Préalpes d'Azur walks

A superb hike in the Grasse hinterland. On the agenda: megaliths, magnificent views of the entire coast (on a clear day) and, to finish, a superb waterfall in an exceptional setting.

Starting from the charming village of Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, you will explore the Siagne Gorges. On the programme: - descent to the Saint-Saturnin Chapel, - walk along the Siagne canal, - crossing the splendid Pont des Gabres (or Pont des Tuves, depending on which bank you are on), - climb back up this wild river with its crystal-clear waters and return to the village for a lovely view of this beautiful valley.

This short hike starting from the Domaine des Courmettes will take you to one of the main 360° viewpoints between the Mediterranean Sea and the Mercantour mountains.

An easy hike in spring or autumn. At the top of the Baou, there is a magnificent view of the French Riviera with a very accurate orientation table to identify the points along the coast and the surrounding peaks.

A beautiful and enjoyable hike, without any particular difficulty, dotted with historical sites and varied landscapes: rocky, wooded, plains. You won't be bored for a minute and, as a highlight, there is a breathtaking 360° panorama from the highest point.

A double loop in a landscape combining heath, karst plateau and numerous dry stone terraces. The climb up the two baous offers exceptional views of the coastline from Cap Ferrat to Cap d'Antibes... not to mention the view of the hinterland from the Baou de Saint-Jeannet with the Saint-Barnabé plateau, the Cherion Massif and the peaks of the Mercantour between the Argentera and Mont Bégo. Return via the Plateau du Baou, where you can discover two drystone shelters.

Panoramic hike to discover the remains of the past.

Gilette and La Clue. From the village of Gillette, perched on a rocky outcrop, this walk takes you to the medieval bridge of La Cerise (scenes from the film "The Hunchback" were shot here in 1997) and then winds through the Estéron gorges.

A magnificent hike to the top of the baous, overlooking Vence and Saint-Jeannet. You will pass through karst landscapes and heathland flora. The panoramic views of the sea and mountains are breathtaking.

The Cavillore plateau hike is a loop along historic paths with a troglodyte fortress hidden in the cliff, a Roman road and the former priory of Saint-Vincent. Throughout the route, you will enjoy magnificent views of the coast and the village of Gourdon. This circuit is a variation of hike no. 1337911, "Plateau du Col de Cavillore". The route is unshaded and easily accessible, even for paragliders flying overhead.

This hike starts in the hilltop village of Le Broc and takes you to the Monséguise plateau, which offers a rare view of the Alpes-Maritimes. After a gradual climb through the Vallon de la Sine, you reach the plateau via a short climb along the "piste du gaz". At the top, you can see the Mediterranean, from the Estérel to nearby Nice, and the peaks of the Nice hinterland as far as the Mercantour! On the descent, there are numerous views of the hilltop villages of the Nice hinterland.

A short circular hike above the village of Courmes, ideal during the deer rut at dawn or dusk. Thrills guaranteed! A brief stop on the Saint-Barnabé plateau offers beautiful views of the Cheiron massif to the north and the village of Gourdon overlooking the Gorges du Loup to the south.

Starting from the small village of Courmes, you will climb up to the Plateau Saint-Barnabé to ascend the Puy de Tourrettes, a mountain whose summit plateau offers views of the Mercantour and the coast. After a short descent, you will climb back up to the Pic de Courmettes, a pretty viewpoint with a 360° panorama of the Loup valley, the Cheiron massif and the Cap Ferrat coastline in the Estérel. After a steep descent along the western ridge, you will return to the village at a leisurely pace through the forest.

A lovely family walk in the forest to discover old sites and visit a teaching farm (cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, ponies, horses, etc.).

This is a lovely, easy walk for the whole family in autumn to admire the magnificent colours of the leaves or in summer to enjoy the cool shade of the woods.

A very pleasant, easy family hike through pine forests and small meadows, ideal for a picnic in the mountains.

This circular hike starting from the village of Toudon provides access to one of the main peaks of the Mont Vial massif between Var and Estéron. On the menu for this hike: pine forests and broom scrub, grassy terraces of abandoned countryside, a slightly steep passage at the foot of a limestone cliff, panoramic views of Cheiron, the Var valley, Mercantour... and even Nice and the sea on a clear day.

This hike goes around the Malle plateau, first following the Colle du Maçon ridge and then the Doublier ridge. Most of the route is on the peaks of the Grasse Pre-Alps and offers breathtaking 360° views of the Mercantour, the French Riviera and the enchanting Caussols plateau. The Malle plateau is farmed by a group of livestock breeders. This route stays within the boundaries of the Malle estate, which are marked by numerous signs on the ground.

Le Plan des Noves, located between Vence and the Col de Vence, offers a beautiful walk through karstic terrain leading to a panoramic view of the Baou de Saint-Jeannet and the sea. This circuit details walk no. 21 in the Randoxygène guidebook "Pays côtier" published by the Alpes Maritimes General Council.

Short, easy walk in the limestone Pre-Alps with a climb to the summit of Mouton d'Anou for a remarkable view.

This unusual route for the region will take you past limestone rocks sculpted by erosion, including a cave chapel which you can visit. You will pass through the facilities of the Côte d'Azur Astronomical Observatory. This loop will then take you on a journey through 2,000 years of history along a Roman road through the woods. The final section, through stone enclosures and old sheepfolds, bears witness to a pastoral past.

A very pretty walk in the forest, cool, flowery and rural with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Take the opportunity to visit Courmes, a charming little mountain village.

A circular hike starting from the charming village of Le Broc. A steep climb through the forest leads to the buried Gravière canal, which you follow along a track through the woods before reaching a clear view of Mont Vial and the Mercantour near the hamlet of Les Combes. The climb up the Mouton d'Anou via a track and then a narrow path offers a beautiful 360° panorama from Cap d'Antibes to Mercantour. The descent is via a pleasant path through the woods.

A very pretty little hike. Walk through beautiful undergrowth, descend into a deep valley, discover the remains of an old mine, cross a river and reach a magnificent waterfall.

This lovely little walk, via the Riou trail, will take you to the banks of a pretty river, La Cagne. Young and old alike can enjoy the deep pools and waterfalls. A geographical curiosity. A very beautiful spot. 23/04/2024: The hike is only accessible up to point 3 due to work being carried out after heavy rain.

This circular hike, starting from the Pont de l'Estéron, takes you along this pretty river with its turquoise waters before climbing into the forest alongside a small stream and joining small isolated roads towards the Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite (17th century). The descent is via a pretty path overlooking the Estéron, offering some beautiful views towards the Plaine du Var at the end. This circuit can also be done in the opposite direction, ending with the section along the river.

A beautiful snowshoe hike (or not in winter) with no difficulty and panoramic views of the Mercantour peaks and the French Riviera on a clear day. After a pleasant first section in the Cheiron forest, you cross a small valley before climbing up to Plan des Baumetes and reaching the Crête du Cheiron at Croix de Verse (1,706 m). 360° view of the sea at Argentera!

Walk around the Plateau Saint-Barnabé to finish in the "Champ des Idoles" (Field of Idols), a curious landscape of rocks sculpted by nature. A family walk with no elevation gain.

This route takes you to the Puy de Naouri, which overlooks the entire Vence area, both on the sea and mountain sides. This hike, starting from Vence, seems to me to be more interesting and enjoyable than the one starting from Tourrettes-sur-Loup, even though it is longer, as it does not follow any tarmac roads.

A very short mini hike with a very gradual and gentle climb. The path is very safe and easy to follow.Very pleasant for a light meal with a panoramic view.

A short, easy hike to discover the beautiful landscapes between the Gorges du Loup, the Plateau Saint-Barnabé and the Cheiron Massif. Le Pré Royer is a beautiful area of successive clearings above the Bramafan forest. During the rutting season, you can hear many deer at dusk or dawn.

The Calern plateau above Caussols is extraordinary for its botanical diversity, karstic relief, sinkholes, karstic caves and collapses. This hike reveals an agricultural heritage of cleared sinkholes, dry stone enclosures and huts, and piles of stones that decorate the landscape. In May, the dew adds a touch of magic to the wild orchids, ball thyme and budding lavender.

This circuit is ideal on sunny days and a surprising route thanks to the diversity and beauty of the valley, which is still wild. On the northern slope, you'll appreciate the quiet atmosphere of the pine forests and the oaks that dominate the verdant agricultural plain of Sallagriffon, with a panoramic view up to the foothills of the Mercantour mountain range. On the southern slope, you'll appreciate the magnificent mineral landscapes with tremendous views of deep clues carved out by the capricious course of the rivers.

Short hike to the summit of the Causse de Calern, where the panorama is remarkable with views of the coastline in the distance, the Caussols Plateau, and the peaks of Cheiron and Mercantour. On the way, visit Notre-Dame de Calern, a cave converted into a chapel.

This walk begins with a stroll along the peaceful Chemin du Riou, a balcony overlooking the Pays Vençois, then climbs up to the two cliff promontories, taking in a wide panorama from Nice to Théoule, and perhaps even a glimpse of Corsica!

Discover two villages, Roquestéron and La Roque-en-Provence, historically separated by the Estéron River, which marks the border between Provence and the County of Nice. Roquestéron on the left bank became French in 1860. Take a walk in the forest along a forest trail converted into a botanical trail and discover the trees and plants of the middle country.

Another route providing access to the ruins of Castellaras and Lac de Thorenc follows part of the existing circuit on Visorando. It starts from the D5, at a place called La Pinée, and is just as interesting. I have classified this route as difficult due to its orientation and length. It is advisable to bring a suitable tool for this route.

This is a large loop that goes around one of the first foothills of the Pré-Alpes d'Azur, following old paths and the Gorges de la Siagne. The loop is long but mostly flat, except for the descent to Cabris and the very steep climb back up to Saint-Vallier. The villages offer views and shops for refreshments. It is recommended to start early, as the second third of the hike will be sheltered from the southern sun, but the hardest part is exposed. There are few alternative routes or shortcuts once you are in the gorges between Saint-Cézaire and Saint-Vallier.