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La Bollène Vésubie / Coaraze (alternative) Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel
36,34 Km
6 h 00 min
Very difficult
36,34 km cycling route from La Bollène Vésubie to Coaraze
From the Col de Turini, the highlight of the stage, this itinerary is a radical departure from the classic Route des Grandes Alpes® route, which passes through Moulinet and reaches Sospel, in the Bévéra valley. You'll switch to the Peillon valley, which takes you all the way to Nice. From the Col de Turini, in a Mediterranean forest atmosphere, you descend from 1,800 to 1,000 m along a ridge of increasingly lower peaks: Tête de la Fougassa, Cime de l'Escaillou, Tête du Pin, Cime de Peïra Cava, Cime du Pra de Court, Cime de Rocaillon, Cime du Tournet, Cime du Savel. Following the balcony of Le Paillon de Contes, you arrive at the medieval village of Coaraze, perched on a rocky spur at 650 m altitude, among mimosas, pines and chestnut trees.
Elevation of the stage
645 m 1164 m
The stage in figures
1830 m ↘ 1910 m High/low point 1693 m / 548 m Max gradient 16%
Passage points
LA BOLLENE-VESUBIE > Chemin de Malagratta > Granges du Blavé > COL DE TURINI > M2566 > Baisse de Peïra-Cava > piste de Beccas > D21 (route du Col de l'Orme > M2566 > COL SAINT-ROCH > Col du Savel > M15 > COARAZE.
Don't miss
- Col de Turini: The Monte Carlo Rally made the Col de Turini (1607 m) famous. But on this Route des Grandes Alpes Gravel®, you won't be taking the same switchbacks to get over it. The Col de Turini, because it links the Vésubie valley to that of the Bévéra (Sospel), or even to that of the Paillon, which leads to Nice, is a point of convergence as much as a magnificent belvedere.
- Coaraze, one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France": At an altitude of 650 m, not far from the Mercantour National Park, Coaraze is classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France". Its steep cobbled streets, vaulted passageways, stone houses, sometimes plastered Italian-style in blue, yellow or pink, and flower-filled squares have attracted many artists. Among them, Jean Cocteau and Alfonso Ponce de Léon signed the village's sundials.
- A swim after effort: Not far from the village of Coaraze, the clear waters of the Planfaé stream flow through a steep-sided canyon. From small waterfalls to deep basins, you can enjoy a swim in the middle of nature, with absolute respect for the banks and the water, of course!
Travellers’ reviews