© SeeAntibes.com
© SeeAntibes.com
A half day hike taking in Valbonne & Biot villages
This enjoyable half-day hike follows a river linking two of the region’s most beautiful towns, Valbonne and Biot.
Access to this hike is quite easy - buses run from Nice to Valbonne and Biot so you can start from either end and still have time to explore both towns. They are both great for gift shopping and have plenty of good restaurants, so try to factor in lunch at either one of them. If you want to drive up then Valbonne is the better place to start as it has more free parking, there is also a bus that connects the two towns so you can get back to your car afterwards.
Our route is described from Valbonne to Biot, but you can do the hike in either direction and it is signposted from both towns.
IGN map 3742OT is recommended for this walk
Founded in the 13th century by monks from the Order of Chalais, the church was built between 1199 and 1230. It features minimalist architectural lines, typical of the order which reached its peak at this moment, before its decline and disappearance in 1303.
To the south west of Valbonne you'll find a centre for contemporary art known as Espace de l'Art Concret.
In the heart of the old village of Mougins, discover how the beauty of the ancient world has influenced neoclassical, modern and contemporary art.
Right in the centre of the old town of Mougins is an interesting photography museum. On display are various antique cameras plus old photography equipment, and a large collection of portraits of Pablo Picasso.
This peaceful oasis in Mougins in one of the largest lotus ponds in Europe and is set in a beautiful park with woodlands stretching as far as Antibes.
Covering 561 hectares this park is a beautifully protected area that is flourishing with wildlife, plants and birdlife! Go for a hike around the lake, enjoy a picnic by the river or take a ride on your mountain bike through the forest, there are lots of things to do at this park.
Le Nacional is a THE Beef and Wine restaurant in the heart of historical Antibes. A restaurant that will excite the taste buds of gourmet meat aficionados. The choicest pieces of beef provided by the highest quality butchers.
Open from April till October for lunch and from June till mid-September for dinner, this fantastic restaurant offers delicious fresh Mediterranean cuisine.
The Cafe Royal is located on the ground floor of the Hotel Royal Antibes.
La Passagère at Hôtel Belles Rives offers a refined culinary journey shaped by the creative talents of Chef Aurélien Véquaud and Pastry Chef Steve Moracchini. Set against a stunning Riviera backdrop, this restaurant pairs inspired cuisine with a spectacular setting.
La Table de Pierre offers refined, garden-led cuisine by Chef Emmanuel Lehrer in a romantic setting with views over the estate.
Gourmet restaurant of the Saint-Martin Spa & Chateau hotel to the north of Vence.
This company is based in Cannes and offers a wide range of road bikes, with delivery available to Antibes.
A trip on a luxury motor boat with the professional crew to guide you on a fabulous day out on the ocean from Antibes to Cannes.
Based in Cannes, motorbike and scooter rental so you can explore the South of France.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
Once you’ve arrived in Valbonne head for the church and follow signs for the cimitiere (cemetery); the turn-off for the start of the hike is just before it on Avenue de Pierrefeu. The path heads off down to the river and within just a few minutes you’ll have come to your first bridge - a series of blocks that make stepping stones to the other side. The trail crosses back and forth over the river many times, look out for yellow paint on rocks and trees to see where you should cross.
This path is fairly flat with some gentle undulations, it is mostly in the shade of dense forest which makes it a great walk for a hot day. The river is good for paddling in some parts where it runs quite shallow and we saw plenty of kids and dogs plunging in for a swim! The water is crystal clear and doesn’t seem to have a strong current - although the area is unsupervised so parents should keep an eye on children if they go in the water.
Depending on the time of year this hike is a forager’s dream - fig trees, blackberry bushes and wild mushrooms can all be found amongst the undergrowth. Look out as well for sculptures hewn into the rocks; we spotted two but we weren’t really looking out for them so there could have been more.
Old stone bridges, gurgling streams, wildflowers… it wouldn’t be a massive surprise to discover fairy folk dwelling amongst the twisty gnarled tree roots - it certainly has a very Tolkien feel to it.
The route is generally easy to follow but there is the odd junction where paths meet and it’s not always obvious which is the right one to take; you can see on the map where we doubted ourselves at one point and doubled back! As it turned out we could have taken either path as they met up in the end anyway, as is often the way. Keep looking for the yellow paint that marks the way and the general rule is that if you’re not sure just follow the river and you won’t go far wrong.
The only real climb is the last section up to Biot, it’s quite steep but only lasts 100m or so and then you can reward yourself with an ice cream in town!
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