Aristocrats, artists, politicians, or billionaire businessmen, these famous residents have chosen St Jean Cap Ferrat for its preserved environment, between pine hood and rugged coastline.
The best way to explore Saint Jean Cap Ferrat are the walks that go through the whole peninsula.
Here below our selection of 3 tours to help you discover our beautiful destination.
L’Isthme de St jean
This walk will guide you to the heights of the peninsula, between the bay of Beaulieu on the East side and the Bay of Villefranche on the West side. Walking among the native pines you will catch sight of amazing palaces and villas surrounded by beautiful gardens. Unmissable stop: the villa-museum Ephrussi de Rothschild (built in 1912), authentic symbol of the Belle Epoque splendour.
Starting directly from the hotel: 2h00
La Pointe Sainte Hospice
Au départ du port de St Jean, vous longerez un sentier côtier qui vous conduira à la Chapelle Ste Hospice, et à sa tour génoise, classée monument historique. En continuant, vous découvrirez l’anse des Fosses et l’Anse des Fossettes, de petites criques aux eaux turquoise.
Au départ du port de St Jean : 2h00
2h40 au départ de l’hôtel
Le Tour du Cap
This last walk will take you until the land end, along the limestone cliffs and rocky sharp edges that surround the famous Cap Ferrat lighthouse. This majestic structure built by the Sardinians in 1827 was destroyed by the Germans in 1944 before being rebuilt in 1951. It is now a historical monument since 2012.
Staring directly from the hotel: 2h40
Starting from St jean Cap Ferrat center: 2h00
St Michel hike
Lesser-known than the Cap Ferrat footpaths starting from the hotel, the “Saint-Michel” trail is also a noteworthy stroll to do.
Starting from Beaulieu-sur-mer center, the walk will takes you to Eze-sur-mer. Along the 5 km (3.11 miles) trail with a peak reaching 380 meters of altitude (1247 ft), you will enjoy breathtaking views over the Cap Ferrat. A green and healthy way to discover the East part of the Côte d’Azur.
For the bravest, a harder stroll joins Eze-sur-Mer to Eze-village on top of the hill !
Start : 250m from Beaulieu-sur-mer Station. 15mn walking distance from the Royal-Riviera hotel.
Useful link : easyhiker.co.uk
Riding up the Mont Alban
Riding up the Mont Alban
Up to 220 meters above sea level, the Mont Alban hill offers a breathtaking panorama above the French Riviera from Cap d’Ail to Antibes. After a succession of steps to reach the top, your hard efforts will be awarded !
Upon arrival, you will discover the fort of Mont Alban, built in 1557 following the siege of Nice in 1543, by order of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy.
The fort is an essential element of the defense system, completing the Château de Nice and the Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Classified “Historical Monument” in 1909, it will be occupied by Italian and German troops during WW2, and then bombed by Allied forces. From 1949 trenching operations and restoration occur. The fort became the property of the Ministry of Culture in 1964.
Besides an exceptional landscape setting, the fort strategic location is a balcony over two prestigious sites: the beautiful bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the East side, and Nice and its the famous “Baie des Anges” on the West side.
Our tip: take a break on your return on the port of Villefranche’s harbour.
Departure: Villefranche Citadel, 5 minutes drive from the hotel, 10 minutes by bus.
2 hours walk.
Sentier du Corbusier
From Beaulieu-sur-mer station, take the train and stop in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Starting from Roquebrune Tourism Office, let’s discover the walking path aroud the Cap Martin, which strolls by the sea, past Belle Époque villas and lush Mediterranean coastal vegetation.
Along the footpath, you will see on your way the “Cyrnos Villa” occupied at the beginning of the century by the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoléon III, or the “casa del mare”, owned by the famous film producer Dino de Larentiis.
The walk also leads you past a modern cabin designed by the great architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, known as “Le Corbusier”.This 15m² pine model of minimalist living, built in the shadow of a beautiful carob tree, is under consideration for inclusion on the list of world heritage sites (guided tours by at fixed times via the Tourism Office of Roquebrune Cap Martin).
You can follow the path as far as Carnolès train station (in Menton), from where we can either return to Beaulieu-sur-mer by train, or take the path back on foot.
Beaulieu-sur-mer station, 10-min walk from the hotel
picto-Train Beaulieu-sur-mer to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin : 15 min