Route of former military structures near Sainte-Agnès

A beautiful hike north of Sainte-Agnès, Europe’s highest coastal village (700 m), featuring three high points, three former military fortifications and three different viewpoints: the Southern Alps from Mont Ours, the east from Pic de Garuche and, finally, Pointe de Siricocca, a rocky peak overlooking the coast.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.32 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,825 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,815 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,052 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,909 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is located in front of the Saint-Sébastien Chapel, below the village of Sainte-Agnès.

(S/E) Take the Col des Banquettes road for 300 m heading west, taking care , before turning off onto a path.

(1) Turn right onto the path leading downwards at wooden marker post 441, towards Mont-Ours. This paved slanting street through a wetland area, which can be slippery at times, requires care. After the group of houses, it becomes a track suitable for vehicles.

(2) At marker 442, continue straight on along the track, towards Mont Ours.

(3) At marker 443, leave the track and turn left onto a stony path, heading towards Mont Ours and the Col des Banquettes.

(4) At marker 444, turn left, still heading towards Mont Ours and Col des Banquettes. Follow the ascending path to the track where marker 471 is located. Continue towards Mont Ours along the track. Pass a water reservoir and arrive at the tarmac road at Col des Banquettes.

(5) At marker 470, take the small path on the right leading uphill towards Mont Ours. Pass between two fire water reservoirs and a ruin before very quickly beginning a strenuous climb. Ignore the cross-country paths, which appear on the IGN map but no longer exist on the ground. Stay on the main path, continuing straight ahead (views of the sea and, in good weather, of Corsica).

(6) The path leads onto a track suitable for vehicles. Turn left for about ten metres to reach the bend in the tarmac road. Turn right and follow the road for a few metres. The road begins with a slight bend to the right, then starts to curve to the left. At this point, leave the road at a right angle to the right and rejoin the path, which continues up a small dirt slope. This path is very close to the road. Turn left onto it.

(7) When you reach this junction of the footpath and the forest track, continue straight on, following signpost 472 towards “Mont Ours via Chemin de la Cime”. The path winds its way between stones and rocks. Yellow markings, somewhat faded, help guide the way. The forest becomes increasingly sparse as you approach the summit.

(8) At the bend in the access road to Mont Ours, where marker 129 “Mont Ours” is located, follow the road towards the site’s entrance gate.
A wide footpath has been created to the right of the gate to access this historic military site, built between 1887 and 1907 to form a line of defence for French national territory. View of the French and Italian Alpine ranges.
To leave the site, head for the pylon furthest to the north-east of the site. Near a second signpost 129 “Mont Ours”, head towards La Baisse du Loup, a very pleasant downhill forest path.

(9) At the junction of the path, a track and marker 127, turn right towards La Baisse du Loup. This track was once reserved for the logistics of the military fortifications, a true mountain road and engineering feat. Continue along this track.

(10) At the junction (signpost lying on the ground), veer left to reach the Pic de Garuche.
Its summit offers views of the border mountain range, with the highest point, the "Grammondo", very close by. The military structures were used for observation to provide intelligence for the artillery positioned on Mont Ours. Inscriptions in the concrete dating from 1939 attest to the presence of French soldiers on the site.
Retrace your steps to the previous crossroads.

(10) Continue left (south-east) towards the Col de Verroux. Descend to reach this pass, where a plaque has been erected in honour of the soldiers who were stationed in this area.

(11) Turn onto the path on the right (signpost 446) and continue towards Pointe de Siricocca. This old, stony supply route, lined with holm oaks on the steep slope, leads at its summit to a grassy promontory featuring old military infrastructure (views of Sainte-Agnès, Menton below, and the coastline).

(12) Return to the Col de Verroux via the same route.

(11) At the pass, turn right. Begin the descent towards Sainte-Agnès. If you encounter livestock, ensure you close the gates on the paths properly.

(13) At marker post 447, turn right towards Sainte-Agnès and immediately turn right again (a junction with no signposting). Continue along a long track suitable for vehicles, heading west, and pass at the foot of the Siricocca cliff.

(14) At marker 494, turn left onto a path signposted as a shortcut to Sainte-Agnès. Head downhill and, at marker 495, follow the signs for Sainte-Agnès. Continue downhill, still heading in the same direction. Cross the bridge over the River Borrigo and continue along a track.

(3) Follow the route taken on the way out in the opposite direction. Take care on the remaining 300 m of the Col des Banquettes road to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,982 ft - Car park - Chapelle Saint-Sébastien (Sainte-Agnès)
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 2,014 ft - Marker 441 – Trailhead
  3. 2 : mi 0.69 - alt. 2,008 ft - Marker 442 – Junction of trackways
  4. 3 : mi 0.76 - alt. 2,014 ft - Marker 443 – Junction of the circular loop, towards the - Borrigo (fleuve)
  5. 4 : mi 1.1 - alt. 2,178 ft - Marker 444 - Junction
  6. 5 : mi 1.43 - alt. 2,415 ft - Marker 470 - Track x Road
  7. 6 : mi 1.71 - alt. 2,661 ft - Track x Road
  8. 7 : mi 2.04 - alt. 3,081 ft - Marker 472 - Track x Path
  9. 8 : mi 2.57 - alt. 3,993 ft - Fort du Mont Ours
  10. 9 : mi 2.95 - alt. 3,845 ft - Marker 127 – T-junction
  11. 10 : mi 3.81 - alt. 3,484 ft - Access to - Ouvrage du Pic de Garuche
  12. 11 : mi 4.61 - alt. 3,064 ft - Marker 446 - Col de Verroux
  13. 12 : mi 5.1 - alt. 3,445 ft - Pointe du Siricocca (1058m)
  14. 13 : mi 6.18 - alt. 2,434 ft - Marker 447: Crossroads.
  15. 14 : mi 7.03 - alt. 2,267 ft - Marker 494 – Trailhead
  16. S/E : mi 8.32 - alt. 1,982 ft - Car park - Chapelle Saint-Sébastien (Sainte-Agnès)

Notes

Wooden signposts mark the route throughout.
No water points on the route.
Hiking boots recommended. Very stony terrain. Steep slopes.

Worth a visit

Visit the village of Sainte-Agnès, with its cobbled streets and stunning views of the coast.

This website provides information on former military sites around Sainte-Agnès.
https://dossiersinventaire.maregionsud.f...

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you MF06 for this well-summarised review
Best regards, B.

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MF06
MF06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulty, very beautiful hike, magnificent view of the Mercantour peaks to the north and the Riviera to the south.
Best done in mid-season or winter.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, wine lover, for this very clear opinion.
Best regards, B.

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oenolatre
oenolatre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This is a hike with an interesting elevation gain in a beautiful setting with mountains that plunge into the sea and offer magnificent views of the coastline and the Mercantour. In addition, visiting the old military forts adds historical interest to the hike.
The hike is well described with signposts along the entire route and is best done before or after the summer.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, 4ine, for this feeling
Best regards, B.

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4ine
4ine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, very well described. I know the area very well, but on the Mont Ours side, so I've been wanting to do the Sirrococca for a long time. Now it's done. For those who are interested in engineering works, like me, it's perfect. It's well worth the effort. Magnificent view, but we're on the coast, so that's to be expected. Sea, mountains, the perfect setting.
Of course, I didn't read to the end and got lost at the Verroux pass, so I took a little detour on what I'd say was an extremely rocky 2 km stretch before returning to the trail. That doesn't detract from the excellent description of this hike. Well done, Bernard bb. We had a great time.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Bernard, for these clarifications.
Happy holidays, Bernard.

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Bernard D2.
Bernard D2.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike.
It is now continuously marked in yellow. The description is already excellent, but with the yellow markings as well, you can't go wrong.
A few comments:
- after (5), the yellow markings veer to the right, as shown on the IGN map. The route described goes straight ahead, and the two paths meet again after (6).
- at (9), you go to the right, but the sign indicates that Baisse du Loup is to the left...
- I didn't see marker 495... but in any case, just follow the trail. Logically, it should indicate the direction for marker 494 for those going uphill, otherwise it serves no purpose.

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alane2base
alane2base

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Things not to do in summer

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Espedaillac, for your review.
Happy New Year, B.

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Espedaillac
Espedaillac

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

Thank you for this pleasant route, which is ideal for this season. There are no particular difficulties, except for the climb up Mont Ours, which requires some effort and a little caution towards the summit where the tracks are not very visible. The round trip to Pic de Garuche and Pointe de Siricocca is interesting.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Dunde, for your opinion. The climbs are indeed challenging,
but the panoramic views are magnificent.
Best regards, Rando B.

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The Dude
The Dude

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, even if you're not particularly interested in military structures.

The first part of the climb up to Mont Ours was sunny and quite strenuous, but once we reached the wooded section, it was more relaxed.

Magnificent panoramic views from the three peaks we visited!

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Perseepjj, for your opinion.
This area is indeed rich in many ways... it's true that it's uphill, but the views are always magical
Best regards, B.

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Perseepj
Perseepj

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A beautiful hike that allows you to discover the military history of the region with stunning views, especially from Mont de l'Ours and Sirricocca.
Saint-Agnès is also a lovely place to take a long break at the end of the hike!
Please note that between points 6 and 8, the climb is quite steep.

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