You’ve Heard of Good and Monaco—However Not This Stunning Hidden Coastal Path Between Them

Positioned close to the bustling yet laidback city of Nice and never removed from Monaco, the Sentier du Littoral is a pathway that hugs the perimeter of the massive Cap Ferrat peninsula. You’ll stroll by rocky coves and small inlets, previous hidden seashores, tall lighthouses, and grand villas, all whereas having fun with beautiful sea views.

In case you are brief on time or don’t need to do a protracted stroll, you may simply simply do a bit of the path. If you happen to’re up for an extended journey, the complete peninsula is a fantastic (but nonetheless straightforward) hike

I’ve visited France 14 occasions, and the French Riviera thrice, and mountaineering the coastal pathway, or Sentier du Littoral, of Cap Ferrat was some of the pleasant surprises I’ve skilled within the nation.

It’s mainly the definition of a hidden gem, and when you love a scenic strolling path, that is undoubtedly a spot you’ll need to go to!

The place is Cap Ferrat

Cap Ferrat is a protracted, skinny peninsula on the French Riviera, about quarter-hour from Good to Cap Ferrat. The closest cities are Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

A Few French Language Notes:
1. For the title Cap Ferrat, Cap is pronounced just like the English phrase, and Ferrat is pronounced like “fur-ah”
2. In French, “plage” means seaside.
3. “Sentier du Littoral” means coastal pathway

The place Does the Path Begin and Finish + Total Path Map

The path follows nearly the complete perimeter of the peninsula, together with the small peninsula off the peninsula on the japanese fringe of the cape. You’ll be able to see the dotted line work its approach across the peninsula on the map, above.

On the japanese aspect of the peninsula, the path begins on the Baie des Fourmis. On the western aspect of the peninsula, the path begins at Plage des Satisfactory.

That is the official map (the image above) that I picked up from the tourism workplace, and whereas I did find yourself utilizing Google Maps whereas I used to be strolling to trace my progress, it was good to have this paper map as nicely.

You’ll be able to seize a map from the Tourism Workplaces in lots of close by cities – I grabbed mine from the one in Good (proper exterior the practice station), however actually Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Villefranche-sur-Mer would even have them as nicely (or be at liberty to only save the image of the map from this submit).

Cap Ferrat From the Sea

Whereas strolling by the ocean on this path is beautiful, there’s nothing fairly like being on the ocean. Earlier than or after you stroll the Sentier du Littoral, you too can take a small, personal boat cruise from Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and expertise the rocky coves, inlets, and villas from the water.

This expertise is a one-hour private cruise on a solar-powered boat, taking you alongside the French coast. Need a longer cruise and time to take a dip within the sea? There’s additionally a implausible 2 hour option for a private cruise.

A Breakdown of What You’ll See and Expertise on the Path

Whereas you are able to do the hike in both course, I’d suggest mountaineering clockwise on the path. You’ll begin in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, which has a practice station, so when you’re staying in Nice, Cannes, Monaco, or wherever else proper alongside the coast, it’s very straightforward to get right here through practice.

It’s a few 15 minute stroll from the practice station to the beginning of the path, however earlier than you begin strolling, I’d suggest you cease and go to Villa Kerylos, which is only a couple minutes from the trailhead.

Villa Kerylos

Villa Kerylos was constructed within the early 1900’s by a rich German archaeologist who was fascinated by Greek tradition and structure. The villa is predicated on the model of homes on the Greek island of Delos and the property feels such as you’re transported again to historic Greece.

The structure, model, mosaics, and even paintings, sculptures, and furnishings, and materials are all paying homage to a quintessential Greek villa. The grounds aren’t massive, however they’re proper up alongside the ocean.

You’ll be able to stroll by means of a small “museum” of Greek sculptures and replicas of well-known Greek sculptures within the basement, earlier than coming into the principle home and admiring all the attractive rooms.

• Hours: 10am-6pm from Might-August, 10am-5pm all different months. The villa is open each day of the week
• Entrance Payment: 11,50 €

First Part of the Path – Promenade Maurice Rouvier

From Villa Kerylos, stroll alongside the Plage des Fourmis seaside – on the far aspect of the seaside, yow will discover the primary a part of the Sentier du Littoral path. This part is formally referred to as Promenade Maurice Rouvier.

This a part of the path is admittedly nice and straightforward – the complete path is paved and principally flat. You’re proper alongside the coast, and the additional you stroll, the extra rocky and craggling the shoreline turns into.

You’ll get nice views again in direction of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Villa Kerylos, in addition to some stunning villas proper alongside the coast in Cap Ferrat. This tremendous cute pink villa stands out alongside the coast for fairly some time through the stroll, and also you’ll finally go proper subsequent to it on the trail.

• Distance: About 1.5 km (0.9 miles)
• Estimated Time: 20 minutes

Plage Cros dei Pin

The Promenade Maurice Rouvier, the primary part of the coastal path, ends at one other seaside, the Plage Cros dei Pin within the village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The view of the seaside and the port and village behind is implausible!

Proper about the place this image was taken, the trail divides. You’ll be able to go down some stairs, which is able to take you on to the seaside, or proceed ahead, which is able to take you above the seaside and extra instantly into city. In fact, there are different entry factors between the seaside and city nearer in, as nicely.

This can be a beautiful beach in southern France, and the very best seaside on Cap Ferrat if you wish to be near quite a lot of facilities.

For instance, the seaside has a bit of playground for youngsters, quite a lot of water leases (kayaks, and so on), showers and lockers, a bit of snack shack, and even a car parking zone. Plus, you’re simply steps from the city, the place yow will discover extra outlets and eating places to get pleasure from after your seaside time.

The seaside itself is made up of coarse sand and nice gravel, which you’ll stroll throughout in naked toes with out a lot problem (many seashores in southern France are a lot rockier, so that is truly fairly good for the Riviera). The water is fairly good and the views out again to the shoreline are pretty.  

Village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (yup, it’s a mouthful!) is the tiny little village on Cap Ferrat. The principle attraction on the town is the seaside, however there are a couple of different charming issues to do on the town earlier than you proceed in your approach:

• Wander by means of the charming port
• Seize a gelato at one of many eating places lining the port
• Cease by the Eglise Saint Jean Baptiste church (and spot the historic cannons proper exterior the church!)
• Go to the Musée des Coquillages (The Seashell Museum)
• Admire the statue of Winston Churchill portray on an easel. Churchill cherished portray and apparently he cherished visiting the village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat!

Attending to the Second Part of the Coastal Path

There is just one highway that goes by means of the village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, which is Avenue Denis Semeria, which turns into Avenue Jean Mermoz. If you happen to’re strolling alongside the port, you’ll simply hold strolling up the road, there’s actually not wherever else to go.

You’ll stroll on the precise avenue for a couple of minutes, till you attain the small Jardin de la Paix gardens. This little space has a restaurant and tables to loosen up at, the Co-Exist Fountain, and views down over Plage des Fossettes. That is additionally the place you’ll decide up the 2nd part of the Sentier du Littoral of Cap Ferrat!

Entry right down to Plage des Fossettes is correct off the Jardin de la Paix and is a a lot much less crowded seaside on Cap Ferrat. The seaside is within the deep alcove of Cove Fossettes, and the seaside is gravelly with some larger rocks.

There are showers right here and nice sea views, and since the seaside is on the backside of the cliffside, it feels actually remoted.

Climbing the Second Part of the Sentier du Littoral of Cap Ferrat

This part of the path is across the perimeter of a bit of peninsula (a peninsula on the peninsula which is Cap Ferrat). You’ll be able to hike in both a clockwise or counterclockwise loop, and also you’ll find yourself again on the Jardin de la Paix if you end up completed.

Since I hiked in a counter-clockwise part, that’s how I’m going to element the path right here.

The primary a part of the hike down is underneath the shade of some timber. There are a couple of sections the place you may stroll right down to the rocky shoreline and look again on the inlet (named Fossettes Cove.)

As you flip the nook to the bottom of the peninsula, the path turns into way more remoted. Craggly rocks line the pathway, and you’re looking straight out to the Mediterranean. It’s extremely rugged and scenic.

Websites on the Second A part of Cap Ferrat’s Coastal Pathway

As you’re strolling alongside the again fringe of the peninsula, there will probably be a couple of intersecting streets the place you may minimize inland and go to a couple of factors of curiosity. The route and websites are all well-marked, with signposts naming the totally different sights and instructions to them.

The principle websites middle across the Chapelle Saint-Hospice and the close by Martin Cemetery and Belgian Army Cemetery.

The environment are simply beautiful and the ultimate part of the sentier du littoral main as much as Paloma Seashore is actually probably the most lovely and charming part of the complete path on Cap Ferrat.

Plage de la Paloma

Paloma Seashore is on the very finish of this second part of the coastal pathway, and is undoubtedly probably the most picturesque seaside on Cap Ferrat. The seaside is nestled in a bit of cove, and is simply so dang charming!

The seaside isn’t enormous, but it surely does have a small seaside membership with loungers and umbrellas you may hire, loads of free, public seaside house, showers, and loos. The seaside is rocky, so ensure you have good water footwear if you wish to go in.

The coastal pathway takes you proper to the seaside, and there’s additionally a staircase main down right here from the one highway that goes by means of this a part of the peninsula.

If you happen to don’t need to do the complete sentier du littoral of this second part, you too can simply stroll in a clockwise course from Jardin de la Paix and shortly arrive at Plage de la Paloma.

• Distance For the Second Leg: 2 km (1.25 miles)
• Estimated Time: half-hour
• Observe that these time/distance estimates don’t consider any stops to go down on the rocks, go to the cemetery or chapel, or spend time on Paloma Seashore. I ended up spending nicely over an hour on this part as a result of I used to be having a good time having fun with the surroundings and exploring.

Getting from the Second to Third Part of the Path

Once you end up the second part of the Sentier du Littoral, you’ll be again in Jardin de la Paix. From right here, you’ll have a few 10-minute stroll by means of the streets, passing by Plage des Fossettes and Plage de la Fosse, earlier than selecting up the third and last part of the Cap Ferrat sentier du littoral.

The road stroll is kind of fulfilling since you’re strolling by so many fancy and delightful properties. What can I say, I prefer to gawk at fairly homes!

Third Part of the Path

The ultimate part of the Cap Ferrat coastal path begins on the far aspect of Plage de la Fosse. The trail follows (nearly) the complete remainder of the perimeter of the peninsula, and is by far probably the most distant and remoted part of the path.

Within the 1 hour+ that I walked this path, I solely handed a handful of individuals the complete time (however felt completely protected as a solo feminine hiker).

The southern tip of the peninsula is lined with craggy, nearly pointy white rocks, and the horizon is crammed with solely the ocean. The trail is flat, clean, and really straightforward, and as you around the very southern tip of the peninsula, a lighthouse comes into view. It’s simply probably the most serene and peaceable stroll.

When you spherical the underside of the peninsula and begin heading north once more, the terrain adjustments. The trail truly turns into a dust path, with rocks and roots within the path. Additionally, you will begin passing inlets and coves alongside the shoreline.

There are a number of spots alongside this part the place you may stroll down some stone steps and entry the water, or there are flat rocks the place you may lie out and benefit from the solar.

That is significantly some of the idyllic sections of the shoreline within the French Riviera.

• Distance: Just below 5 km
• Time Estimate: 1 hour

The Finish of the Path

The path ends at Plage Satisfactory, a smallish seaside with a seaside membership, cafe, and a few public seaside house. From the seaside, there’s a staircase that takes you again as much as the highway.

You’ll be able to attempt to name an Uber from right here, however you might have some problem getting a driver to simply accept you. Alternatively, you may stroll up the highway for a couple of minutes till you attain the #15 bus cease, which is able to take you again to Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Villefranche, or additional on to Nice.

Lastly, you too can simply proceed your hike and stroll on the highway again to Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Villefranche.

Complete Distance

If you happen to embrace all of the connections between sections, the entire mountaineering distance of the Cap Ferrat Sentier du Littoral is 10km (about 6.2 miles) and can take you at the least 2 hours and quarter-hour of mountaineering.

In fact, that’s when you hike the peninsula straight by means of, with out making any stops. I visited Villa Kerylos at midday, and was beginning the path by 12:45pm. I spent simply over 5 hours on Cap Ferrat in whole, ending at Plage Satisfactory just a bit after 6pm.

I spent loads of time having fun with the views and exploring totally different spots, however I by no means truly laid out a towel and went swimming.

I’d suggest you propose for at the least 3-4 hours minimal to actually benefit from the views and the totally different websites. Conversely, you can simply make an entire time out of it and spend a while enjoyable on certainly one of Cap Ferrat’s pretty seashores.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

One last cease on Cap Ferrat that you could make is Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild! This stunning villa is positioned only a few minutes from Plage Satisfactory (actually, it’s proper by the bus station I discussed simply above), and is a beautiful pink villa surrounded by stunning gardens.

You’ll be able to tour by means of the rooms of the home, and eat within the charming café discovered inside – which is extremely advisable for the ambiance.

There are 9 backyard areas all through the grounds – my favourite was the Provencal backyard, with its fountains, hedges, and villa views, however they’re all pretty.

Bonus: Villefranche-sur-Mer

Whether or not you go to proper after mountaineering by means of Cap Ferrat or go to one other day, you may’t miss the lovely village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is on the west aspect of the bay from Cap Ferrat.

Villefranche is crammed with pastel-colored streets, an enthralling seaside promenade, an outdated port, a citadel, and a chapel lined in paintings.

For such a small village, there are a variety of things to see and do in Villefranche, and the laidback coastal vibes can’t be beat!

A Few Different Suggestions

Topless Girls: Remember that it’s socially acceptable for girls to go topless on seashores in France. Whereas most individuals put on each items of their swimsuit, there’s normally a pair girls on each seaside who’re topless.

Journey Towel: If you happen to don’t have entry to seaside towels when touring, think about grabbing a journey towel – they’re fabricated from microfiber and are very compact, but very absorbent and dry simply.

Pack Sunscreen: The French Riviera has very sunny situations, and a lot of the hike has little or no shade. Don’t overlook to pack sunscreen and/or a hat.

Climate: Whereas it most likely goes with out saying, don’t do that hike throughout stormy situations (particularly part 3 of the path). There are indicators out warning of harmful waves and sea situations throughout storms.

Maps: I’d suggest ensuring you could have offline maps downloaded earlier than you begin on the sentier du littoral so you may at all times entry maps and see the place you’re, even when you get out of cell service areas.

Climbing on Cap Ferrat – The Wrap Up

The day I spent mountaineering Cap Ferrat’s coastal pathway is actually certainly one of my fondest recollections of my most up-to-date French Riviera trip. The solar was shining, the views had been wonderful, and I cherished exploring this hidden gem on the Cote d’Azur.