryside but one of the most popular, and spectacular, is the Route du Mimosa. Spanning 130km of the French Riviera this scenic drive begins in Bormes les Mimosas, before travelling through Rayol-Canadel sur Mer, Sainte Maxime, Saint Raphael, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Tanneron, Pégomas, and finally finishing in Grasse.

From the black gold of the truffles, to yellow gold of the mimosa blooms, all that shines is gold in Saint-Tropez this winter.