Cap d’Antibes

The 68th Festival de Cannes 2015 is in full swing and with the Monaco Grand Prix coming up, May on the French Riveria’s filled with glitz and glamour. But you don’t have to be a millionaire billionaire to appreciate its beauty or taste those yacht views.

Cap d’Antibes not far from Cannes, after Cap d’Ail is France’s 2nd most expensive real estate. Millionaires villa garden paths lead to gates opening up to spectacular Mediterranean Sea views. My one biggest regret leaving France was we’d only just discovered you could walk its coastal path, Chemin des Contrebandiers or Smugglers Path where these gates open up to. Previously I’d just ran on the main road through the Cap. We’d walked part of the path, but not its entirety. When I was in France a few weeks ago for my friends wedding, I had a spare few hours before my flight back. I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Cap d’Antibes and Parc Vaugrenier!

The path’s open to the public except in bad weather. Starting behind the Restaurant le Cesar and Plages/beaches Keller and Garoup, it snakes along rocks, up and down steps over looking the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) until you it takes you inland for the return. I skipped the inland bit and walked back along the sea. Trainers and jeans are fine to walk it in. It’s also a great trail path for runners. Don’t expect thanks for letting people pass by when the path narrows. Few did and few let me have right of way and those who did got thanks. That’s just how it works there. That aside, it’ll take 1-2hrs depending on how many photos you’ll take. I highly recommend walking it if you’re ever on the Côte Azur. Enjoy!  

Villa gates leading to the sea

I swear this is the tree Monet painted in Cap d’Antibes! On a clear day you can see the Alps in the distance as on the notice below. The day I went was hazy. During a Mistral or bad storms, the path maybe closed, but the water is an amazing shade of turquoise. 

Parking is free, busy at the weekends so arrive early especially on Sundays when the restaurants are in high demand. There’s a public WC on the beach, but I couldn’t find it. If you need to go and can’t find the toilette publique you have to buy a drink in one of the restaurants. That’s how it works in France!