Page 229 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 21: Gardens and Glamour 227

Above left Ancient olive trees in Parc du Cap-
better known as Le Corbusier. The and take the D6098 to Place du Martin Above right Terracotta rooftops of the
Cap’s coastal path, formerly Chemin Casino, Monte-Carlo. Park in the medieval village of Roquebrune Below Le
des Douaniers (customs officers’ path) square’s underground car park. Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monaco
was later renamed in his hon our. As
visitors amble along, tiny sentiers 3 Monaco
(trails) dip down on the left. With the Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte VISITING
exception of weekend days during d’Azur; 98000 ROQUEBRUNECAPMARTIN
summer’s peak, they will be able to Ruling Monaco for over 700 years, the
find their own rocky outcrop for Grimaldi family has flourished in its Tourist Information
218 Aristide Briand, 06190; 04 93 35 62
private swimming and sunbathing. own international spotlight. However, 87; www.roquebrune-cap-martin.com
Rounding the Cap’s southwest it was not until 1865, when Charles III
corner, pause to enjoy the view of established Le Casino de Monte-Carlo
EAT AND DRINK
Monaco. Visitors will soon pass two (open daily), and 1868, when all taxes
of the walk’s highlights, shortly were abolished, that playboys and
MONACO
before the path’s end. In 1952, Le bigwigs really began to arrive. In
Café de Paris moderate–expensive
Corbusier planned and built 1956, American actress Grace Kelly
This brasserie and cocktail bar, located
Cabanon Le Corbusier 1, his seaside married Prince Rainier, putting a next to Le Casino de Monte-Carlo, is
getaway on Cap-Martin. The tiny fairy-tale icing onto the principality’s renowned for celebrity spotting.
modular cabin is normally closed to cake. Visitors can spoil themselves at Place du Casino, Monte-Carlo,
98000; 377 98 06 76 23;
the public, but on Tuesday and Friday the city’s exclusive boutiques, or wit-
www.montecarloresort.com
mornings guided tours can be ness the changing of the guards at
booked through the tourist office. the Palais Princier (daily at 11.55am). AROUND MONACO
Nearby, designer Eileen Gray’s 1929 ª Exit the car park and turn left La Salière moderate
restored Villa E-1027 2 is consid- towards the port. Head west on Avenue The Italian-run La Salière, 9 km
(6 miles) from the city centre, serves
ered one of the Cote d’Azur’s most de Monte-Carlo, which becomes Rue
oversized salads and delectable
architecturally innovative buildings Grimaldi. Follow the D6098 to Cap d’Ail;
home-made pastas.
for its use of space and its flexible, there is a car park on the right, just off 14 quai Jean-Charles Rey, Fontvieille,
open design. Cool off with a quick Avenue du 3 Septembre. 98000; 377 92 05 25 82
swim at Plage de la Buse 3 at the
path’s end. Then retrace the route
around the Cap until the left turn
into Sentier de la Dragonniere. Walk
uphill, then right into Avenue Virginie
Hériot, which leads to Parc du Cap-
Martin 4 (open daylight hours), filled
with centuries-old olive trees.
Retrace the route to the car park on
Avenue Winston Churchill.
ª Continue on Avenue Winston
Churchill, then turn left onto the D52
to join the D6007. Follow signs to
Beausoleil until the next roundabout