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Saint-Auban / Bézaudun-les-Alpes P'tites Routes du Soleil Gravel
47,80 Km
3 h 30 min
Very difficult
47,80 km cycling route from Saint-Auban to Bézaudun-les-Alpes
Between Saint-Auban and Thorenc, there's still the Col de Bleine (1439 m) to cross. Five kilometers and a dozen switchbacks, on a gradient of between 6 and 7.5%. Three kilometers of descent bring you to Thorenc, also known as the "Suisse Provençale". This pleasant, climatic resort in the Grasse hinterland is situated on a vast, high-altitude plateau, amid wooded landscapes of fir and poplar, surrounded by a splendid mountain backdrop that keeps it sheltered from the Alpine winds.
From Thorenc, the route follows the course of the Lane, before continuing northeast towards the resort of Gréolières-les-Neiges. The route passes at the foot of the Montagne du Cheiron, culminating at the cime du Cheiron (1778 m), on whose slopes ski runs have been laid out.
You're very close to Nice, but it's so wild! Unforgettable sea and mountain views... One of our favorites, but beware, it's a bit mountain-bikey, even if it's on Gravel. For those who hesitate, there's an alternative via the very pretty route de la clue de Gréolières: passage along a ledge, through rocks, through the pretty village of Gréolières, with a view of the sea.
At the end of this splendid stage, you reach the foot of the village of Bézaudun-les-Alpes.
From Thorenc, the route follows the course of the Lane, before continuing northeast towards the resort of Gréolières-les-Neiges. The route passes at the foot of the Montagne du Cheiron, culminating at the cime du Cheiron (1778 m), on whose slopes ski runs have been laid out.
You're very close to Nice, but it's so wild! Unforgettable sea and mountain views... One of our favorites, but beware, it's a bit mountain-bikey, even if it's on Gravel. For those who hesitate, there's an alternative via the very pretty route de la clue de Gréolières: passage along a ledge, through rocks, through the pretty village of Gréolières, with a view of the sea.
At the end of this splendid stage, you reach the foot of the village of Bézaudun-les-Alpes.
Elevation of the stage
1291 m 1097 m
1179 m / ↘ 1371 m
Don't miss
- Saint-Auban: the village has preserved traces of its medieval past in the form of a series of remains and a magnificent town wall. The Clue de Saint-Auban, which can be admired from the tourist road overlooking it on the left bank, offers a fun and sporty canyoning route lasting around 3 h 30 in total.
- La Route des clues: from hilltop villages to deep canyons, the route takes in the little-traveled and unspoilt departmental roads of the upper Estéron valley. An absolutely exceptional itinerary for its rich natural and cultural heritage.
- Bézaudun-les-Alpes: perched on a promontory at the foot of the Cheiron mountain. The cobbled streets, vaulted passageways and old houses built of local grey stone are set on a steep slope. The remains of the well-restored medieval ramparts and castle, together with the 12th-century church of Saint-Martin, its bell tower with campanile, and its small cemetery overlooking the valley, form a harmonious whole.
Travellers’ reviews