Gattieres and Carros // Village tour

Distance Nice - Gattières - Carros - St. Jeannet - Nice: 55 km
Climb: 500 m+
​Main routes: M2209 from Saint-Laurent du Var, M2210, M18
Close to: Col de Vence, Vence, Broc, Gilette
Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Tip: If you continue through Carros to Broc and find a small road going down to the riverside, you can cycle back through the flat valley by a cycling path that follows the Var river back to Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Another option for a longer round trip is to follow M1 and D8 through Bouyon and Coursegoules to Vence by passing Col de Vence.

Gattières and Carros are villages on the Western side of the Var valley that you can cycle to via some gentle hill-slopes not far from Nice. This is a great route for you, who are starting to become familiar with cycling in mountains. There are gentle climbs and descends where you can challenge yourself with a bit of uphill and descend at good roads and (for the area) short sections. As you moves into the backland of the coast you will be met by the majestic mountain tops from the bigger tops of Les Alpes-Maritimes.

When you start from Nice you cycle out to the seaside town called Saint-Laurent-du-Var via Promenade des Anglais. It is just a few km after Nice airport. In Saint-Laurent-du-Var the quickest way is to find the main road M95. There is often dense traffic, so pay attention and make sure to give room to the other people in traffic when you pass through the round-abouts. Another option is to follow the main road through Saint-Laurent-du-Var town, however there is quite a few traffic lights and often a bit slow town traffic.

Follow the M2209 and follow the road on the left towards Gattières after appr. 5 km. You have now a climb up to the first village Gattières.

In Gattières there is a bakery where you can buy very nice patissérie and coffee. The local bar close to it is also happy to serve cyclists passing through! :-)

Continue on the same road to Carros village. Carros is very beautifully located and has as any medieval village in the area small tiny charming streets - which are not so approachable by road bike!

You can now return the same way as you came back to Nice. Or you can follow a pretty road from Gattières up close to St. Jeannet, which is another very picturesque village. At the round about at the foot of St. Jeannet follow the direction towards La Gaude and follow M118 down to Saint-Laurent-du-Var again.

Return to Nice! :-)

Tina Baltzer
Lifesparkz Bike Tours