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From Nice, take the M114 to Aire Saint-Michel.
At the junction, take the Chemin de Châteaurenard (marked withthe GR®® red and white trail markers) until you come to a barrier. Park along the road, leaving enough space to turn round.
-> Park on the road (Avenue de Rimiez) before the Aire Saint-Michel roundabout or on the left towards the post office (Vieux Chemin de Gairaut).
(S/E) From the car park, return to the roundabout and go round it using the pedestrian crossings. Look out for theGR®®5(red and white markings), which you should follow south-west along the road (Chemin de Châteaurenard) for a short while.
(1) At the end of this street, climb a few steps to reach a flat area (fountain). Continue to a fork in the path.
(2) Turn right onto the stony path (marked in red and white), which climbs steeply, and continue to a crossroads.
(3) Ignore the side paths and carry on straight ahead along the GR® until you reach a ruin.
(4) Then leave the GR® – which continues to the left – and follow a narrow path that starts to the right just after the ruin. This path winds through the scrubland above the houses for about 350 metres. At the very last moment, you’ll catch sight of the Pyramid, just ahead of you, below. Watch out for the precipice beneath the pyramid (Ratapignata Cave).
(5) Go round the structure on the left, then follow the main ascending path (heading generally north-east) towards the high-voltage pylon, which you must go round on the left.
Continue climbing along the main path to the pile of stones, where you’ll join a good track (marked with a gas marker and a post topped with a yellow cap). Turn left and join the GR®.
(6) Turn right and follow the red and white markings uphill. Pass a path on your right and continue until you reach thesecond high-voltage power line.
(7) Look out for the path marked with a Red Cross and white cross below on the left. Descend the Graus ridge via very stony switchbacks to rejoin the gas track (post topped with a yellow cap). Turn left onto the ascending track, then turn right 90 metres further on onto the well-marked track.
You’ll come to a level stretch (note the beautiful olive tree on the left) and take the main path to the left for 250 m. At the junction of the two well-marked paths, continue leftwards on level ground, pass in front of a low stone wall and follow the path on level ground through the pine forest.
You’ll reach a parallel path below; head down and follow it to the left in the same direction (south).
You’ll be fine if you stay on the other path. Watch out for mountain bikes. You’ll soon reach a junction with theGR®® from the start.
(3) Turn right, heading southwards downhill. After 50 m, you’ll see a beautiful wayside shrine on the left. To reach it, follow the barely visible path that starts on the left a few metres before a small flat section (100 m there and back).
(8) Return to theGR®®, turn left to reach the junction you passed at the start of the walk.
(2) Follow the route in reverse to return to the car park (start/end).
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