Rastel d'Agay from the Anthéor viaduct

A very beautiful hike amid the red rocks of the Esterel. The 360° view from Rastel d'Agay offers the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.

Details

47567089
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 292 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 288 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 287 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 14 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park just after the Anthéor viaduct.

(S/E) From the car park, take Impasse des Bougainvillées. Once the tarmac section ends, continue a few metres along the path.

(1) Cross the dam where the path starts on the right, behind the gabion. There are a few cairns on the ascending path.

(2) At this junction, turn left and head towards a crossroads located at the bend in the track (cairn).

(3) Take the barely visible descending path to the left for about fifty metres. There is a green marking on the ground.

(4) Turn right onto the ascending path lined with eucalyptus trees. At the top of the path, on the rock, a green arrow points you to the right and the path ends. Continue for a few metres, descend to the left into the nearby gully and use the Visorando app or a compass, heading south to find a path: the vegetation is dense but it is relatively easy to get through.

(5) At the path, turn right. At the drinking trough, continue for about fifty metres before reaching a three-way junction.

(6) Turn left onto the descending track and reach a large crossroads where several paths meet: you’ll see the Oratory of Saint-Ounourat (Saint-Honorat).

(7) Keep slightly to the left for about 20 metres, then turn left onto the yellow-marked path.

(8) At this point, continue straight on to reach the viewing platform and orientation table overlooking Agay harbour, where you can take a well-deserved break. Then head right to follow the path, which is rocky in places, and where the final few metres are preceded by a flight of large steps. The steps are wide but please take care.

(9) The summit, marked by a metal tricolour flag, offers a magnificent 360° view. Turn back, then, before reaching the orientation table, cut left to return to the junction.

(8) Return to the ascending path by turning left and passing the wayside shrine again.

(7) Turn left towards the water cistern and follow the wide path downhill. Look out for a cairn on the right.

(10) Turn right onto the descending track, despite the Yellow Cross, and follow it.

(3) Turn left.

(2) Turn right to head back down towards Anthéor.

(1) Finish at the dead end which leads back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 14 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 18 m - Dam
  3. 2 : km 0.75 - alt. 100 m - Crossroads of path and track
  4. 3 : km 0.81 - alt. 104 m - Crossing point of the circular loop
  5. 4 : km 0.85 - alt. 93 m - Start of the uphill path
  6. 5 : km 1.09 - alt. 137 m - Return to the path, on the right
  7. 6 : km 1.43 - alt. 174 m - Crossroads of tarmac roads
  8. 7 : km 1.74 - alt. 165 m - Crossroads of tarmac roads, wayside shrine
  9. 8 : km 2.83 - alt. 264 m - Junction at the viewpoint
  10. 9 : km 3.1 - alt. 287 m - Rastel d'Agay
  11. 10 : km 4.8 - alt. 158 m - Crossroads, cairn, turn right
  12. S/E : km 6.13 - alt. 14 m - Car park

Notes

Hike suitable all year round.
No water along the route.
Walking poles recommended; there are plenty of stones on the path.

Bring a pair of secateurs; the vegetation is taking over a few metres up
Children are not permitted on the steps leading to the summit of Rastel d'Agay.

The mobile app will be useful between points (4) and (5).

Worth a visit

Anthéor Beach

The railway viaduct dates back to 1862 and was built as a result of the County of Nice becoming part of France, an operation carried out between Napoleon III and the Italian Cavour. In theory, it was a win-win situation, but nothing went as planned. This PLM line (Paris to Lyon and Marseille) was extended to Nice.

Two hundred men worked in shifts day and night, every three hours, during the two years of construction, from 1860 to 1862.

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.1 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
bernard bb
bernard bb

Thanks, Prom, for this review,
A pair of secateurs in the bag will come in handy
Best wishes for your hike, B.

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PROM
PROM

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Between points 4 and 5, there is no trace of a path left (just tracks left by people trying to find their way...) and the whole area is covered in dense vegetation. A very unpleasant stretch

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Very well described, thank you User 24656681 for this review
Best regards, bb.

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User 24656681

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, the description is very good. Between points 4 and 5, there is no longer a path and some sections are a little difficult, but with the interactive map, it's easy to find your way. This section means that the hike is not suitable for young children. The views of the Estérel and the sea are magnificent. My children, aged 15 and 17, and I really enjoyed the hike.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, User 11595274, for this review.
The app is indeed useful lol
Best regards, B.

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Nany06
Nany06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike this weekend on a sunny Saturday. Not very busy.
Thanks to the interactive Visorando map, as it was sometimes difficult to find the way, especially in the "bushy" section, green arrow, which is a shortcut. So we could have gone around, but that's the adventure... the highest point with the flag for picnicking is great. Thank you.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

The area crossed is quickly taken over by vegetation.

Sorry, mamiemartine, for using the word "talweg", an old word that is no longer used. A talweg is the opposite of a ridge line.
Thank you for your opinion
best regards, b.

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mamiemartine
mamiemartine
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At the start of the hike, follow Boulevard des Lucioles to the left of the campsite before reaching Impasse des Bougainvillées.
The hike is quite difficult on the way up.
At points 3 and 4, we had difficulty finding the path because the vegetation was very dense and the paths were not very visible (you need to know what a thalweg is...) and it is not at all easy to get through as indicated!
At point 7, there are no yellow markings.
Beautiful view at Rastel d'Agay.
Fortunately, the descent was easy and pleasant.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, User 1393529, for your review
best regards, rando, b.

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User 1393529

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk apart from a short section in the "bush" which allows you to make a small loop. Accessible slope (290 m over 3 km) at a leisurely pace (3.1 km/h). Picnic break at the Rastel d'Agay with a magnificent 360° view which alone is worth the walk.

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bernard bb
bernard bb
• Edited:

Merdi Nathalie for your opinion
Best regards, B.

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nathalie711
nathalie711

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I followed a fellow hiker's advice to avoid a section where you have to scramble, and it was very pleasant.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you for that comment.
Best regards, B.

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Bosquette
Bosquette

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

indicated departure point: after the viaduct, it should be indicated: pass under the viaduct and climb 150 metres to park in the car park.

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bernard bb
bernard bb

Thank you, Coligneaux, for this review.
Have a good week, B.

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