Southern France: Four Hikes above the Côte d'Azur

'Map of the hikes.' © Peter de Vries. This map is for indication purposes only. It has not my copyright, so I cannot sell you the rights to publish it. However I can bring you into contact with Peter de Vries. 

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2631] 'Old town of Menton.' The influence of Liguria in Italy reverberates in everything, symbolised by the baroque church towering over the old town centre. But as the fresh 'baguettes' show Menton is part of France. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2648] 'Eze above the Côte.' From a distance Eze is the most enchanting 'village littoral' of the Côte d'Azur. Here its roofs are seen from the Exotic Garden, with the Cap Ferrat peninsula in the distance. But every other building is a souvenir or antiques shop, coffeehouse or ice cream vendor. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2713] 'Hiker in Gorbio.' Hiker in the perched village of Gorbio in the hinterland of Menton. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2718] 'Gorbio.' Gorbio, lying on the slopes behind Menton, is one of the most beautiful villages littoral at the Côte d'Azur. And that's saying something, because really, all villages here are picturesque. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2726] 'High above Menton.' From the Cime de Baudon, the highest point on our walk around Gorbio, the view is even more complete. Now the coastline is also included, while at the other side the Alps rise high. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2733] 'Fresh figs.' Fresh, ripe figs are a sensual delight, in September waiting for you along the track above Menton. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2731] 'Grapes on our trail.' Are we saving France’s most noble fruit from decay or stealing from someone’s garden? Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2737] 'Path to the sun.' A late summer sun sweeps over our trail near Sainte Agnès. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2740] 'Fragrances of Spanish Broom.' In June Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) is the dominant vegetation above Menton. The flowers are much larger then those of the Common Broom. The smell is bigger than life too: as if a thousand honey pots have been left open. This photo is taken in the Borrigo valley north of Sainte Agnès. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.LIGURIA 9986] 'Eco village.' Torri Superiore is one single building, apparently a collection of towers (Torri), creating a maze. It reveals itself as the organisational nerve centre of the European network of eco-villages. It is situated near Torri, the main village, about 20 km from the coast. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2748] 'Islands in the clouds.' Crossing the border back into France from Torri in Liguria suddenly I walk above the clouds. Mountain tops and pine forests perch above the undulating cotton-wool clouds like islands, as serene as a Chinese painting. In the distance the snowcapped Alps of Mercantour. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2628] 'Marriage in Menton.' Watching the newly married couple coming out of the église St. Michel in the Old Town of Menton. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2662] 'Good life in Menton.' Life can be good in Menton. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2714] 'The elm of Gorbio.' The old elm, planted in 1713 to celebrate the Treaty of Utrecht, in which the County of Nice came back into the reign of the Duke of Savoy, is the centre of Gorbio's village life. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2715] 'Gorbio.' Hiker overlooking the perched village of Gorbio in the hinterland of Menton, just after sunset. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2721] 'Examples of karst.' North of the Col de la Madone de Gorbio, the scene shifts from green and rich in flowers to dry and barren. The water as it seeps through has eaten away at the limestone, leaving behind razor-sharp fins. A textbook example of a ‘karst’ landscape. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2728] 'Cime de Baudon.' From the Cime de Baudon, the highest point on our walk around Gorbio, the view is even more complete. Now the coastline is included, with Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in view, while at the other side the Alps rise high. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2732] 'Grapes & blackberries.' Hiking above the Côte d'Azur means enjoying an occasional snack of figs, grapes or blackberries, with a view of both the Alps and the coast. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2735] 'Blackberries.' Hiking above the Côte d'Azur means enjoying an occasional snack of figs, grapes or blackberries, with a view of both the Alps and the coast. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2739] 'Fragrances of Spanish Broom.' In June Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) is the dominant vegetation above Menton. The flowers are much larger then those of the Common Broom. The smell is bigger than life too: as if a thousand honey pots have been left open. This photo is taken in the Borrigo valley north of Sainte Agnès. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.COTEDAZUR 2743] 'Flowers along the path.' An abundance of flowers along the path in Borrigo valley north of Sainte Agnès in the hinterland of Menton. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.LIGURIA 9987] 'Olive harvest.' Near the Ligurian village of Torri olives are being harvested. The nets catching the olives resemble morning fog drifting between the tree trunks. Photo Paul Smit.