The Croix du Midi in Châteauneuf-Villevieille

This hike starting from the Col de Châteauneuf offers views of the coastline and the Nice hinterland. It will take you to a vantage point overlooking the village of Châteauneuf-Villevieille from the Croix du Midi. After this viewpoint, the route is wooded, pleasant and has a gentle gradient. 

Details

75583613
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Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.88 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 310 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 313 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 892 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 605 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Col de Châteauneuf car park.

(S/E) Cross the D815 road with care and join the track on the opposite side. At marker 816, follow the sign for Terre Forte on the left. Continue uphill along this path to reach a cairn marking a scree slope.

(1) Leave the path at this cairn and veer right off-trail into the scree slope. 
Note here: use the Visorando app; climb steeply towards the summit, zigzagging through dense vegetation. When you reach a flat, stony clearing, follow the line of cairns running along the edge of a wood to reach the Croix du Midi 

(2) Follow the cairns and some faded blue markings. Follow the cairns, then enter the woods for a few metres and continue along the grassy path, which becomes stony on the ridge line. This very pleasant wooded path leads to a solitary house at a place called Terre Forte.

(3) Turn right and immediately right again, onto an ascending path through beautiful wooded areas and grassy clearings, alternating between ascents and descents, to reach the PR® junction.

(4) Take the right-hand path and follow the yellow markings down a gentle, wooded slope. Pass under a power line to reach a new junction above the hamlet of Ramadan.

(5) Leave the PR® here and turn right 

(6) After the fence, turn left and walk down the six terraces. At the last one, turn right and follow the lower terrace.

(7) There, turn right onto the Chemin des Ligures; although there is little traffic on this stretch of road, remain vigilant nonetheless . Continue to the D815.

(8) Continue right along this road and proceed with great caution to the Col de Chateauneuf car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 627 m - Car park at - Col de Châteauneuf de Contes
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 776 m - Cairn
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 863 m - Croix du Midi
  4. 3 : km 2.32 - alt. 844 m - Accommodation
  5. 4 : km 4.28 - alt. 846 m - PR junction
  6. 5 : km 6.23 - alt. 654 m - Trail junction
  7. 6 : km 6.55 - alt. 644 m - Bend in the path
  8. 7 : km 6.78 - alt. 624 m - Route
  9. 8 : km 7.57 - alt. 618 m - M815
  10. S/E : km 7.88 - alt. 628 m - Car park at - Col de Châteauneuf de Contes

Notes

Hiking boots and poles recommended.
Between (1) and (3), it is advisable to use the Visorando app.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Ruins of Châteauneuf-Villevieille: these date back to the 12th century.
(2) The Croix du Midi atop a cliff. Please note: it is not marked in the correct location on the IGN map and overlooks the village of Châteauneuf-Villevieille. This spot offers stunning views of the Alps.
Between (4) and (5): pass by a beautiful ruin, a reminder of a bygone agricultural era. The path runs alongside the valley, the village of Conte, and the hilltop village of Berre-les-Alpes.

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

4.3 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, dleandri, for this review and advice.
Best regards, b.

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dleandri
dleandri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. After point 6, there is a fork with two paths. Take the left one; the right one ends after about fifty metres.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you Bernard for this review
That's exactly right: "The trail isn't always easy to follow for a while because it's rarely used and the blue markings are very old," but hey... you made it, well done :-)
Best regards, B.

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Bernard amann
Bernard amann

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike. The climb after leaving the trail at point 2 is steep but short, without difficulty, with cairns to help you find your way. Magnificent view at the cross. On the way back from the cross, along the ridge, the trail is not always easy to follow for a while as it is rarely used and the blue markings are very old. The rest of the route is easy. A beautiful discovery. We didn't meet anyone.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Emmanuel Nice, for this review
It is indeed a little-frequented area,
(except by the occupants of the premises :-) :-) :-)
Best regards, b.

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Emmanuel Nice
Emmanuel Nice

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, well-shaded hike from point 3 onwards.
We went directly from point 1 to point 3.
Apart from a wild boar that we woke up just before point 4, we only came across a couple of other walkers.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Hello Fred

Be sure to read the instructions carefully before setting off on a hike
You write, "The route on the app does not correspond to the trail."
this is normal, as you are, as indicated, "off the trail"
there is no trail between points 1 and 2
that's part of the adventure. Once you reach the top, the wooded trail will be visible
happy hiking, B.

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Fred Scavo
Fred Scavo
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Numerous difficulties along the route. The route on the app does not correspond to the trail on several occasions, particularly between points 1 and 2. At point 2, the trail is difficult to find. At point 4, do not rely on the route on the app and continue for 20 metres, the same at point 5.
However, it is a pleasant and relaxing walk through lots of woodland.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, and have a nice day, B.

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gemmavonne
gemmavonne

No, we didn't go there

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, gemmavonne, for your review. You’re the first to post one. Did you find the Cross easily? Best regards, b.

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gemmavonne
gemmavonne

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The cairn at point 1 isn’t very visible and the path via point 2 is difficult, so we carried on straight to point 3

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