Cirquit de l’Aiguille - Arche de Théoule

This hike takes us to the western end of the Alpes-Maritimes, where the red porphyry rock of the Estérel Massif drops straight into the Mediterranean Sea. We start at the harbor in Théoule-sur-Mer and first make our way uphill through the upper residential neighborhoods of this coastal town before entering the protected nature reserve of Pointe de l’Aiguille. The contrast between the red rock, the Mediterranean scrub, and the blue-green water characterizes the entire trail. From the Belvedere above the Corniche de l’Estérel, the view opens up across the Gulf of La Napoule to the offshore Îles de Lérins; on clear days, the vista extends all the way to the Pré-Alpes d’Azur. Along the way, we pass the Grotte de Gardanne, a collapsed vault in the red rock that, according to legend, once served as a hideout for pirates. A short detour takes us to the natural rock formation known as the Arche de Théoule and down to the small pebble and rocky coves, which are sheltered from the mistral