Le Circuit du Paradis

As today turned out to be rather a typical day on the Cote d’Azur weather-wise (with the sun shining, and bright blue skies), we figured a healthy hike was in order. We chose a walk in the Vallee du Loup for today, the Circuit de Paradis.

The walk started from Bar-sur-Loup, which is a typically picturesque Provencal village – one that we have already visited a couple of times. So without further ado, we set out towards the destination of the walk Gourdon (another pretty village). The beginning of the walk was easy enough, gently climbing up along the Loup (which in this case is a river, rather than a wolf ;-) – with some great views over the river valley.

Things got quite a bit tougher as we arrived at the Chemin du Paradis – which is the footpath that leads down from the valley up to Gourdon (which is at an altitude of about 800 meters – so it’s a bit of a climb). We cheated as we were already at ~350 meter’s altitude – but it was still quite a steep hike. I wonder why they’ve named the footpath as they have –it could be a bit of French irony, but on the other hand the views from the path are pretty amazing…


After a picnic at a very scenic spot indeed just outside the village, we spent a while walking around Gourdon. We’d already been there a couple of times, and there isn’t much to see to be quite honest, but it’s a pleasant enough village in spite of all the touristy trinket shops. After what we thought was a well-deserved ice cream, we headed back down the chemin du Pararis, and back to Bar-sur-Loup along the bottom of the valley.


I had ambitious plans in the evening to watch the Nice Aigles ice-hockey team play against Lyons – the stakes were high – promotion to the French first division. Alas, it was not to be, since the game was sold out (probably for the first time in the history of the Nice Aigles). So I ended up catching a film instead, followed by a meal and a couple of beers at Mori’s bar with Sami…