This 19.1 km stage marks a gentle descent towards the French Riviera, featuring 206m of ascent and 448m of descent for an estimated 5-hour walk. Departing from the medieval heart of Valbonne, the trail wanders through the cooling canopy of the Valmasque forest, where the scent of pine and cork oak dominates. You will pass through the artistic heights of Mougins, once a Roman station, before reaching the historic Suquet district in Cannes. This segment offers a spiritual bridge between the contemplative silence of the Provençal scrubland and the vibrant horizon of the Mediterranean. Historically, this path mirrors the ancient Roman Aurelian Way connecting Rome to Santiago de Compostela.
With 448m of descent, this stage is physically easy but requires caution for joints on some harder paved surfaces near the coast. Navigation can be tricky where the forest trails intersect with the suburban fringes of Mougins. Shade is abundant in the Valmasque forest, but the final kilometers into Cannes offer little protection from the Mediterranean sun.
Make sure to get your credential stamped at the Saint-Blaise church in Valbonne before you head out. A stop at the Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel in Mougins offers a perfect moment of reflection with an incredible view. Water fountains are available in Valbonne and Mougins, but carry extra for the long wooded section in between.