Vence walks

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!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Far from the crowded beaches, the coast and its hustle and bustle, you can hike in a little corner of paradise for the curious or the initiated. River, waterfalls, swimming or fishing... The landscapes and activities here are as varied as they are enjoyable. Loop at La Colle-sur-Loup, where you can also swim, go rock climbing and hire kayaks.

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.

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 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.

This is a walk of about 5km that forms a loop in the forests of Roquefort-les Pins. The route sometimes follows DFCI tracks, wide paths or narrow trails. Some notable points of interest include a pretty stone house in the middle of nowhere and a well in the middle of the forest, evidence of past agricultural activity. The entrance to a cave has been found, but the one known as the Chèvre d'Or (Golden Goat) is still being sought.

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

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.

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 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.

Panoramic hike to discover the remains of the past.

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.

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.

This is an easy walk through woodland with plenty of shade, which is very welcome in summer. The route follows the Brague river and its confluence with the Bruguet before returning via the Brague. There are magnificent views of the rivers, waterfalls and a small stone bridge.

This long hike, mainly through woodland, starts in the charming village of Valbonne and takes you to the small wild valley of Bruguet (dry in summer). After a long stretch of heathland, you will follow the Brague, a small river that can be devastating (see the floods of October 2015) flowing through an almost virgin forest. At the beginning of the season, swimming is possible in a few spots. Moderator's note: there are a few difficulties on this hike; see the comments at the bottom of this page

A circuit combining the discovery of historical heritage and biodiversity. The circuit starts at the12th-century abbey and can end with a visit to the heritage museum and the15th-century village of Valbonne. What's more, this route follows part of the Way of St James from Rome. The biodiversity of Mediterranean flora is also visible throughout the route.