The Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer marks the start of your ascent to the Grande Corniche. Climb to the Èze Pass at 507m in altitude. This is your route to reach Menton, renowned for its citrus fruits and festival. Given the altitude you’ve reached, you’re rewarded with staggering plunging views down on St-Jean Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu Bay and Cap d’Ail. On the free-wheeling descent to Menton, do stop to explore La Turbie and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. At Menton, the Jean Cocteau Museum, the historic centre and Menton music festival count among memorable reasons for visiting this resort on the Italian frontier. The customs post has long stood unoccupied, inciting you to continue your Mediterranean cycling adventure uninterrupted along EuroVelo 8. Avanti!
Gradients and elevation
Slope breakdown
Road types
- Cycle path
- Routes reserved for cyclists and pedestrians (greenways, cycle tracks, towpaths), separated from cars for maximum safety.
- Shared road
- Quiet minor roads with little traffic (unless otherwise stated in the stage details). Shared with cars (stay alert).
- Not specified
- Data unavailable or being assessed. Please refer to the detailed stage description.
- Provisional
- Section on a road or cycle path awaiting better-quality facilities (see stage details).
Surface
- Smooth
- Asphalt, tarmac or smooth concrete. Optimal comfort.
- Rough
- Fine gravel, compacted stabilised surface or worn tarmac. Less comfortable, vibrations possible.
- Natural
- Dirt, grass, roots or stones. Under 5%: short sections with little impact. Higher percentage: route suited to mountain or gravel bikes only.
- Not specified
- Data unavailable or being assessed. Please refer to the detailed stage description.
The route
Signposting will be installed in due course along this stage.
This practically counts as a mountain stage, given the ascent to the Eze Pass. Except for a short cycle track at Villefranche-sur-Mer, the rest of this stage is along roads shared with motorized traffic.
Take care: descending from the Eze Pass, avoid the cycle lane, which can be extremely dangerous!
Links
Menton Garavan train station
Link to the EV8 in Italy: research ongoing
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Tourist Offices
Office de tourisme de Nice
33 (0)4 92 14 46 14
Office de tourisme de Villefranche-sur-Mer
33 (0)4 93 01 73 68
Office de tourisme d’Èze
33 (0)4 93 41 26 00
Office de tourisme de La Turbie
2 Place Detras
06320 La Turbie
33 (04) 93 41 21 15
Office de tourisme de Roquebrune Cap-Martin
33 (0)4 93 35 62 87
Office de tourisme de Menton
33 (0)4 92 41 76 76
SNCF train stations
Nice-Ville station
Nice-Riquier station
Villefranche-sur-Mer station
Carnolès - Roquebrune-Cap-Martin station
Menton Garavan station
Consult the timetables
