Mont Macaron and the ruins of Châteauneuf

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant and peaceful path with magnificent views of the sea and the mountain peaks

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Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy, very pleasant route offering magnificent panoramic views

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Date of your route : Nov 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route offering superb views.
The path can be tricky in some narrow sections, both uphill and downhill, in wet weather, as the ground and stones become slippery.

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

Nice hike, not that easy. Beautiful views. Some very steep sections, especially the descent between points 3 and 4 (clearly indicated in the description). The car park was full on Sunday 8 October in the late morning, but there weren't too many people on the trail. This hike is best done in the morning if you want to enjoy good light on the Baie des Anges. We had lunch on the grass, but it was too early in the hike. After lunch, we had 6 km to go in the blazing sun. Next time, we'll leave earlier so we can have lunch on the meadow on the way back.
For the final descent, we opted for the road down to the left rather than the rough path that climbed up to the ruins of the village.

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Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk without any major difficulties. Don't do this route to see interesting or historic ruins, but for the landscapes you'll encounter along the way.

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Date of your route : Jun 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a superb hike without much difficulty and in glorious weather
the ruins aren't particularly interesting, but they're a nice place to stop for a break

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Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Firstly, this hike is listed by the Departmental Council (CD) and therefore has signposts on wooden posts. You need to go to the car park at the foot of the castle ruins, either via Tourrettes Levens or via the village of Châteauneuf-Villevieille. From the car park, the tarmac road is no longer accessible by vehicle, so you have to walk up to the ruins. After about 100 metres, either continue along the road or take the marked path on your left as you climb (CD sign). Once you reach the large meadow on your left after the St Joseph chapel, there is a CD sign opposite, on the right-hand side of the road, indicating "Crète du Montmacaron". The path is wide and clearly visible until the last ridge, where you can enjoy an exceptional and magnificent view on a clear day (from Nice and the airport to the Esterel mountains with the bay of Cannes and the Lérins Islands). There are two options for the return journey: take the loop that comes back down the ridge to the large meadow or return by the same route. It's very simple, beautiful and easy (for children aged 5 and over). The walk takes about two hours there and back. A picnic in the large meadow is a great idea, especially for children, who can play on the vast expanse of grass.

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Left early in the morning. Nice route, very easy and pleasant for a lovely walk, but be careful at the start: at the end of the car park, with your back to the tarmac road, turn left (not right) onto the yellow-marked route that runs below the ruins and climbs up to the famous meadow. The rest of the description is accurate. Beautiful views and interesting ruins.

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Date of your route : Feb 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I'm sorry, but I didn't understand the directions from the start:
"At the end of the car park, take a path on the right marked in yellow further on..."
At the end of the car park, there is a very small "path on the right" that goes uphill and has no signposts. After walking for half an hour, the path disappeared and we found ourselves in the middle of the surrounding bush with no other reference point than knowing that we had to go uphill to find the ruins of Châteauneuf Villevieille. We continued on, beyond the magnificent site, on a well-marked, wide path marked in yellow. However, we never understood the loop marked on the map.
None of this prevented us from discovering a very beautiful place with a fantastic 360° view, very easy to access if you take the marked path on the left when you leave the stony track, which starts at the beginning of the car park and not at the end.
Nevertheless, thank you to Visorando for bringing me to this remarkable site.

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Date of your route : Jan 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Unfortunately, many of the signposts are damaged. The numbers on the signposts would be very helpful in finding the way back to the description.

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Date of your route : Dec 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, done backwards in December. Lovely views

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Date of your route : May 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that took two hours, with stunning views and no difficulties encountered.
I recommend avoiding this hike in very hot weather as you will often be in direct sunlight.
Large car park available.

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Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

easy hike
a slightly tricky section between 3 and 4, especially in wet weather
otherwise, breathtaking views
don't hesitate to climb to the top of Mount Macaron
the ruins are not particularly interesting
Parking at the start of the hike, which is always nice

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Date of your route : May 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On a Saturday afternoon during Ascension weekend, we expected to see lots of people, but we didn't come across more than 7 or 10 people over the entire 7 km route. The GPS tracking worked perfectly, with no risk of getting lost.
A very pleasant hike with beautiful views of the mountains and the Bay of Angels. You absolutely must climb to the top of Mount Macaron.
It took us exactly 2 hours and 50 minutes (as per the guide) taking our time.
A quick note about most of the comments that describe this hike as 'easy': you need to be careful on the many paved slanting streets (both uphill and downhill) where stones roll very easily underfoot. Good hiking boots are essential.
Thanks to Osiris for a great time!

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Date of your route : Jul 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is mainly located in an environment with heath vegetation.
The signposting and route description are a little vague, but with a little logic you can work out the route.
The tour of the three peaks is only interesting for its magnificent landscapes and views of Nice and the surrounding area.
In the summer heat, this walk can quickly become stifling, as there are no water points and little shade along the route.
The ruins of the abandoned village of Chateauneuf could be better maintained by the local council.
A 2½-hour walk with the option of a picnic on the large meadow at the foot of the ruins. Best done early in the morning to avoid the heat.

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