Walking: the hilltop villages trail from Tende to Menton

From Tende, at the top of the Roya valley, you can reach the Bévéra valley (Sospel), and the Mentonnais region (Castillon or Castellar), discovering numerous hilltop villages and hamlets. The trails are accessible to the average walker, crossing a wide variety of landscapes and offering exceptional views. Added to this natural beauty is the opportunity to discover the region's historical and cultural heritage, with its many Baroque buildings, Maginot Line forts, museums and monumental railway stations. Last but not least, the region offers a wide range of outdoor activities: white-water sports, climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, horse riding... The itinerary is presented here in its entirety, but it can be broken down at will thanks to the Nice-Tende-Cuneo-Ventimille railway line, or the Zest bus line n°25 Menton-Tende: connecting almost all the stages, the train and bus allow you to return to the starting point or skip a stage. Day 1: Tende - St-Dalmas de Tende Stage1: Tende - La Brigue Time: 2h30 Ascent: 350 m. Descent: 340 m. Opposite Rue de France (pedestrian zone), take Rue du Général Doyen (b.55) downhill, then head for the foot of the imposing railroad viaduct (b.53). Follow 100m of minor road to marker 62 and take the path through the undergrowth to the Aigle monument (b.61). The path climbs steeply up to marker 60, and a large ascending traverse leads to the Col de Boselia (1111 m, b.285). Descend and cross the often dry valley (b. 284). Head towards a young black pine plantation and descend a few tight switchbacks. Continue as far as the crossroads. Cross the Levenza stream on the road bridge (b.49). Turn right into the center of the village of La Brigue. Stage 2: La Brigue - St-Dalmas-de-Tende. Duration: 1h15 Ascent: 50 m. Descent: 120 m From the town hall square, pass behind the chapel (b. 44). From here, the path climbs slightly, then flattens out (b. 43). Cross the Armaneïra woods without difficulty as far as marker 42, a trail junction. Continue across to the place known as Ste-Anne and continue along a railway shelter, then the "Pocassero" bars, crossing a ravine-like passage. Note that this is above one of the famous underground spiral loops along the Nice-Cuneo railway line (b. 41). Follow an access track to a house (b. 41). Then head due north (right) to return to St-Dalmas via a small, shady road (b.40). Return by train to La Brigue and Tende. Day 2: St-Dalmas-de-Tende - Fontan Stage 1: St-Dalmas - Granile Duration: 2 hours Ascent: 400 m Descent: 0 m Take the path at the Guardarena bridge (b.41a and 41b), on leaving St Dalmas at the junction of the Bieugne and Roya torrents. Reach Granile via the Fouigé and Ruga districts. The path, quite steep at first, intersects and skirts the little-used local road several times. At the entrance to the lovely hamlet of Granile you'll find marker 220. Stage 2: Granile - Berghe supérieur Duration: 30 min. Ascent: 0 m Descent: 200 m Crossing the hamlet, admire the chapel; head for the bottom of the village. Keep right at marker 219. You'll pass the cemetery and church of Berghe Supérieur. Stage 3: Berghe Supérieur - Berghe inférieur - Fontan Duration: 3 hrs. Ascent: 200 m Descent: 500 m From Berghe Supérieur, pass marker 32, then follow the road to marker 211, and turn onto the path towards Berghe Inférieur to marker 212. Here you'll find a hikers' cottage called Berghon. Pass the hamlet and at marker 218, you start the descent to Fontan, passing marker 218a, then marker 218b, and finally the road to Fontan. Day 3: Fontan - Breil-sur-Roya Stage 1: Fontan - Saorge Time: 2h15 Ascent: 436 m Descent: 346 m Head for the Fontan/Saorge station (b.431), following the road along the railway line (large wall on the left), until you reach beacon 430, just opposite the station (on the left). Continue on to reach the Scots pine forest overlooking Fontan, via a fairly long, unshaded climb. You then come to the path that rises above the roofs of Saorge (b.23). Reach the upper parking lot (b.21 and b.22) and then the lower parking lot. This relatively long half-stage can be shortened by taking route départementale 38, which links Fontan to Saorge (distance 2.5km, 30 minutes slightly uphill), or dispensed with by taking bus no. 25. Be careful, however, as on this little-traveled road, you'll have to go through a fairly long (250 m), dimly-lit tunnel. Stage 2: Saorge - Breil-sur-Roya Duration: 5 h Ascent: 340 m Descent: 640 m Leave the village of Saorge (b.19), follow the path down the RD 6204 for 100m (watch out for cars!) (b.17). You come to the Bain du Sémite (b.16), an inviting spot for a swim. Cross the Gorges de Saorge on the magnificent valley path, which branches off to the left and climbs stone steps to avoid an unstable scree slope (imperative: do not take this old path destabilized by storm Alex). Cross the scree. You arrive at a place called Chiendat (b.156), then at a cultivated property (b.154, b.155). You join the GR 52 A, which you follow to the village of Breil: beacons 153, 108 (vallon de Zouïné), 10, 6, 4. Cross the village of Breil-su- Roya either via the shady Rue Pasteur, or by the lakeside. Return to Saorge by train or bus. Day 4: Breil-sur-Roya -Sospel. Stage 1: Breil-sur-Roya-Piène Haute Duration : 2h30 Ascent: 300 m Descent: 0 m Go through Breil towards Ventimiglia; as you leave the village, in a bend, a path starts off to the right (b.2). Follow the signs to Piène-Haute. Walk quietly to marker 118, then descend to the bottom of the valley, cross the stream and climb up the other side. At marker 439, you start the last short, fairly steep climb, in the shade of the pines, towards Piène-haute, which you can see perched on the ridge. The finish offers an exceptional view of both the sea and the surrounding mountains. Stage 2: Piène-Haute - Sospel. Duration: 3 hrs. Ascent: 0 m Descent: 250 m Leave Piène Haute along the tarmac road towards Sospel (b. 115), and after 200m, take the path on the left towards the St-Jerôme chapel, from which you can see the sea. Once on the road, turn right towards Sospel. After passing an old lime kiln and a 17th-century siphon bridge on your right, take the GR 510 towards Sospel along the "sentier botanique". Return to Breil-sur-Roya by train. Day 5: Sospel-Pays Mentonnais Stage 1: Sospel - Col du Razet Time: 2h30 Ascent: 600 m Descent: 0 m Pleasant, shady trail with a steady gradient. Head for Menton via the Col de Castillon (b.105), pass by the municipal swimming pool (b.106), after the level crossing follow the GR 52 on the track which climbs towards the Col du Razet, then in a hairpin bend, the route leaves the track to become a small path in the undergrowth. Climb up to the Col du Razet. The climb is gentle and shady. Stage 2: Col du Razet - Castillon Duration: 1hr 45mins Ascent: 0 m. Descent: 400 m. From Col du Razet, head towards Pierre Pointue (b.91, 93), from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of the coastline. Descend a few hairpin bends through rocky terrain to reach the Col de Castillon, where the village once stood. Follow the narrow road to Castillon, an artists' village. Stage 2 bis: Col du Razet- Castellar Duration: 2 hrs. Ascent: 0 m. Descent: 600 m. An easy path with a continuous descent, from which you can always see the sea. At the crossroads, head for Col du Tretore on the GR 52 (b.95), the path following the side of the mountain. At the next crossroads, stay on course and follow the GR, which passes over a small road to lead you quietly to Castellar, a balcony above the Mediterranean.