Escapade Around Mont Vial
For further information on Mont Vial’s walking paths, visit the tourism office of the Estéron valley.
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 08 98 08
www.esteron.fr
Access
To get to Bonson from Nice, follow the signs for the Var valley and the D6202bis, and then take the Gilette road (D901 then D17).
Turn right towards Bonson on the D27 road.
This week we are offering you an opportunity to discover a unique and unspoilt natural area - Mont Vial in the Var Valley. The excursion takes you to three of its authentic and delightful mountain villages: Toudon, Tourette-du-château and Bonson.
Bonson
Out of the three villages, Bonson is the closest to Nice, ideally located between the sea and the first snow-capped summits. Built on a rocky spur on the foothills of Mont Vial, Bonson overlooks the Estéron and Var valleys.
Renowned for its picturesque setting, the village also boasts a remarkable history. However, the village is not stuck in the past – since 2003, it has hosted the Festival du Peu, a modern art festival where all the village’s inhabitants are invited to exhibit works they have made exploring the theme of ‘making a lot from a little’!
While at Bonson, make sure you visit the Saint-Hospice Chapel. In October, the statue of Saint-Hospice is carried in a procession starting from the chapel. The parish church is also worth visiting - its furniture is classified as part of France’s national heritage.
Tourette-du-Château
Located a little higher up is Tourette-du-Château, a typical Côte d’Azur mountain village. This simple and charming village still has the remains of the old château that used to protect it. The houses in the village have been built on top of each other giving it a rather cramped feel. The 18th village church is open to visitors. It contains religious paintings dating back to the 17th century.
Toudon
The excursion continues along a lovely little road that leads up to the village of Toudon, a beautiful and picturesque village that reaches 1000m in altitude and offers fantastic views of the Estéron mountain range. Leave yourself enough time to tour the village and its noteworthy buildings: Sainte-Élisabeth church, whose construction started in the 11th century, Saint-Jean chapel, dedicated to John the Baptiser whom some believe protects Toudon’s farm land. Other noteworthy buildings include the old wash-house, and the museum located in the old mill.
Mont Vial
Between Tourette-du-château and Toudon, you will find a small road that ascends Mont Vial and leads to the best vantage point over the valley of Estéron. From there, you have the choice of either stopping for a little mountain picnic or climbing higher still on foot along Mont Vial’s many walking paths.
the line is an indicative and approximate line