La Véloroute du Littoral (coastal cycle route)

After having made the most of the calm atmosphere of Sanary-sur-Mer, its little shopping streets and the little harbour with its pointus boats, it’s time to get back on your bike! The Véloroute du Littoral awaits you and for this first stage, head for Hyères. On the way, two viewpoints are well worth stopping for: Cap Nègre and the fort of Six-Fours-les-Plages, which overlooks the bay of Toulon. Take advantage of it to see the Collégiale Saint-Pierre just next door. When you arrive at Seyne-sur-Mer, a link route takes you to the Plage des Sablettes beach for a swim. In Toulon, you can slow down and take the time to admire the naval base and the town’s historic centre, then take the linkup to go through the pretty Mourillon quarter and reach L’anse de Méjean. Then it’s back on the main itinerary to Carqueiranne, where you can enjoy a short break on the Plage des Pins Penchés beach. And last of all, go to the Presqu’île de Giens and cycle round it before going to Hyères centre. One down and five to go!

As you leave Hyères, you’ll be riding past Les Vieux Salins which have an exceptional ornithological heritage. And on the same theme of nature, the Jardin Zoologique Tropical in La Londe-les-Maures is an animal and botanical park that those who love wildlife will adore. The little extra: the park offers a cycle welcome! A little further on, in Bormes-les-Mimosas, take some time for a wander around the pretty little streets of the village filled with mimosa or bougainvillaea in flower depending on the season. If you like diving, stop off in Le Lavandou and take to the sea to explore the wonderful Port Cros National Park. Back on the waterside road, ride past Cap Nègre and Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, and take in a « memory » at the Landing Beach in Cavalaire-sur-Mer before going on to Grimaud. That’s the second stage done!

In Port Grimaud, enjoy the gentle Provencal atmosphere of this picturesque town on a lake. Now, head up to Grimaud: the medieval village and its château are well worth a visit, offering a view over the bay of Saint-Tropez on one side and the Massif des Maures on the other. If you are passing through in the summer don’t miss the walk through the boufainvileas in bloom! Have you got a bit of time before you have to leave? Take the cycle link to wander around Saint-Tropez! And then it’s back on the road again to Fréjus, with Sainte-Maxime on the way: it’s a beautiful place to have a break, walk along the streets through the markets, go to the beach or have a walk as far as the Pointe des Sardinaux nicknamed “little Corsica”. Number three complete!

Between the Estérel and the Mediterranean, Fréjus is a great place to have a break: with its Roman remains and religious and architectural buildings, it has a particularly rich history. For example, the Roman amphitheatres, the aqueduct, the Villa Aurélienne, the episcopal group, the chapel of Notre-Dame de Jérusalem and the Cocteau Chapel… Make your choice! Fréjus is also a doorway to the Massif de l’Estérel and its fascinating red rocks. Make the most of this magnificent setting to get your strength back, because the rest is more athletic: it’s quite a climb to reach Montauroux! On the way, the Belvedere of the Malpasset dam will be a good excuse to have a break. And when you’ve got your breath back, get back on the road for Montauroux along the right bank of the Lake of Saint-Cassien. And that’s number four done!

From Montauroux, take the beautiful Balcons d’Azur road for Vence with some perfumed stops: first of all in Grasse, the historic capital of perfume, then Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the capital of violets with its museum dedicated to the flower and a magnificent hilltop village offering a panoramic view of the surroundings. When you arrive in Vence, have a cultural break and visit the historic town, the Matisse Chapel or the Fondation Maeght. And if you still want to climb up further, admire the bird’s eye view from the Col de Vence! And what about a bit of comfort before the effort: what about biting into a craquelin, the brioche made in Vence, before getting back on the Véloroute? Enjoy… That was number five!

Now that you’ve got your strength back, set off on the last stage which will take you to Nice, making the most of still being up high to get a lovely view. After you’ve taken the old viaduct in Saint-Jeannet, you’ll go through Carros, with its château which is home to the Centre International d’Art Contemporain, and Le Broc, where you’ll have a wonderful view over the Var Valley and the Broc Lake. Then, start cycling down towards the sea along the course of the Var River to Saint-Laurent-du-Var, and then on to Nice. The last part of the ride will take you along the Promenade des Anglais to peacefully admire the mythical Baie des Anges. And when you get off your bike in Nice, here’s a whole world of culture and architecture to discover: Art Deco buildings, the Chagall Museum, the Matisse Museum, the Parc Phoenix, the market on Cours Saleya, … And that makes six, so enjoy your visits!