The Maupet headland

Coming from Nice, park at the village exit, in the Parking de la Croix car park (Saint-Pancrace district).

(S/E) Head towards the village along Rue Pierre Niel.

(1) Take the steps on the right just after the bridge to reach the church square, made famous by the film “La Scoumoune”. Walk down Rue des Laves. Turn left, taking care, onto Route des Espauvettes until you reach a junction with a car park on your right (Chapelle Sainte-Anne).

(2) Continue along Route des Espauvettes to the left until you reach the bend in the road at the hamlet of Sainte-Anne.

Yellow markings

(3) Turn left onto the descending path and continue until you reach a road.

(4) First turn left then right; you’ll see marker no. 13. Follow the signs for Colle Belle along this paved slanting street through the woods.

(5) At the crossroads of paths, where there is another marker No. 13, turn left towards Colle Belle. The path descends into the valley. Vegetation has reclaimed the sides of this paved slanting street, before crossing a concrete bridge.  Then, after a short slope, the path follows a terraced field, crossing several seasonal streams. You’ll come to a beautiful ruin.

(6) The path is dotted with bellflowers, borage and daisies (in spring), then enters a wooded area via a series of hairpin bends before running alongside a fence. It turns into a concrete track.

End of yellow markings

(7) After the bend in the road, turn left onto an ascending path. There is a wooden post (intended to support a sign, which is missing).

(8) Continue along a gently ascending, tree-lined track suitable for vehicles.

(9) Walk past the wreck of a 1960s caravan and a lorry water tank. At this point, the path veers to the left and disappears for about fifty metres into the forest, which is dotted with numerous wild boar tracks. Use the Visorando app to find your way back onto the clearly visible path. The path emerges into a small clearing, a ‘fire pit’.
Head right along a path about ten metres long, with a surface of large pebbles, which leads to a promontory offering a fine view of Mont Lion, the summit of the Estallier and Mont Auvière.

(10) Turn back and follow the route in reverse until you reach the junction at the Sainte-Anne Chapel car park on Route des Espauvettes.

(3) Turn left and you’ll come out onto a car park; cross it.

(11) Take the beautiful wooded path, with earthen steps and wooden risers, passing to the left of the Chapelle Saint-Anne and following a stream. There is a sign indicating “Village – Parking de la Croix”. At the top, crossthe Route de Nice with care to return to the car park (S/E). 

Hiking poles and walking shoes are recommended, but the terrain presents no particular difficulties.

Water point at the exit of the Croix car park, on the north side.

There are damp patches along the route where you can cool off.

Gilette.Church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. The building was probably constructed around the^mid-17thcentury in the so-called ‘Jesuit’ Baroque style