Winding between the sea and the land, the trails of the coast borrowed until the Nineteenth century by the customs to address the smuggling, are today conducive to gentle walks. In the Alpes-Maritimes in particular, the caps that dot the beachfront offer itineraries of rare beauty, where the visitor discovers, in summer as in winter, the treasures, both natural and architectural.
It is indeed on these peninsulas ticked by the waves and blessed by the Sun god that the rich wintering and the crowned heads were implanted at the beginning of the Twentieth century, sumptuous mansions, witnesses today still a Beautiful Time in unparalleled style. Just drag an eye between the pins for the watch…
Cap-Martin : Le Corbusier and other celebrities
In the far east of the Alpes-Maritimes, between Chin and Monaco , the promenade Le Corbusier to follow the contours of Cap Martin. It runs first the steep cliffs of the cape, seeing in the distance Roquebrune and the buildings of monaco. It is not uncommon to see fall from the sky the canvases multi-colored with hang-gliders who leap from the mont Wholesale for landing on the beach.
Soon arise between the pins of the arches and the columns of ochre of a monastery suspended above the sea. It is the end of the park, which surrounds the villa Cypris , remains of the dream of the byzantine imagined by the billionaire Cyprienne Dubernet at the end of the Nineteenth century. A little further, it runs along the park, which surrounds the villa Cyrnos , designed and occupied by the empress Eugenie who was fond of the cap just like the queen Victoria or even Sissi. It is rumored that the latter loved to walk along the coastal path, then totally blank and go to Eugénie by a discreet door which she had the key.
colonnades of the villa Cypris overlooking the sea. Photo press
It is necessary to continue along the coast and pass through an impressive gateway hooked to the retaining wall of the railroad track to move forward in time and find out what other personalities have transferred later to the charms of the place. The famous architect and urban planner Le Corbusier in particular, who had put his bags on the evening of his life and who died drowned off the coast, in 1965.
“I have a castle on the Côte d’azur”, used to say. A cottage in reality, built at the side of the inn the sea Star that was his friend Thomas Rebutato. A jewel of ingenuity of some 13 m2 only, the precursor to the habitat minimalist, as you can see down towards the end of the promenade at beach level.
On the same site, there are also units of campgrounds in wood colorful, imagined by the architect, as well as the villa E-1027 Eileen Gray built between 1927 and 1929 and is considered a true manifesto of modern architecture. Why this name ? These are the figures corresponding to the initials of the designer and her partner, Jean Badovici : E for Eileen, 10 for the J in Jean, 2 for the B in Badovici and 7 of the G-Gray…
running Time : about 2 hours (between two stations). Difference in altitude : +50 m / -50 m.
Get there : to reach the station of Carnolès (free parking). Down the avenue François de Monléon to reach the edge of the sea. Turn right on the promenade du Cap Martin and the avenue Winston Churchill up to the tip of Cape Martin (about 20 minutes) where is the start of the promenade Le Corbusier. For the return, reach the train station of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin above the beach end of the trail, and return to the starting point by train in 3 minutes (line Nice-Menton).
Tourist Office of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Tel.: +33 (0)4 93 35 62 87 / www.rcm-tourisme.com
Cap d’ail : a beach in the other countries of Guitry The sea, with its shades of blue, accompanying us throughout the walk. Town of Cap d’ail
The famous promenade that takes birth on the beach Marquet , the gates of Monaco. Well-furnished and punctuated with a fifty interpretive panels, it winds among the rocks hit by the sun and infused with sea salt. The sea, with its shades of blue, from dark to turquoise caribbean, accompanying us throughout the walk.
We sniff the scent of pines. We take the break on one of the benches or in the hollow of a cove to dive toward the horizon and bathe when the weather permits. One goes along in the first part of the journey the great property Capponcina , which belonged to friends of Winston Chrurchill, and where the latter stayed several times . A little later, after a small beach, we discover the villa Les funambules, purchased in 1911 by Sacha Guitry.
The beautiful white house where the artist lived with his successive wives, and where he wrote several plays, stands facing the sea, in the middle of the pines. To see it better, it moves on to the small island located on the volcanic rocks on the margins of the trail. At the level of the Cap Rognoso, it is located in front of the portal property The Rock . In the 1950s, Greta Barbo was staying regularly in this stately home that belonged to his lover, the billionaire businessman George Schlee.
The beach of la Mala in Cap d’ail. Adobe Stock/JY
once arrived at the advanced Customs , the children enjoy the playground constructed. At the end of the ride, we crossed a final pass along a narrow suspended staircase to the side of the cliff. Then comes the final reward : the sublime beach of la Mala , the name of which was inspired by a friend dancer of the last Russian Tsar, who loved to stroll in these places. A pretty creek preserved in the hollow of a box of rocks and crystal clear water.
It then goes up the stairs leading to the old grand hotel, Eden Palace before you follow the avenue F. de May up to the door of the charming park Sacha Guitry , which is crossed to reach the seafront promenade in the opposite direction. As early as the spring found on the route of the restaurants in the frameworks idyllic familiar the sea : the authentic Cottage , and its famous slogan “Qü manga ben caga ben” ( www.capresort.com ) at the level of the tip of the Customs, or even Pinewood (www.restaurantlapinede.com), for lovers of fresh fish. Also, the restaurants private beaches of Reserve (www.capresort.com), or Eden Beach Mala (edenplagemala.com).
running Time : 2: 30 am. Elevation gain : +100m / -100 m.
Get there : reach the parking lot of the Beach Marquet, following the basse corniche RM 6098. Or by train, gare de Fontvieille, Monaco (1 km). Office of tourism of Cap-d’ail, phone : + 33(0) 4 93 78 02 33, www.cap-dail.com/fr/
Cap Ferrat : return to the wild A way to blossom rock. J. J. Pangrazzi
In Cap-Ferrat, the coastal path runs along fully the contours of the peninsula up to the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The walk begins along an old quarry where was extracted, it has been nearly one hundred years, the rocks needed for the construction of the piers of the port of Monaco. There is, moreover, at sea four massive pillars, remains of the old loading dock for the maritime transport of materials.
Then, a concrete path registered in a stunning carpet of limestone rock and jagged crosses of luxurious villas, before narrowing at the level of the advanced Causinière . Raising his eyes to the right, one can see the famous swimming pool of the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat , palace emblematic of the Belle Epoque, nestled in the heart of a pine forest of 7 hectares, facing the sea. Several generations of children of celebrities have learned to swim in this pond mythical called the Club Dauphin, among which the small Kennedy, or the children of Charlie Chaplin.
On the trail, the landscape becomes more wild, the sound of the waves on the rock is more present. You can climb several steps to win the state-of Malalongue which stands, in an atmosphere of the end of the world, the tower is octagonal and pyramidal lighthouse of the Cap-Ferrat , who protects the sailors of the reefs. Erected in 1827, the building was destroyed by the Germans and rebuilt in 1951. We can only observe its facade, because it is closed to the public out Heritage days.
The impressive fort of Mont Alban overlooking the bay of Villefranche. Adobe Stock/Arthur R.
We then continued the path, flower of rock, to finally discover the incredible bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer , crossing various small stairs provided to go down directly to the edge of the water. After several switchbacks along steep cliffs and some of the passages under the pine trees, we finally arrived at our destination on the beautiful beach Fair.
Do not hesitate to install them around a table or in the lounge area of the private beach eponymous (www.plage-de-passable.fr) to admire the bay of Villefranche is overlooked by the impressive fort Mont Alban . It was formerly the privilege of the mighty of this world who were staying at the Grand Hotel in Cape town, which belonged to the concession. Recovery in 1945 by the family Vestri, it has remained since, an institution. To reach the port, climb to the last few stairs, and then follow a section of the road before crossing it in order to use a pedestrian path that descends to the village.
running Time : 2h. Difference in height : +60 m / -60 mr.
Get there : reach the parking lot of the port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, following the basse corniche. Once parked, walk up commercial street and turn left on the avenue Vignon until the metallic portal and the path of the Career. Office de tourisme Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, phone: +33 (0)4 93 76 08 90. www.saintjeancapferrat-tourisme.fr
Cap d’antibes : castles by the sea The cove of la Garoupe, where to start the ride. Y. Seuret
Is called the trail Tirepoil , perhaps because the sea winds are frequent all along this path clings to the contours of the mythical cap d’antibes. Here, far from the urban constructions, it is nature in its most simple camera that appeals. As soon the beach of la Garoupe where originates the route, the eye revels in shades of turquoise of the sea. And then the scent of pine comes to marry with notes of iodine. In the distance you can see the coast up to Nice .
We then left the panorama to turn right and walk along a small creek before the trail built along the walls of the great parks of castles of la Garoupe and the Croë . The latter, built in 1927 in victorian style and was for a time the residence of the duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson. Since 2004, it is the property of the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovitch, which you can see sometimes off the huge yacht the Eclipse.
The nature is generous to several places, giving to see different plant species such as cristes marine, or the lavender sea. Then passes over a narrow stone stairs, protected from the rails, propel us in environments that are rocky with many climbs and descents. The landscape becomes almost lunar when the trail widens towards the end of the walk.
it ends when one reaches on the right is a narrow passage between two walls that go back up to the prestigious villa Eilenroc . It is the rich dutchman, Hugh Hope Loudon, who built this white palace in the 1860s, calling for the plans of Charles Garnier. Eilenroc is the anagram of the name of his wife Cornélie. Today, the mansion is the property of the city of Antibes, who has made it a place of receptionn. The beautiful park on the other hand is open to the public as early as spring, afternoon (14h-17h) Wednesdays and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. The opportunity to discover its rich rose garden and its olive grove.
To return to the parking lot of La Garoupe, one goes up the avenue Beaumont, the name of the last owner Eilenroc, and then I took right at the end of the avenue de la Tour Gandolphe. On the beach you can enjoy a drink or eat at the establishment L e Rock (ph.: +33 (0)4 93 67 51 36), whose terrace juts out over the sea. As early as march-April, the famous restaurant in The Caesar of the beach Keller opens him its doors (www.restaurant-plage-cesar-antibes.fr)
running Time : about 2 hours. Difference in altitude : +30 m / -30 m.
Get there : park in the parking area of la Garoupe, in front of the beach of the same name. The trail starts to the right of the beach, after the beach Keller. Office de tourisme d’antibes, phone: +33 (0)4 22 10 60 10. www.antibesjuanlespins.com
SujetsAlpes-MaritimesProvence-Alpes-Côte d AzurvoyageTourismeAucun comment
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