French Riviera: Discovering Cap D'antibes.
The Cap d'Antibes, renowned for its luxurious villas, is a green oasis whose coastal fringe offers a wild landscape of cliffs and deep coves. We invite you to discover this exceptional site which can be explored by taking the customs officers' path.
Where is Cap d'Antibes located?
The Cap d'Antibes is a peninsula that extends the city of Antibes towards the Mediterranean Sea.
This remarkable natural site consists of a hill covered with maritime pines and topped by a lighthouse: the Phare de la Garoupe, which overlooks the bay of Juan-les-Pins.
This place, popular with swimmers and walkers, is also known for hosting film personalities during the Cannes festival in the spring.
What is the history of this place?
This exceptional site has been occupied since the Roman era. In the second century BC, the Cape of Antibes and the nearby seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins were part of the city of Antipolis.
However, the fame of this site is much more recent. It developed around the mid-19th century, when wealthy visitors, particularly from England and Russia, had luxurious villas built there.
Why is this place famous?
Even though Cap d'Antibes is now associated with prestigious villas and luxurious residences nestled in greenery, the white limestone cliffs and coves that line its coastline have kept a wild side.
Several options are available to appreciate the beauty of this site:
- admire the breathtaking panorama from La Garoupe, a district known for its lighthouse, Notre-Dame chapel, and orientation table. You can walk there from Salis Beach. Take the rocky path of Calvary and count 30 minutes of climbing.
- take the "chemin des douaniers," a hiking trail that winds closest to the waves, from Garoupe Beach to Villa Eilenroc.
- enjoy the pleasures of swimming on the wild beaches of Cap, which are among the wildest in the area. You have a choice between Garoupe Beach, Salis Beach, and Ondes Beach towards Juan-les-Pins, not to mention the small coves.
How to tour around Cap d'Antibes?
It is possible to walk around the Cap d'Antibes following a route of 4.8 km, which takes approximately 2 hours.
The starting point of this circuit is located at the Garoupe Beach, accessible by car via the Bord de Mer road (D.2559).
Just after the beach, take the pedestrian path that runs along the coast, facing the ramparts of the old town. This path then gives way to a paved trail that leads to the Cap Gros.
The trail follows the walls surrounding the parks of the Garoupe and Croé castles, following a winding and sometimes narrow path.
To access the Villa Eilen Roc (which can be visited on certain weekdays), you must go up the "sentier des douaniers", delimited by two walls.
The return to Garoupe can be easily done through the small roads inside the cape.
