Tour de la Tête de Chien

The loop connects the coastal town of Cap-d'Ail with the Tête de Chien promontory, which rises about 550 meters above sea level and towers directly over Monaco. It owes its name to the shape of the limestone outcrop, which, when viewed from the coast, resembles a lying dog. The ascent begins in Cap-d’Ail and soon turns onto the Chemin Romain, which winds its way through scrub and sparse pine groves up to the white limestone cliffs. At the summit, we come upon the Fort de la Tête de Chien, which was built in the late 19th century as part of the fortifications around Nice and is still used for military purposes today; the interior is not accessible. The trail continues to La Turbie, where the Trophée d’Auguste stands—a Roman triumphal arch dating from 7 to 6 B.C. on the former Via Julia Augusta. We then return to the coast.