This majestic 65.4 km journey over three days takes you from the heights of Monaco to the hilltop village of Mougins, offering a total immersion between the Mediterranean and the mountains. With an ascent of 2230m and a descent of 2625m, you will pass through iconic sites such as the Trophy of Augustus in La Turbie before descending to Nice and then climbing the hills of the Cannes hinterland. The path is rich in spirituality, passing secular chapels and Baroque oratories, and crossing the villages of Eze, Nice, and Valbonne. It is a demanding route, estimated at around 20 hours of walking, where the scent of the garrigue blends with the thousand-year-old history of the via Julia Augusta.
The challenge lies in the accumulation of 2230m of positive altitude gain on often rocky and steep terrain, especially during the climb to La Turbie. Sun exposure is high on the ridges and supply points can be distant between Nice and Valbonne. The knees will be tested by the 2625m of cumulative descent, requiring good physical condition and walking poles.
Plan a spiritual stop at the Sainte-Réparate Cathedral in Nice to have your credential stamped. Fill your water bottles in La Turbie and Nice as water points become scarce in the forested hills. For accommodation, the variant passing through the Cimiez Monastery offers an ideal haven of peace for pilgrims.