Côte d’Azur: from Cap d’Antibes to Menton

The Cap d'Antibes peninsula consists of the historic Greek trading post Antipolis (now Antibes) and the equally fashionable Juan-les-Pins. This is the coast where Napoleon landed back in 1815 after his exile on Elba and the departure point of the famous 'Route Napoleon'. Napoleon was even imprisoned for a time in the Fort Carré in Antibes, a fortified Vauban fortress. Both Juan-les-Pins and Antibes have an old centre where you can spend hours in narrow alleys, along nice squares or on cosy terraces. The peninsula has numerous beaches and coves and is perfect for walking and cycling. Culture enthusiasts should visit the Picasso Museum in Antibes, in the Grimaldi Castle on the site of the old Antipolis. Antibes also has an exclusive marina where the largest yachts in the world are moored.

The Gorges du Loup is a gorge along the River Loup, which rises above Grasse and flows into the sea near Cagnes-sur-Mer. The area guarantees a beautiful hike or bike ride with fantastic panoramas. You will also find a multitude of hiking trails, climbing routes and possibilities for canyoning. Near Courmes is the 40m high Cascade de Courmes and the waterfall of Saut de Loup. We drove up the ravine via the Col de Vence, which starts in the centre of Vence and whose summit lies some 10 km later at 963m. The top is in a nature reserve, ideal for a stop or a walk. After the top, the road winds down through a fascinating landscape until you reach the Gorges du Loup after Gréolières. After the Gorges, you will stay in the green for a long time until you reach La Colle-sur-Loup, where you can connect to the M336 towards the coast.

On many motor home forums, Nice is designated as a 'town to avoid by motor home', but in our opinion this is only true in the high season. Then, by the way, every French seaside resort is to be avoided with a motor home. Even by car, it is no fun. In spring or autumn, you can drive to Nice with some preparation. There is no campsite or campervan park in Nice, so make a list in advance of several car parks where you can park your campervan. The smaller your motor home, the better in this case. An alternative is to find a campsite outside the city and use public transport. This is the option we chose and it worked perfectly. Highlights during a short visit to Nice are the Promenade des Anglais, the old town (Vieux Nice) and the chic neighbourhood in the higher Cimiez district. We enjoyed the lovely climate, the relaxed atmosphere and a delicious Salade Niçoise during this mini-citytrip.

Do you like a ride over cols, through gorges and past picturesque mountain villages? Then this part of the route, between the foothills of the Alps, is for you. From Menton, we drive up the Col de la Madone to Sainte-Agnès. Along the way, you get a spectacular panorama of this part of the Azure coast. Sainte-Agnès is an old fortified town, high and strategically situated on a limestone rock of 666 metres high. This makes it officially 'the highest coastal village in Europe'. After the village, the road winds up to the top, after which there is a descent to Peille, picturesquely situated against a mountain wall. After Peille, we drive past Peillon, another pearl in this region. On this route there are 3 medieval villages that are all worth a visit. Always place the camper at a good distance from the centre, don't take the risk of getting stuck! After Peillon, the road descends towards Nice or to your chosen stop and we come to the end of this beautiful road trip.