Chemin du Paradis
Le Bar-sur-Loup

Chemin du Paradis

Heritage and history
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When reaching Gourdon, a hilltop village labeled the most beautiful village in France, the hairpin bends more and more aery, increase between terraced crops. The way to heaven!

"The Chemin du Paradis is an exceptional path, as you move forward it becomes aery while the first roofs of the village of Gourdon are outlined. The view from Victoria Square leaves a memorable mark. " says Julien Lageat - Préalpes d'Azur RNP.


3 points of interest

  • Patrimony and history

    The last ascent

    Because there was no cemetery at Bar-sur-Loup, the inhabitants had to climb with the dead to the village of Gourdon. The only access was by this road. Hence its name "the way to heaven".

  • Patrimony and history

    Aqueduct of Foulon

    Before 1885, the town of Grasse got its water supply from the Source of La Foux. But the flow was insufficient, especially because of the establishment of factories and perfumeries. In 1874, the town of Grasse became the owner of the Source Foulon. In 1878, the plans were approved. The canal was inaugurated on 21 July 1889; it has several civil engineering structures above void spaces and 22 tunnels with a total length of 2,600m throughout the entire network. This is a classic aqueduct structure that was replaced in the 50s by the imposing pipeline currently in place.

  • Panorama

    The Victoria Square

    Queen Victoria went to Gourdon in 1891 and in her honor, this large place enjoying an exceptional panorama and an admirable depth, was given her name.


Description

From the car park, go along the cemetery and continue on the Chemin de Bessurane (GR®51) until the Saint-Claude chapel.

1- Take a sharp left on a paved road and then engage immediately left on the trail that rises abruptly. Go along the fences and through a woodland until an intersection.

2- At the sign-post 302, take the right path that leads to the Canal du Loup. Walk on the mountainside on a large platform and cross the small bridge of the Gourdon valley. Remain on the flat area and come out on the Chemin du Paradis.

3- Follow it to the left (GR®51). Reach the Foulon aqueduct, then climb many aery switchbacks and reach Gourdon.

4- Visit the picturesque streets of the village, then go back down until the canal du Loup by the same route. In point 3, turn left and continue down the Chemin du Paradis. Come out on the road of the old railway.

5- Make a sharp right and return to Bar-sur-Loup. 1km further, take the Chemin des Fontaites to the right. And return to the car park of the cemetery.

  • Departure : Car park of the cemetery, Bar-sur-Loup
  • Arrival : Car park of the cemetery, Bar-sur-Loup
  • Towns crossed : Le Bar-sur-Loup and Gourdon

Forecast


Altimetric profile


Recommandations

Upstream of point 3, be careful on some rocky sections of the Chemin du Paradis, which can be wet.


Information desks

OT Gourdon

1 Place Victoria, 06620 Gourdon

https://www.gourdon06.fr/tourisme@mairie-gourdon06.fr+ 33 (0)4 93 09 68 25

Prealpes of Azur Regional Nature Park

https://www.parc-prealpesdazur.fr/contact@pnr-prealpesdazur.fr(+33) 4 92 42 08 63

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Transport

En venant de Nice : Bus 400 ou 09 jusqu'à Vence, puis 511 jusqu'à Bar-sur-Loup

Access and parking

At 9km East of Grasse, through the D2285 and D2210 or 25km North of Cagnes-sur-Mer, through the RD2210.

Parking :

Car park of the cemetery

Accessibility

Donkey hiking
Emergency number :114

Source

Département des Alpes-Maritimes - Randoxygènehttps://randoxygene.departement06.fr/randoxygene-8938.html

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