The Cruella tower circular via Les Crottés and the Breil-sur-Roya forest.

Coming from Nice, park in the car park just after the Charabot bridge on the right.

(S/E) Cross Boulevard Jean Jaurès with caution and take the newly renovated Promenade Georges Clémenceau opposite. Walk along the right bank of the Roya to the next bridge.

(1) Cross the bridge, then cross Boulevard Rouvier with caution. Walk along the religious buildings on the right. Take the first alley on the right, then the first on the left. Cross Rue Pasteur and continue straight ahead. At Rue de Turin, turn right and continue to the end, which appears to be a cul-de-sac.

(2) On the left, follow the unmarked paved slanting street (paved with old stones) going uphill. Walk between the crottés overlooking the town, all facing south.

(3) Turn around.

(2) Take the descending stairs called "Montée du Caste" leading to the wash house. At this point, turn left onto the rampart path. You will arrive at marker 3: yellow and blue markings.

(4) Keep right towards Porte de Gênes. Walk past the Chapel of Saint Anthony the Hermit, go through the 11th-century Porte de Gênes, and continue along the path bordering the Roya. You will reach marker 105a.

(5) Turn left towards Cruella. The steep path winds between stone walls, some of which were recently restored by young Irish volunteers. Arrive at the Cruella Tower: there is an orientation table a few metres to the east.

(6) Then take the descending path at the foot of the tower and reach the trail junction at marker 6.

(7) Turn right: this is where the yellow and blue markings end and the white and red markings of the GR®52a begin. Continue towards L'Arpette and you will reach a trail junction: marker 10.

(8) Continue straight ahead towards L'Arpette. Go to marker 108.

(9) At this crossroads, turn left. After a downhill section of the trail, walk along a viewpoint overlooking the village of Breil-sur-Roya. Arrive at marker 153: end of the white and red markings.

(10) Turn left towards Breil-sur-Roya via Ornéglia. The Zouayné valley offers an interesting wooded area due to its diversity. At the next crossroads a few dozen metres further on, turn left and follow the yellow marked trail. Continue along the track until you see a cairn on the right-hand side.

(11) Leave the track and turn right onto the path that starts at 180°. Further down, you will rejoin the track you left earlier: at this point, there are three signposts in a row.

(12) Continue straight ahead towards Breil-sur-Roya, which you can see below. Follow the path that runs alongside the river, cross the bridge and return to the car park (S/E).

Check the weather conditions. Do not attempt this hike in heavy rain.

Hiking boots and walking sticks are recommended.

There are no water sources along the route.

Cruella: a species of small bird of prey.

The crottés were used as shelters where the inhabitants stored the racks on which they dried figs and plums overnight.

In the 18th century, the Chapel of Saint Anthony the Hermit allowed travellers to pray and place themselves under the saint's protection before venturing onto often unsafe paths.

The Cruella watchtower is perched at an altitude of 600 metres. Built in the 12th century by the Counts of Ventimiglia, it overlooks the Roya Valley and was also a strategic point during the fighting in 1940.