From the Saint-Césaire ponds to the Ponadieu Arch

de fr

This walk follows the route of the watercourse, offering magnificent views of the Grasse hinterland as it follows theGR®510route. You can see the village of Mons from here.
Please note that this walk is not circular; you will need to arrange for a vehicle to be waiting for you at the end of the walk in Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey.

Details

n°12717436
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,988 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,512 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,356 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,608 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park below Les Bassins.

(S) Continue uphill along theGR®510. Leave theGR® at the hairpin bend to walk alongside the ponds on the left. Then rejoin theGR®, marked in red and white, and head due north to reach the natural rock face used for climbing.

(1) Continue along theGR® through the Bois des Malines to reach the junction at marker 76 shortly afterwards.

(2) Keep to the right on theGR® to reach the Vallon Rousset junction at marker 77.

(3) Cross the road and continue straight ahead into the Bois de Rousset to reach another junction at marker 78.

(4) Turn sharply left (90°), still on theGR®, and pass marker 79 whilst crossing the Ruisseau du Vallon de la Combe. Walk slightly uphill to reach the junction at marker 80.

(5) Leave theGR® and take the path leading down to the left. This will take you to the Arche de Ponadieu.

(6) Turn back and head for the junction marked with signpost 80.

(5) Head straight ahead, crossing theGR®, to quickly reach the car park at the end of the route, which is situated at the end of the Chemin de la Siagne at marker 81 (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 1,857 ft - Car park by the ponds
  2. 1 : mi 1.04 - alt. 1,972 ft - Natural climbing wall
  3. 2 : mi 1.91 - alt. 1,985 ft - Marker 76
  4. 3 : mi 2.49 - alt. 1,972 ft - Marker 77
  5. 4 : mi 3 - alt. 1,975 ft - Marker 78
  6. 5 : mi 3.2 - alt. 1,985 ft - Marker 80
  7. 6 : mi 3.79 - alt. 1,608 ft - Arche de Ponadieu
  8. E : mi 4.62 - alt. 2,356 ft - Finish car park, marker 81

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.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
souppcl2
souppcl2

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We explored this walk as a recce for a group. We stopped at stage 1 and turned back. In this section, the GR 510 is very steep, with several places where there is a risk of slipping and suffering very serious, even fatal, falls. We do not recommend this walk for young children or large groups. Teenagers can do it if they are wearing proper footwear, not just trainers. We could see the Siagne Gorges only during the very first section. After that, the trees block the view.

Machine-translated

danielaime06
danielaime06
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Even on a spring Sunday, I didn’t come across a single hiker for two-thirds of the route, apart from near the Ponadieu arch, where there were a few groups.
This route is very pleasant, varied and quite hilly (in the first section). I’d recommend it to everyone, but make sure you wear suitable footwear, as some of the ascents and descents are stony and/or slippery.
I was a bit unsure at the start near the ponds; it would be useful to add a note in the section (S) along the lines of ‘stick as close as possible to the wall of the ponds’, as otherwise you risk getting lost in some rather dangerous areas.
As I couldn’t get a lift to St Vallier, I tried to do a round trip with a circular route to mix things up a bit. If you’re interested in this alternative route, it’s called “From the EDF reservoirs at Saint-Césaire to the Arche Ponadieu” and has the number 32712884

Thanks to the author, and happy hiking to you all

Machine-translated

resideo
resideo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk – easy and suitable for the whole family.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking From the EDF reservoirs at Saint-Césaire to the Ponadieu Arch

Visorando Member
Des bassins EDF de Saint-Césaire à l'Arche Ponadieu
↔7.23 mi ↗+1,972 ft ↘-1,972 ft ◔5h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (Alpes-Maritimes)
This walk, with its varied landscapes and elevation changes, largely follows the route of the GR®510, passing through both wooded and rocky areas. It starts at the imposing EDF reservoirs at Saint-Césaire and runs high above the Gorges de la Siagne, offering magnificent views of the Grasse Pre-Alps. After passing through the Combe valley, we gradually reach our destination: the Ponadieu Arch, a stunning rock formation whose pillars plunge into the green waters of the Siagne. The return journey begins on a path with a few tricky sections, before rejoining the Bois des Malines path taken on the way out.

Walking The Siagne Gorges

Visorando Member
Les Gorges de la Siagne
↔6.40 mi ↗+1,394 ft ↘-1,404 ft ◔4h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (Alpes-Maritimes)
Starting from the charming village of Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, you will explore the Siagne Gorges. On the programme: - descent to the Saint-Saturnin Chapel, - walk along the Siagne canal, - crossing the splendid Pont des Gabres (or Pont des Tuves, depending on which bank you are on), - climb back up this wild river with its crystal-clear waters and return to the village for a lovely view of this beautiful valley.

Walking Siagne Canal, Pont des Tuves, Pont des Moulins and Pont de Mons.

Visorando Member
Canal de la Siagne, Pont des Tuves, Pont des Moulins et Pont de Mons.
↔8.88 mi ↗+1,434 ft ↘-1,444 ft ◔5h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (Alpes-Maritimes)
From the small Provençal village of Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, this partly shaded route, running alongside the water and following ancient paths, will take you back in time. You will cross the famous Pont des Tuves bridge, walk up the banks of the Siagne river, passing the ruins of the old paper mill, then the Pont des Moulins bridge, before returning to the Siagne Canal to its water intake. The return journey is via the old Pont de Mons bridge.

Walking The Cannes hinterland from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne

Visorando Member
↔4.62 mi ↗+1,306 ft ↘-1,299 ft ◔3h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (Alpes-Maritimes)
Hike impassable since 30/10/2024 Between river and forest... A surprising route and a spectacular finish for climbers.

Walking Variation of the Siagne Gorges

Visorando Member
Variante des Gorges de la Siagne
↔10.03 mi ↗+2,070 ft ↘-2,093 ft ◔6h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (Alpes-Maritimes)
After crossing the village centre, which has retained its feudal appearance, you will walk along magnificent paths, some of which are paved slanting streets. This hike is reserved for lovers of wooded areas and places steeped in history, as numerous remains bear witness to the intense activity that took place here until the early 20th century.

Walking The Colbas Dolmen

Visorando Member
Le Dolmen de Colbas
↔5.37 mi ↗+768 ft ↘-774 ft ◔3h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (Alpes-Maritimes)
A mainly wooded walk, following numerous dry stone walls and terraces, evidence of a significant agricultural past. A beautiful view from the Colbas Dolmen.

Walking The Old Napoleon Road from Saint-Vallier to Escragnolles

Visorando Member
Ancienne Route Napoléon de Saint-Vallier à Escragnolles
↔8.91 mi ↗+2,159 ft ↘-2,182 ft ◔6h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey (Alpes-Maritimes)
In the foothills of the Alps, along the Siagne trail, set off to discover the historical trail of Napoleon in March 1815, from Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey to Escragnolles. Archaeological evidence also suggests that this route along the Siagne has been in use for thousands of years, as dolmens, burial mounds and rock shelters have been found in the immediate vicinity.

Walking The seven tunnels of the Belletrud aqueduct starting from Baume Obscure

Visorando Member
Les sept tunnels de l'aqueduc de Belletrud au départ de Baume Obscure
↔10.47 mi ↗+2,677 ft ↘-2,687 ft ◔7h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey (Alpes-Maritimes)
This is a physically demanding hike, but the wooded areas you will pass through are remarkable. The highlight of the day is the passage through the tunnels bordering the Siagne cliffs. The Deux Goules cave is one of the local attractions.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.