@OTMNCA

Vésubie Valley

Between the Alps and the Mediterranean

Massif du Mercantour
Departement and Region: Alpes-Maritimes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Main passes : col de Turini, col Saint-Martin (la Colmiane)
Stage on Route des Grandes Alpes® : Valberg / Saint-Martin Vésubie and Saint-Martin Vésubie / Sospel
Stage on Route des Grandes Alpes® Gravel: Marie / La Bollène-Vésubie and La Bollène-Vésubie / Coaraze

Summary

Suggestions for cycling loops around the Vallée de la Vésubie

Our grands cols

The mythical Col de Turini, used in particular by the Monte-Carlo Rally, can be climbed from several sides, all presenting a decidedly "mountain" profile.
Starting in Sospel, the first loop begins with the Col Saint-Jean and continues with the steep Col de Braus. After the Col de l'Ablé, a succession of switchbacks leads to Peïra Cava and the Col de Turini. Once over the latter, a long descent begins to Sospel, in the middle of which, shortly after Moulinet, a stop at Notre-Dame-de-la-Menour is essential.

The second loop starts in the charming village of La Bollène-Vésubie. It climbs steadily up a winding road to the Col de Turini. From here, a long downhill false flat takes you to Peïra Cava, then a descent via the Col Saint-Roch to Lantosque. The return to the starting point is via the Vésubie valley and a final climb of around 3 kilometers.

Turini
Cycling events in the Vésubie valley

Cycling events in the Vésubie valley

  • May 9, 2026 : Val Raid de Blore
  • June 3, 2026: Mercan'Tour Classic
  • June 28, 2026: Ironman France Nice 70.3
  • August 8 and 9, 2026: Stages 8 and 9 + finish of the Tour de France Femmes
  • August 23, 2026: La Haute Route des Alpes
  • September 12 and 13, 2026: Ironman 70 World Championship.3
  • October 3 and 4, 2026: La Transvésubienne

Cycling in the Vésubie Valley

Discover the Authion loop on an electrically-assisted bike.
Pedal effortlessly along an exceptional itinerary in the Authion massif, guided by an app on your smartphone! In partnership with the Mercantour National Park, the Syndicat Mixte pour le Développement de la Vallée de la Vésubie et du Valdeblore (Vésubie and Valdeblore Valley Joint Development Association) is offering you the chance to discover the Authion massif, a natural fortress overlooking the Vésubie and Roya valleys, in a whole new way. Using an electrically-assisted bicycle and a dedicated smartphone application, you can set off from the Col de Turini, and discover an exceptional natural and cultural itinerary, as the Authion loop is located at high altitude and largely in the heart of the Mercantour National Park. From the Napoleonic Wars to the last world war, the Authion site's many ruined forts are a reminder of the tragic feats of arms that took place there. Now a peaceful grazing area, the Authion plateau is ideal for an electrically-assisted bike ride. The exceptional panoramic views along the way allow you to admire the eastern part of the Mercantour massif and the final foothills of the Alps plunging towards the Mediterranean. With the exception of the route you are about to follow, cycling is systematically prohibited in the heart of the Park. Do not leave the RD68 road other than on foot (bike racks along the route).

@OTMNCA

Summer in the Vésubie Valley

Hiking, summer tobogganing activities, deval'kart, trotin'herbe, canyoning, mountain biking, zip-lining, mini golf, para slope, visit to the vacheries, heritage tours, swimming pool, lake, rock climbing, tennis, Parc Alpha (the wolves of Saint-Martin-Vésubie)...

Coming winter

Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, biathlon, snowshoe trekking...

la bollene vesubie

Other events

Events in each village, feasts, carnival, agricultural fairs, return of the shepherds, soccer tournaments, markets ...

  • Vertical Kilometer - Saint-Martin-Vésubie (April)
  • Vésubie Marathon (May)
  • Ultra-Trail Côte d'Azur Mercantour (July)
Turini

Services

Electric terminals, bus station, camping car area, bus line 90, cabs...

The map

Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration

Accommodation Useful information Leasure Restauration

Check all Uncheck all

Filters

Map options

Caption
Moyen
Difficile
Très difficile

The map

Valberg / Saint-Martin Vésubie

25 Valberg / Saint-Martin Vésubie

59 km
3 h 47 min
Difficult
A superb stage on the Route des Grandes Alpes®, with grandiose landscapes, views to the Mercantour’s summits, vast red cliffs, villages either nestling down in the valleys or perched on cliffs. Among them, Roubion, a medieval eagle’s eyrie with narrow lanes, is well worth a detour, as is Saint-Martin-Vésubie, a wonderfully colourful village located either at the start or end of this sporty outing, requiring almost 1600m in shift in altitude. There are two passes to conquer: the Col de la Couillole (1678m), between Valberg and the Tinée Valley; and the Col Saint Martin (1503m), which, with the little mountain resort of La Colmiane beside it, links Tinée and Vésubie Valleys.
Saint-Martin Vésubie / Sospel

26 Saint-Martin Vésubie / Sospel

51 km
3 h 26 min
Difficult
This Route des Grandes Alpes® stage covering the Vésubie Valley and Haut-Pays Niçois takes you over the Col de Turini pass (1607 m), made famous by the Monte Carlo Car Rally. Also on the menu are: the magnificently colourful village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie; La Bollène Vésubie, a beautifully rounded hilltop village; grandiose landscapes combining gorges and perched promontories; and the small town of Sospel, with its picturesque squares and lanes… not forgetting Roquebillière, the Côte d’Azur’s thermal spa resort, protected from summer heatwaves thanks to its location, at 600m above sea level.
Marie / La Bollène-Vésubie

17 Marie / La Bollène-Vésubie

43 km
3 h 30 min
Difficult
In the heart of a wooded mountain landscape, you leave the village of Marie, whose castle overlooks the Tinée valley. To reach Saint-Martin-Vésubie, you'll take a route that passes over the Col de Clamia, Saint Dalmas, the oldest of Valdeblore's three villages, and then Venanson, built on a rocky spur, a veritable eagle's nest that, at 1164m, dominates the Vésubie Valley. At Saint-Martin-Vésubie, you return to the classic Route des Grandes Alpes® route. Heading south, it passes through Roquebillière, the spa town of the Alpes-Maritimes, before reaching La Bollène-Vésubie, a magnificent village perched in a chestnut grove, on the left bank of the Vésubie.
gorges vesubie

Testimonies

Today we've got some heavy stuff, a 400 m warm-up and then we're on to the climb. Heading for the Col de Turini, we start at an altitude of around 420 m and reach 2000 m. Eddy

We did 68 km for 2887 m of ascent, so it was a really tough outing. But the mountains are so beautiful that I'm enjoying myself despite the difficulties... Marie

turini

FAQ

  • What Vesubian site is known for its WW2 relics in France?
    La Forteresse de l'Authion which can be accessed via a historical trail, which allows you to see remnants of the Second World War.
  • What film begins in the square of the perched village of Belvédère before heading for the coast?
    Le Gendarme à Saint-Tropez, starring Louis de Funes.
  • To which villages did Vésubie give its name?
    La Bollène-Vésubie and Saint-Martin-Vésubie.

Access

Road access

  • From Nice RM 6202 PUIS RM 2265

SNCF train and bus stations:

  • Nice
  • Grand Arénas : Bus route 90 Réseau Lignes d'Azur (RLA) to La Bollène

Contacts

Office de Tourisme Métropolitain Nice Côte d'Azur

☎ 04 93 03 60 54 www.explorenicecotedazur.com

Facebook Instagram Youtube X Linkedin Pinterest

"Text and photo contents published under the responsibility of the tourist offices that provided them to us and own them."

Discover also