The jewelers know it, a Riviera without its case is nothing. From Grasse to Menton, the Mediterranean coast is hemmed with reliefs. Majestic rocky headlands for around thirty villages, these stone lodges offer incomparable shows with shades of blue, exceptional colors, starry vaults … The panoramas sometimes extend 360 degrees from the Italian border to the Gulf of Saint Tropez. A handful of lucky people can even claim to have seen Corsica on a good day.
Access to some of these views is earned. To reach Gourdon, you have to enter the hinterland of Grasse and take small winding roads like that of the Gorges du Loup, with its pools and waterfalls. Saint-Paul de Vence then Tourrettes-sur-Loup are accessible from Gourdon or directly via Cagnes-sur-Mer. The roads which lead to Coaraze or Sainte-Agnès are long and tortuous but worth the detour. Like Gourdon, they are both labeled “the most beautiful villages in France”.
Closer to the coast, Èze and Roquebrune blur the borders with Italy, the attachment of the County of Nice to France only dating from 1860. Here, the stones blend with the warm colors of the facades of houses and churches. With La Chèvre d’or in Èze and L’Hostellerie Jérôme in la Turbie, lovers of high-end hotels will be delighted. Note for Michelin followers, Alain Llorca’s restaurant in St Paul de Vence and Le Clovis in Tourrettes-sur-Loup.
Traces of a rich past
Another common point, perched villages can boast a rich past. Ramparts, a castle, pretty little churches, washhouses. And the pleasure of getting lost in the stone alleys, of rapturing on a flowery doorstep and a colorful facade. To hear a few words in Occitan. These places with a strong identity struggle to perpetuate traditions and know-how. You will attend feasts of patron saints, the violet, the pistou, browse odorous and appetizing markets. You can even take part in world pilou or square ball championships.
As for the artists, the list of those who have chosen to live there is long. Renoir, Chagall, Matisse, Cocteau, Le Corbusier, to name a few, made their final creations there or are buried there. You have to stroll through the alleys of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Roquebrune, Saint-Paul de Vence, Èze, to discover the windows of talented creators and craftsmen.
Finally, for hiking enthusiasts, these destinations offer beautiful walks around. The tourist offices of each village list the hiking trails, as does the site randoxygen.
The most beautiful hilltop villages
Ranked among the “most beautiful villages in France”, Gourdon, which means “mountain” in the prelatin, is located on a spectacular rock at an altitude of 760 meters. It is the ideal starting point for paragliders who have even created a school there. Its panorama extends over 80 km from Nice to Théoule-sur-Mer.
Do not miss
The panorama from Place Victoria, the visit of the St Vincent Church built on the rock. The Table du Vieux Four restaurant offers good meals with local products. Excellent glacier in summer. For the brave with good shoes, take the Chemin du paradis which descends to Pont du Loup (departure from the village center).
On the Route between Gourdon and Tourrettes, take a break at the Florian confectionery which you can visit and from where you will leave with delicate petals of violet, rose and verbena crystallized. Their candied mandarins are divine.
Details of the activities on the Gourdon tourist office website: https://www.gourdon06.fr/fr
The city of violets, of which it is the main culture since 1880, is located on the famous perfume route of Grasse. Behind the main square, stroll through the alleys of the small historic center to discover its designer boutiques.
Do not miss
Get lost in the streets of the old village after discovering the food shops around the Place de la Liberation. Let yourself be tempted by a dinner at Clovis, the star of the village.
Details of the activities on the site of the village tourist office: https://tourrettessurloup.com/office-de-tourisme/
Timeless icon and little gem of the Côte d’Azur, people come from all over the world to discover, in the footsteps of Chagall, its alleys full of art galleries, its walks on the curtain with beautiful views, its foundation Maeght, the first private foundation dedicated to art in France.
Do not miss
After a visit to the pretty town center and a walk on the curtain wall, you can let yourself be tempted by the Table du tilleul or, at the end of the day, have a drink at sunset at the edge of the ramparts. For art lovers, the Folon chapel with its soft and sparkling mosaics is worth a detour.
Details of the activities on the site of the tourist office of the village, which is full of good plans and information: https://www.saint-pauldevence.com/
In the event of an attack, the inhabitants of Coaraze could flee through the roofs thanks to pontis, small vaulted passages, over very narrow alleys. Many renowned artists have settled there, such as Jean Cocteau, Angel Ponce de Leon, Henri Goetz or Ben.
Do not miss
Take a stroll through the alleys of this charming little rural village in the middle of Nice and discover the wash house, the fountain, the bread oven. Beautiful walks are also possible, such as from the parking lot at the entrance to the village which leads to the blue chapel (take a break to admire the frescoes by Ponce de Leon). Continue on the left until the beginning of a forest track which you will go up to arrive at a lace which offers a nice view on the promontory of Coaraze.
On the edge of Monaco, Roquebrune also has its rock around which it is built. Dominating the village, the visit of the castle (by appointment via the website of the tourist office) allows you to walk through alleys sometimes dug out of the rock.
Do not miss
At the entrance of the village, the windows of the potter Stéphane Montalto, the best worker in France. You will also be able to discover a thousand-year-old olive tree classified as a remarkable tree of France as well as the tomb of the architect Le Corbusier which rests eternally in front of the big blue.
Details of the activities on the site of the village tourist office: https://roquebrune-cap-martin.fr/visiter/
True eagle’s nest, with a view to Cap Camarat and Corsica in good weather, Èze has many charms. Its rocky promontory with its ruins, statues and cacti from the exotic garden, its famous star La Chèvre d’or …
Do not miss
Climb to the top for the view and the charm of the ruins of the old castle mixed with the exotic garden. Then stroll through the village with a break at the medieval Sainte-Croix chapel where the lay brotherhood of white penitents met. To have a beautiful point of view, hikers will appreciate the Forna circuit from the village of La Turbie.
Details of the activities on the site of the village tourist office: www.eze-tourisme.com.
With its 800 meters of altitude and its incredible panorama to the Alps, Sainte-Agnès is the highest coastal village in Europe. Very beautiful walks allow you to climb up to the castle and for history buffs, the passage of the Maginot line has left fortifications that can be visited.
Do not miss
The old village, its historic streets, its plots. Its position on the Italian border has long made it a highly coveted defense post. Sainte-Agnès is located on the Maginot line and has a fort built before the Second World War which can be visited. This village is the starting point for many walks of all levels.
Details of the activities on the site of the village tourist office: http: //www.sainteagnes .fr
How to get there
From Paris, by plane to Nice Côte d’Azur airport then by car. Possibility of taking a bus to Saint-Paul de Vence or Èze.
Gourdon
14 km from Grasse and 37 km from Nice and Cannes. Access to the village is via three roads: the D6 via the Loup gorges, the D3 from Châteauneuf and the D12 from Caussols. Free parking at the entrance of the village.
Tourrettes-sur-Loup
20 minutes from Châteauneuf-Grasse or 5 minutes from Vence by the D 2210. Ample free parking at the entrance of the village or paid (but central), place de la Liberation.
Saint-Paul de Vence
Motorway exit at Cagnes-sur-Mer then direction Saint-Paul de Vence. Large paying car park at the village entrance or below. For the visit of the Maeght Foundation, it is advisable to go there by car and park in the adjacent car park, at the top of the access road to the monument.
Coaraze
Allow 40 minutes by car from Nice. Go up the Paillon valley (RD 2204) to Pointe-de-Contes. Follow the RD 15 on the left which joins Coaraze via Contes and Bendejun. Free parking at the entrance of the village.
Roquebrune
Access from Nice via the Grande Corniche (D2564). Several public car parks, paid or free.
Èze
From Nice by the M6007 or the Middle Corniche. Allow 30 minutes by car. Paid parking or access by bus Line 82 Nice – Èze (Lignes d’Azur).
Sainte-Agnes
Located 25 minutes by car from Menton. From Menton, follow the D22, very steep and winding road, to the village of Sainte-Agnès. Free parking at the entrance of the village.
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