Ridge and Sanctuary of the Madonna of Utelle

A loop starting from Utelle, a charming village perched in the Vésubie Valley. The first part is wild and rocky on a ledge above the Vésubie, followed by a gentle climb through an amazing forest of terraced fields. The final climb, steeper up to the Crête de la Madone d'Utelle, offers a 360° view of the coastline, the Var Valley, the peaks of the Mercantour and the Nice hinterland. Finally, the descent offers numerous views of the village of Utelle.

Details

161720
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 522 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 523 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,191 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 731 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park at the exit of the village on the D32 (in front of a restaurant).

GR® markings (red and white)

(S/E) From marker 111, take the road that enters the village marked in red and white by theGR®5. Continue to the square, then go around the church on the right and follow the signs to the orientation table for a superb view of the Vésubie Valley and some of the peaks of the Mercantour

(1) From the table, return to the village square and take the street on the left heading west. At the end of this street, continue straight ahead on the path following theGR®5. This descends to cross a stream, then climbs back up to the south-west of the village for a magnificent photo with the peaks in the background. TheGR® then heads south along a ledge above the Vésubie. Continue along this path until you reach marker 6.

Yellow signpost

(2) From marker 6, leave theGR® and turn right towards Madone d'Utelle. The climb is easy through a forest dotted with terraced fields. Follow the yellow markings. Shortly after a small abandoned sheepfold, you will arrive at the Col d'Ambellarte.

(3) At the pass (signpost 118), continue right towards Madone d'Utelle. Start on a track, then follow a fairly steep stony path. Follow the yellow markings north, then north-east to signpost 117.

(4) At marker 117, you are on the Crête de la Madone d'Utelle. Take the road on the left heading south-west to the orientation table, the highest point of the ridge (1,194 m). The view of the peaks in the hinterland is superb.

(5) Turn back along the road.

(4) Continue to the Sanctuary of the Madone d'Utelle. Begin the descent along the road, skirting the sanctuary on the right. Throughout the descent, you will have numerous views of the village of Utelle.

(6) At the bend, take the path that descends to the right towards the north. Cross the road and continue down the winding road until you reach marker 115. Follow the road for about 200 m, then just before the right-hand bend, join the track on the left.

(7) At marker 114, descend to the right along a path heading north. The descent is fast and easy until you reach an intersection at an altitude of 906 m.

(8) At this altitude, continue straight ahead along a sheep pen, following the yellow markings to marker 112, where you will rejoin the GR®.

GR® signposting (red and white)

(9) Continue straight ahead to reach the starting point of the hike (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 814 m - Parking
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 810 m - Orientation table (village)
  3. 2 : km 3.11 - alt. 740 m - Marker 6
  4. 3 : km 4.37 - alt. 966 m - Ambellarte Pass
  5. 4 : km 5.45 - alt. 1,178 m - Marker 117
  6. 5 : km 5.85 - alt. 1,191 m - Orientation table (Crête de la Madone)
  7. 6 : km 6.63 - alt. 1,165 m - Leave the road
  8. 7 : km 7.17 - alt. 1,045 m - Marker 114
  9. 8 : km 8.06 - alt. 902 m - Intersection (906 m)
  10. 9 : km 8.96 - alt. 854 m - Marker 112, junction with the GR® trail
  11. S/E : km 9.22 - alt. 813 m - Parking

Notes

No water on the route. Beware of the heat in summer.

Worth a visit

The sanctuary can be visited but is currently closed.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 37 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Hervénat
Hervénat
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike on 15 May during the week and didn't see anyone else.
The route is very easy to follow. Magnificent views!
The climb to reach the Madonna statue is challenging.
Be careful at point 8, as when we passed through there were lots of sheepdogs tied up or in pens, except for one old Patou who charged at us barking. As we remained calm and still, he sniffed us and went back to his nap.
Thank you for this route.

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Nathalie06
Nathalie06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike was done in splendid weather and is very well marked. The 522 m elevation gain is manageable. There are some lovely views, but I was a little disappointed to arrive at the sanctuary of the Madonna of Utelle, as the site has apparently been closed for some time for renovation work. However, I have no regrets. To finish off, a visit to the pretty little village of Utelle on the way back is a must.

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Danouche
Danouche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, with a slightly steep final climb, beautiful view of the snow-capped peaks of the Mercantour at the Madone d'Utelle

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bebeghislaine
bebeghislaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I went on this superb hike for the second time and would definitely recommend it.

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Jean-François Cousin
Jean-François Cousin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and fairly easy hike.
We took our time in the remarkable church in Utelle. After the square, the GR trail marker is hidden by a vine, so be careful...
Otherwise, it's a very pleasant walk. The last climb is a little steep but not long. The scenery is magnificent.
The chapel of the Madonna is closed due to storm damage.

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osiris130
osiris130 ★

Hello Mario,

Thank you for your kind comment.

The pleasure is all mine...

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Mario Simard
Mario Simard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Everything has already been said about this superb hike.

Osiris, my partner and I are from Quebec and have been spending our winters in the Alpes-Maritimes for several years now. Thanks to you and the other volunteers who post routes on Visorando, we have discovered some wonderful places that we would probably never have found otherwise. Thank you for your generosity.

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olivier-mount
olivier-mount

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

We walked the trail yesterday (Sunday morning) with our dog. It's a pleasant trail with beautiful views of the Alps in the distance and the Mediterranean Sea. It's not a "memorable" trail, but it's good for an active morning. A word of advice to other hikers who want to walk this trail with their dogs: keep them on a leash and follow the signs about livestock. Yesterday we came across a shepherdess with her sheep; she was accompanied by two border collies and four patous. Everything went well thanks to the help of the lady who controlled her dogs and us on our leash. Remember that these trails are shared between us walkers and the shepherds who work there. We must respect their work.

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bebeghislaine
bebeghislaine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with no difficulties. The final climb to the Madonna d'Utelle is a little steep but not insurmountable. I highly recommend this walk for the 360° view from the top of the Madonna.

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Jean-Paul M3.
Jean-Paul M3.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty, fairly short hike that isn't too difficult. Even the final climb is easy if you take your time. Don't hesitate to continue west along the ridge after the antenna to enjoy a beautiful view of the Var valley. Take advantage of your visit to the village to see its beautiful church.
As for the patous near the farm at the end of the hike, I only saw one, which was quite old and rather good-natured, probably because I spent a few minutes chatting with the shepherd, who recognised me. What's more, the herd wasn't nearby.

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Marmotte06
Marmotte06
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely autumn hike with very varied terrain after the bad weather earlier in the week and the first snowfall.
In the description, the following passage: (3) At the pass (signpost 118), continue right towards Madone d'Utelle. "At first on a track, then on a fairly steep stony path". It would be better to say: "At signpost 118, take a track on the left then a fairly steep climb, well marked in yellow between flat rocks and a vague path" to the ridge.
In fact, it is not really a path, at least because heavy rains have washed away the earth in many places. That said, the climb over the rocks is very easy
Avoid hiking in hot weather!

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JacouJacouille
JacouJacouille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Car parked in the restaurant car park. Departure and arrival almost at the same place.
Very beautiful hike, relatively easy except for the climb to La Madone, which is tough. The yellow markings could do with refreshing. Rewarded with an excellent lunch at the Martimon restaurant.

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Coldom
Coldom

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The only difficulty worth mentioning – as indicated in other comments – is after the Ambellarte Pass, where the route becomes a little unclear: if you follow the yellow markings on the climb up to the ridge, you will easily find yourself on the steep, stony track leading to the relay station slightly west of the orientation table, instead of arriving below it as indicated.
That said, it's not a big deal, even if this section is a bit difficult: the view from the ridge is well worth the effort.
The rest of the route is magnificent; a hike to recommend for discovering the beauty of the Nice hinterland

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McMel
McMel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good description.
The hike is very close to a farm with sheepdogs. We passed without any problems with our dogs, but you need to make sure you follow the recommendations in such circumstances.

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gferro
gferro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, magnificent view from the summit.
Very well done guidebook.

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