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The Bay of La Napoule is very well protected by the headland of Theole and the Islands of Lerins in the Bay. It makes a perfect place to practice waterskiing, jet skiing and snorkelling around the rocky headland. The inland waterway also has a rowing club and is an ideal place for junior kayaking. It is well protected from the strong westerly Mistral winds and has a good anchoring. The beaches around the Bay are clean with fine golden sand, making it popular for families. There are beach volleyball areas and protected inlets for safe bathing for smaller children. Due to the mild weather conditions most of the outdoor sports can be enjoyed all year round.
You will find here a number of marinas for yachts of varying sizes and one inland dry port for smaller yachts under 11m. What makes this area so enchanting is the richness in colours. The festival of Mimosas, a yellow flowering plant which is profuse on the mountains, is celebrated in February and the local people have a parade with floats decorated with the flowers .
There are many interesting historical sites well worth visiting. The Chateau of La Napoule was built on the foundations of a medieval fortress. It has a tower dating back to the Roman era around the 4th century and another tower which is 11th century. In the 14th century it was used as a fortified castle but was extensively destroyed during the French Revolution. By the 20th century it was purchased by a wealthy American, who was a painter and philanthropist, and his wife, an architect, who made extensive renovations. His name was Henry Clews and his wife was called Marie Elsie. In 1951 she created the Foundation following her husband's death in order to keep the Chateau and its art preserved. The Chateau has a fine collection of Henry Clews works as a sculptor and a painter. In the basement Marie and her husband are buried in tombs that he sculpted. The gardens, castle and the collections are open for visitors from 7 February until 7 November with tour guides available.
The Marie Clews foundation hosts regular art exhibitions and theatre evenings, concerts and music, which are becoming increasingly popular.
For golf enthusiasts nothing could better positioned , close to La Napoule harbour, than the Cannes-Mandelieu 18 and 9 hole golf course. The club is the oldest in this region, built in 1892. It hosts a number of excellent competitions with a high level of entry. The course is open all year to both men and women and is reasonably priced for either a day or a weekly pass. There is a driving range, shop, Putting Green, restaurant and bar facilities. A caddy or a cart is available and if necessary golfing equipment can be hired as well.
For nights life the area has a newly renovated casino, with slot machines, roulette, poker and black jack. There is a lively atmosphere here with regular live music, a restaurant with a beautiful sea view terrace, concerts and a lot more. During the day people congregate at either the private beach or around the pool and the VIP Cabanas club, where a fine selection of worldwide wines are there for your choice. In the old Town of La Napoule are small arts and crafts shops and a good selection of reasonably priced restaurants offering exceptionally good value on their plats du jour menus at midday.
