AzurAlive

Around La Motte: A Hike in the Vines

Are you visiting or living around the French Riviera? Interested in a hike or a bike ride, among rows of vines in the Côte de Provence vineyards? On private property, this is usually a challenge or simply not allowed. Here's an exception.

On Sunday, May 5, 2013 the Château des Demoiselles vineyard estate in La Motte, Var, France hosts a hike, bike and photograph open day from 10AM until 5PM. Hop on a guided walk either at 11AM or at 3PM.

It's a treat after a bit of wine tasting and cellar visit.

View AzurAlive.com: Château des Demoiselles in a larger map

 

Authored by Google+

Sunsets in the Esterel Mountains

One of the most pleasant, breath-taking walks in the Estérel Mountains behind Agay and Saint-Raphaël on the French Riviera, is the hike around the Rastel d'Agay.

We often talk about the Estérel's Rastel d'Agay on AzurAlive.com, and for a good reason. From the top of the hills, the Meditérranean sea opens up below, glittering in the sun, with its jagged coastline like a lace along the shore. 

When visiting, keep in mind that trails in the Estérel Mountains are not well-marked, and they're not lit up. The Estérel Mountains are wild, which is what keeps them so attractive. So when eploring the Estérel Mountains:

• Stay on the larger trails, if you're not familiar with the Estérel. 
• Or go accompanied. The Tourism Offices offer some guided tours.
• Arm yourself with a solid hiking guide and IGN map. 
• Carry a mobile phone, but keep in mind some spots may not have network coverage.
• Carry a flash light, extra layer of clothing and extra drinking water.
• And the one that most visitors forget: Begin your hike early! The sun sets quickly when you're surrounded by mountains

Just a couple of days ago, a lone walker decided to admire the sunset from atop the Rastel d'Agay. It must have been gorgeous on this clear winter day. After the sun had set, however, things turned ugly. The hills turned pitch dark; all trails disappeared under the cover of darkness; and with the cliffs lurking close by, every step over the rocky grounds could lead to a serious fall. The hiker called for help. Eight firefighters and a helicopter rushed to the rescue and whisked the hiker to safety.

 

Thankfully, no one was harmed except possibly the hiker's pocketbook. That, the story does not say...

 

Best Beach: Agay

Agay is my favorite large beach on the eastern tip of the Var, close to the Alpes Maritimes. The Var hosts many great beaches, especially towards Les Issambres, St Tropez, Gigaro, Hyères. This one is special. 

Why?                                                                                  

First, the site. The Esterel Mountains peer over this little beach town of Agay, with gorgeous fiery red pitons and rocks overlooking the bay. The bay of Agay sparkles like a round emerald, with the beach running like a crescent around half of its rim. So there's plenty of space. And with the volcanic hills behind, you think you're on an exotic island.

A the eastern edge of beach, you can rent sea kayaks, dinghies, and large windsurfing boards for more fun in the water. On sea kayaks, you can explore the beautiful rocky coastline to the west. It's a treat! Check-up the Wind Club d'Agay for details, also the town's municipal club right next door.

Agay sports a series of decent snacks and even nice restaurants that aren't out to rip you off (see below for our tested recommendations). To wrap it up, you'll find public showers right on the beach for rinsing. The beach is not cordoned off into private paying slices so your wallet can relax with you while you soak in the sun. Beach mattresses are offered on one corner of the beach, at private Maobi Plage's restaurant and bar.

Other Tips?                                                    

Summer is obviously the most popular time for visits to the little resort town of Agay. Even though it gets crowded, it doesn't feel overwhelmed due to the size of its long beach.

Two restaurants to recommend, one cheap but good and one pricier but very good.
La Belle Vie Café. You can't miss this restaurant at Agay' main round-about, in front of the beach. It serves hamburgers, bagels, sandwiches, large salads and has a nice relaxed feel on its terrace. Open from April to October. Affordable with a bagel lunch going for 7€ in 2012.

For something more upscale, with nice provençal menus around 25-30 €, this is a good choice: Côté Jardin. Open from April to October, closed Monday for lunch. Set behind the Belle Vie Café, off the D100 road that heads inland toward the Esterel Mountains.

Where?                                                         

The sandy beach of Agay runs all along the bay, by the Boulevard de la Plage, from the port to the west to the nautical station to the east. Further out east in the bay, there's another smaller beach carved into the bay called La Baumette.

Afficher AzurAlive.com: Beach of Agay sur une carte plus grande

French Riviera Mimosa Festivals

The winter suns are in full bloom across the French Riviera and in full celebration.

Beginning last weekend (Jan 28-29 2012), the Festival du Mimosa celebrations make their way eastward, beginning in Bormes-les-Mimosas and continuing along the Côte d'Azur coastline and then inland in the Tanneron hills to end in Grasse. Most of the fun takes place on weekends, although garden visits and hikes are also planned in Mandelieu, Saint-Raphael and Rayol (gardens) during the week. Festivities last until March.

Mimosa Festival Schedule for 2012:

Bormes-les-Mimosas:    January 28 and 29
Rayol/Canadel-sur-Mer: February 4 and 5
Sainte-Maxime:             February 4 (with Evening Parade) and 5th (with Corso Fleuri parade)
Saint-Raphael:               February 11th (with Evening Carnaval) and 12th (with Day Time Carnaval) and 15th (Kids Carnaval)
Mandelieu-la-Napoule:   February 18th (with Evening Parade) and 19th (with Corso Fleuri)
Tanneron:                       February 4th and 5th (with Corso Fleuri parade)
Pegomas:                       January 28th and 29th, with mimosa walks and exhibitions until March
Grasse:                           Grasse focuses more on the perfume industry

For more information and to make reservations for the guided visits and hikes, contact the Tourism Offices for the chosen town.

Click on this line for a PDF with Toursim Offices contact information and detailed Mimosa Festival programming (in English).

Right now, snow has fallen on the Var and in the Alpes-Maritimes. The Mimosas are yellow and white. With the sun out, the flakes will soon melt...

The Esterel Mountains: Bearish?

Earlier this week, a family visiting the French Riviera from the UK and staying at the Estérel Caravaning campground pedaled their mountain bikes like mad back to their camground at the edge of the Estérel Mountains. They had been enjoying a bike ride in the Estérel when they spotted a bear. A big brown bear, close to the ford named Font du Pommier, by the Roussiveau Forester's house.

The family rushed back and alerted the camground who called police. Police and ONF had the parc closed. They patrolled the grounds with sniffing dogs. No trace of a bear. They called local zoos. No missing bear reported anywhere. They asked the local farmer who lives close-by with her goats. Animals are as calm as the Mediterranean in mid-summer when the Mistral doesn't blow. A helicopter even briefly patrolled over the sites on the lookout for a big brown bear. No bear sign anywhere.

What could have happened? An especially large wild boar crossed the road. The witnesses swear it wasn't just a boar. A person in a bear-suit pulling a prank? Possible, and more likely than an actual bear - the Esterel has not hosted a bear for as long as local memory can remember. In all the years we've hiked the Estérel, we have never either spotted one or heard of someone spotting one.

While the mystery unravels, local foresters keep a keen eye and ear out for bear signs.
As for us, we're always bullish on the gorgeous Esterel.

 

Bearly afraid? Check out this guide to hiking on the western French Riviera. 

Hiking Lac de l'Ecureuil

 
Not so long ago, the small lake in the Estérel mountains called the Lac de l'Ecureuil was empty. it had been drained after cracks were noticed in one of the retaining walls below.

Today, the lake is full again with little trouts swimming down its creeks.

The walk to Lac de l'Ecureuil is a favorite family hike in the Estérel Mountains. Why? It's an easy (mostly) flat walk. And it gives you a glimpse at the beauty of the red volcanic pikes that surround it.

 
Begin the adventure at the Col de Belle Barbe. If you're not familiar with the Estérel hiking trails, we recommend you head to the lake and come back the same way. This will take about 2.5 hours of leisurely walk. As usual with hiking here, don't go if it's too hot, bring plenty of drinking water (no fountains here), wear hiking shoes and head out early to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the sites.

See the below guide for details and for more great walk in the Estérel. 

 

Agay: 21st Triathlon of Saint-Raphael

Today April 25, 2010 runs the 21st triathlon of St Raphael in and around the bay of Agay on the French Riviera.

The Agay competition hosts a couple of events: the short distance (courte distance) triathlon which counts for qualification of the French championships in this category. Expect all elite triathletes at this event. It starts at 9:30AM.

What's the parcourse?

• 1500 meters swim in the bay of Agay (max time is 50 minutes)
• 43 km bike in the Esterel
• 10K run

The second individual sprint triathlon begins at 3PM and includes:

• 750 meters swim in the bay of Agay (max time is 25 minutes)
• 18 km bike in the Esterel
• 5K run

It's a gorgeous sunny day in Agay today so if you're around, drop by. By all means, don't go near by car or risk being blocked. The event awaits 500 contestants, 200 volunteers and mounts of spectators.

For more info, visit the St Raphael Triathlon home page.

 

Shop 'til you drop your Versace purse

Once again, it's time for the yearly Braderie de St Tropez. Shops spill their ware into the streets, pin outrageous discounts on designer clothes, shoes, accessories, and more mundane stuff like linens, towels, soaps. It lasts 4 days and it's a zoo. By the end of the weekend, stands are a complete mess. You would think that wild boars have foraged through piles of clothes. Get there early!

When? Friday, October 23 to Monday Oct 26, included. Starts at 9AM and runs until about 7PM.

Sadly, the Barbarac ice cream is not on sale during the braderie.

Boulouris: Belvedere du Dramont

When in the French Riviera seaside town of Boulouris, it's impossible to miss the little town center, the Monday morning open market, the sea, the many coves and beaches, the Cap du Dramont cape.

What you could miss is the hiking trail locally called le sentier du Castellas in Boulouris.

The trail begins in a remote area, in front of the CREPS' Golf School in Boulouris (CREPS = Centres d’Éducation Populaire et de Sport or high-level sports school). It then heads up over rugged terrain in the rocky Estérel hills. About mid-way into the hike to Cap Estérel in Agay, you reach a site that many local hikers know well: the Belvedere du Dramont. Up on a hillside, it offers views of the coast, Le Dramont, the Cap Estérel resort and all of Agay.

Neither July nor August make the best months for the hike - it gets hot then, and trees are sparse for shade. Round-trip back through the Dramont coastline is 12 km (count on about 4 hours), but you can shorten the hike by going from the CREPS Golf School to Cap Esterel and back. This shorter loop takes a little less than 3 hours for 8 km. As usual, bring plenty of drinking water. You'll be in nature: no pubs, not even water fountains!

You'll find a map at the beginning of the trail. Note that it's a general map, not all that specific... be prepared and bring a taste for adventure.

 

Interested in half-day hikes close to Boulouris? Check out our highly-acclaimed hiking guide below on Amazon.com (and Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de too!)

View AzurAlive.com: Boulouris and the Dramont Belvedere in a larger map

Ocean Village Visits

p>

Ocean Village Two is back. This weekend, the festive-looking ocean cruise ship maneuvered its 245 meters (800 feet) of length, its 14 decks, its 8 bars, its 4 restaurants, its gym, pools, golf driving nets, volleyball courts, beauty salons and its 1,600 passengers into the bay of Saint-Raphael on the French Riviera. Want to check out its deck plans? Click here to take a peek - designed to please active sporty passengers.

Its the first of a total of thirteen Ocean Village visits to St Raphael this summer. Next visit to Saint Raphael? May 24, 2009.

Click on this article to read more about Ocean Village Two's stop in St Raphael & what to do there.

Note that beginning in Autumn 2009, Carnival UK, owners of the Ocean Village cruise line, will begin to phase out the Ocean Village brand. Beginning with Christmas 2009, rthe two Ocean Village ships will transfer to another Carnival UK cruise line, the P&O Cruises Australia brand. A new European Program from Carnival UK is expected for 2010. Not sure yet if and where they'll stop in the Mediterranean. See the Carnival UK site for details.

Schedule of Summer 2009 cruise visits to St Raphael, France:

Ocean Village 2:  Sundays May 10 and 24, June 7 and 21, July 5 and 19, August 2, 16 and 30, September 13 and 27

Oriana visits on: Thursday, May 14

Artemis visits on: Thursday, September 24