The most beautiful landscapes of the French Riviera
Historical, strategic, mythical, sports, panoramic, winding or even cinematic, there are so many ways to describe the roads of the 3 Corniches!
Connecting Nice to Menton, these three roads offer exceptional panoramas and are the scene of many events! Indeed, the roads of the Three Corniches are a real invitation to travel!
We invite you to discover them and qualify them in your turn according to your own experience!
Discovery of the three cornices
Morning small circuit 250€ (08h30-12h30)
Day big circuit 450€ (09h00-17h00)
The Basse Corniche, the road to the seaside
The Basse Corniche crosses the cut coast and allows the discovery of very beautiful and elegant seaside resorts. It starts at the port of Nice to reach Menton located before Italy. Our crossing of the low cornice will take us to Cap d’Ail, the last city crossed on the metropolitan territory…
The bay of Villefranche is about 7 kilometres east of Nice, on the Côte d’Azur. It has a colorful old town, crystal clear sea and a lively promenade bordering one of the largest marinas in France. From May to September, families flock to the Marinières beach to swim in its shallow waters and indulge in activities on the sand. After putting on a mask and snorkel, experienced swimmers will be delighted to get away from the shore to explore the hollow rocks populated with fish.
Strolling through the old town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, you will see Provencal houses with balconies and covered with red tiles, as well as buildings from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries such as the church of Saint-Michel and the chapel of Saint-Pierre.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a town located on the seafront between Monaco and Nice, where luxurious villas, manicured parks and gardens as well as upscale restaurants and shops dominate the Mediterranean and the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. In summer, the city’s beaches are taken over by wealthy holidaymakers, while in the marinas there are dozens of private yachts.
To the east of the centre of Beaulieu-sur-Mer is the pebble beach of La Petite Afrique, lined with palm trees providing some shade and equipped with a beach club, a playground for children and a beach volleyball court. The beach is supervised by lifeguards, so you can enjoy activities such as swimming, water skiing, wakeboarding and paddle boarding in peace.
The secluded beach of Èze-sur-Mer in the south-east of France is set in a picturesque mountain setting. If its clear waters are appreciated by swimmers and other snorkelers, you can also simply contemplate the view from the sun loungers of one of the restaurants established along the pebbles.
Èze-sur-Mer is a relatively quiet town all year round, despite the groups of tourists on excursions that go there from the neighboring cities of Nice and Monaco for example. A rocky path leads to the small Provencal village of Èze, but the slope is quite steep. It is better to wear appropriate shoes.
Shop Fragonard Eze on the Square
Located close to the Laboratory Factory, Fragonard deploys in its third point of sale in Eze village part of its scented ranges and all its lines art of living (decoration, fashion and accessories). The new shop offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Middle Corniche, Panoramas on the Coastal Villages
The Moyenne Corniche rises at few hundred meters from sea level, meanders along the steep cliffs offering exceptional views. More specifically, it starts in the port district, at Max Barel Square. It is also the former National 7 the “Route des Vacances” which linked Paris to Menton! We can imagine the happiness of holidaymakers who ended their journey facing the big blue!
What is remarkable when driving on the Moyenne Corniche is to discover the viewpoints that are available to us! The road winds between steep cliffs and perpetually green vegetation. Below you can see the municipalities of the coast; it is not rare that the cornices cross these cities, from the coast to the top of the cliffs, as in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Eze or Cap d’Ail.
The avenue Bella Vista as its name suggests, is strategic to admire the view! Moreover, a mandatory stop is required a little further in Eze village.
This medieval city, perched on a rocky peak, is a must on the Côte d’Azur. The best viewpoint? It is at the level of the Jardin Exotique d’Eze which is reached after strolling through the alleys of the village.
To complete your discovery, take the time to visit one of the two perfume factory-laboratories installed in the village. Galimard and Fragonard open their doors to you for an extraordinary olfactory discovery. You can even create your own perfume!
The Moyenne Corniche is also a privileged axis to reach the natural sites that surround it such as the forest park of Mont Boron or the park of Vinaigrier (in Nice) which are real green lungs in this urban setting. It is also the starting point for many hiking trails.
The Grande Corniche, the most spectacular
The Grande Corniche is more than 400 metres above sea level. It is the oldest road, built by order of Napoleon I. The Corniche follows the Roman route “Via Augusta” and some passages are of origin. It starts in the district of Riquier in Nice more precisely at the boulevard Bischoffsheim. Perched on the cliff side, it is the most famous, the most mythical, the sportiest, the wildest. In short, the most spectacular of the 3 Corniches!
The Grande Corniche is very popular for its natural scenery. It actually crosses the departmental park of the Grande Corniche which extends from the Mont Vinaigrier (in Nice) to the Mont Bastide through the Mont Leuze, the Plateau de la Justice, the fort of the Revère and the peak of the Forna. Blue as far as the eye can see on one side and the mountains of the Mercantour on the other! The spectacle is striking!
Often filmed during sporting events, it is also a playground for car appointments, car launches or television reports.
The roads of the 3 Corniches are inspiring in many ways and have seduced many directors who have used it as a movie set!
We remember Alfred Hitchcock’s La Main au collet (1955), where one of the most memorable scenes was Grace Kelly and Cary Grant driving a blue cabriolet in a chase on the cornices.
It doesn’t matter if it’s on foot, by bike or in a car (old…or not!) it doesn’t matter what, as long as there is discovery!
