The balconies of Carros

A short hike near Nice, above the old town of Carros. Breathtaking views of the Var valley and the Baie des Anges.

Details

3027101
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 301 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 301 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 668 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 367 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available near the start (marker 27) at the side of the road on the outskirts of the village, next to the cemetery.

(S/E) Walk along the cemetery and then take the path on the right. Cross a small road (Chemin du Claret) and continue on the path opposite to reach an old wash house.

(1) Beautiful view of the old town of Carros. Follow the path that runs alongside terraces planted with very old olive trees. Keep going in the same direction.

(2) Stop at a historically interesting site dating from the second Iron Age: La Roche Fendue. The path now winds through the undergrowth and reaches marker 30 at a track suitable for vehicles.

(3) Turn left to follow this track, which winds its way around several bends. You will reach marker 32.

(4) Leave the track and take a steep path on the left which descends towards the end of the circular. Once you reach marker 33, turn left and you will come to a fork.

(5) Take the road on the left to go to the Carmelite Monastery. Turn back and continue to the left.

Further on, keep left at the fork, continue straight ahead and then descend to the right. Once at the bottom, turn left onto Chemin du Claret, then turn right onto the path that leads back to the cemetery and the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 367 m - Parking next to the cemetery.
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 416 m - The Foux wash house
  3. 2 : km 0.55 - alt. 493 m - La Roche Fendue site
  4. 3 : km 0.89 - alt. 537 m - Marker 30
  5. 4 : km 2.07 - alt. 663 m - Marker 32
  6. 5 : km 3.31 - alt. 439 m - Monastery of Carmel junction
  7. S/E : km 4.39 - alt. 367 m - Parking next to the cemetery.

Notes

Wear proper walking shoes as the descent is steep and rocky. Walking sticks are recommended for the descent.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
jeff.thibaud
jeff.thibaud

I'm really sorry about that fall 😞
I’ll adjust the difficulty level straight away.

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guiguiwzr
guiguiwzr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with a superb view from the summit.
Nevertheless, I would confirm the ‘moderate’ difficulty rating, particularly due to the condition of the path on the descent (from stage 4 onwards). Despite the effort made to install stone steps in places, the path is very uneven, covered in small stones, with occasional hazards where it is very easy to trip (roots, protruding rocks).
On this section, despite wearing good footwear, using walking poles and being in good physical condition, one of our hikers stumbled and was swept into a 10-metre fall down a ravine on the left-hand side, including a 3-metre drop from a rocky ledge, landing on his side amongst the rocks and bushes below. Unconscious at the time, he escaped with only a broken collarbone, a black eye, stitches on his leg, a mild head injury, and bruises all over his right side. It was a narrow escape.
Personally, I would therefore advise against this route for hikers with weak knees or ankles, as well as for families with young children who are not yet steady on their feet.
I confirm the need for sturdy hiking boots with good grip, as well as walking poles.
Please take care.

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User 27390299

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A walk with superb views; no particular difficulties, but fairly steep ascents and descents. I agree with the previous review: perhaps the difficulty rating should be revised from ‘easy’ to ‘moderate’, even though this walk isn’t very long in terms of time or distance.

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User 8858233

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short winter hike with beautiful sea views stretching to Cap d'Antibes, Mercantour, Mont Chauve and the Var river. No particular difficulties. The ascent and descent are a little steep. Perhaps the difficulty level should be revised from easy to moderate, even though this hike is not very long in terms of time or distance.

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Joey20
Joey20

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very enjoyable hike, quite strenuous at the start but very pleasant once you reach the top. Make sure you wear good footwear.

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JPCam
JPCam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but you need to wear proper footwear as there are lots of stones on the trails.

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cathiebot68
cathiebot68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with some beautiful views. A few mini excavator and car wrecks. Done at the end of June under some clouds; in my opinion, best avoided in the height of summer.

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Randolf
Randolf
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing this journey. I had a wonderful afternoon doing it!

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Randolf
Randolf

A pleasant hike with beautiful views. Watch out for loose stones and a fairly steep slope towards the end: be careful not to fall! Walking sticks are essential.
I made a small mistake and missed marker 32. As a result, I continued climbing the path towards the summit of Le Broc, but an encounter with a bull roaming free made me turn back.

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jeff.thibaud
jeff.thibaud

Thank you 😊

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Camotte
Camotte

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant short hike with superb views of the Var valley and the Mercantour.

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Isaphilippon
Isaphilippon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with magnificent views of the Var valley, the Baie des Anges in the distance and the Mercantour mountains. Be careful, the descent at the end of the route is very slippery. We couldn't avoid falling.

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Eric VANAERDE
Eric VANAERDE

Indeed, it is classified as easy in Randoxygène.

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jeff.thibaud
jeff.thibaud

Hello, unless I am mistaken, the hike is classified as moderate.

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Eric VANAERDE
Eric VANAERDE

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I don't understand why this hike is classified as easy. Admittedly, the distance is short, but the ascent and descent are very steep (300 m elevation gain over approx. 1 km). Good shoes and walking sticks are essential. Limited interest except for the beautiful view of the Var valley.

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