Préalpes of Azur: the Alps on the sunny side
Between sun and mountains, the Parc des Préalpes d’Azur welcomes on its territory landscapes of an astonishing variety with mountains, hills, vertiginous gorges, forests and agricultural valleys. Under the sunshine of the French Préalpes grow more than 2000 plant species, including 40 species found nowhere else. Numerous birds have made their home in the sky of the Préalpes: European Owl, Jean-le-Blanc’s Circaet, Golden Eagle, Mad Sparrow, Pine Crossbill, Griffon Vulture, European Nightjar, Red-billed Chough, Ortolan Sparrow, Rock Swallow, Pipit Rousseline, Melodious Linnet, Red-backed Shrike, Boreal Chickadee, Black Grouse, Blue Moundstone, Scaly Chickadee… Nature is also a wonderful playground for men: hiking, Nordic walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, climbing, via ferrata, tree climbing… From one valley to another, you can discover a cultural heritage of sober beauty: wash houses, wells, fountains, churches, oratories, bread ovens, grain mills, oil mills, windmills, dovecotes, bridges, medieval castles, oppidums… Agropastoralism is very active thanks to the actions of farmers driven by the love of their land. The markets and village grocery stores will invite you to discover the local flavors: honey, gingerbread, mountain cheese, lamb meat, vegetables and fruits, olive oil…
Museums in the Alpes-Maritimes department
Arts and culture contribute to the tourist offer of the Alpes-Maritimes, with several dozen museums. Discover, for example, the Musée de la Mer in Cannes, the Musée du Bijou Contemporain in Cagnes-sur-Mer, the ecomuseum of the Roudoule en terre gavotte in Puget-Rostang, the Peynet and cartoon museum in Antibes, the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the Musée des Merveilles in Tende…
