Page 68 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

66  PROV e NC e AR e A by AR e A

Exploring the Riviera and the Alpes Maritimes
The rocky heights of the pre-Alps lie in tiers, running
east to west and tumbling down to the Riviera’s
dramatic, Corniche-hemmed coast. On bluffs and
pinnacles, towns and villages keep a watchful eye on
the distant blue sea. Towards the Italian border, the
Alpine ridges run from north to south, cut by torrents Saint-Étienne-
and gorges which provide snowy winter slopes for de-Tinée
skiers. Much of the higher ground is occupied by the Auron
Parc National du Mercantour (see p101), home of the
ibex and the chamoix. Its jewel is the prehistoric Entraunes
Vallée des Merveilles, less than two hours from the V
Va
contrasting bustle of the Riviera. L E P A R C
Var
Getting Around Valberg
The A8 from Italy runs inland, Guillaumes Beuil
parallel to the coast. Between
this highway and the sea, from
Nice to Menton, are three GO RGES
corniches. The Grande
Corniche follows the Roman DU
road, Julia Augusta, via La
I
Turbie. The Moyenne Corniche CIANS
IA
passes through Eze, and the PUGET-
Corniche Inférieure visits all THÉNIERS Touët-
coastal resorts. The inland Digne-les- sur-Var
roads are narrow and winding, Bains
so allow more time for your
journey. Grasse and Cannes are
linked by a regular bus service, Roquesteron
and bikes can be hired at some
railway stations. Other bus links Expensive yachts in the
are also good. The largest colourful harbour at Antibes
airport in the region and
second busiest in France, is Sisteron Mont Cheiron
at Nice, west of the city. Le Logis-
du-Pin
u
Loup
up
Sights at a Glance
1 Gorges du Cians o Villefranche-sur-Mer St-Vallier- GOURDON
2 Puget-Théniers p Beaulieu-sur-Mer de-Thiey
3 St-Cézaire-sur-Siagne a Eze
4 Gourdon s La Turbie Grottes de GRASSE
5 Grasse d Monaco pp94–8 St-Cézaire ST-CÉZAIRE-
6 Mougins f Peillon SUR-SIAGNE
7 Cannes pp72–3 g Peille
8 Iles de Lérins pp74–5 h Lucéram MOUGINS
9 Juan-les-Pins j Vallée de la Vésubie
0 Antibes k Forêt de Turini
q Vallauris l Parc National du
w Biot Mercantour CANNES
e Villeneuve-Loubet z Tende Draguignan
r Vence x Saorge La
t St-Paul de Vence c Sospel Napoule
y Cagnes-sur-Mer v Gorbio 0 kilometres 10
u Nice pp84–9 b Roquebrune-Cap-Martin 0 miles 10
i St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat n Menton

For additional map symbols see back flap