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Motorhoming in the Alpes Maritime
Motorhoming in the Alpes Maritime
On the edge of French territory, with its natural borders, the Alps on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other, we find the Alpes Maritime with its agreeable climate and beautiful coastline. Everyone has heard of Nice and Cannes, rather superficial ‘playgrounds’ of the rich and famous, but if we scratch the surface a little we can discover the real ‘old’ Nice and its ‘arrière pays’ – the countryside beyond, and lots of other authentic and charming places.
To really appreciate this department, go behind the scenes in the old town of Nice where the tradition of ‘Trompe l’Oiel’ was started by the Italian artists who arrived in the 17th century. This method of sculpture and painting decorates the facades of the shops and buildings in the little streets. Visit the château, the baroque cathedral of Sainte Réparate and Place Masséna, the beating heart of the old town with its red painted facades. Nice wouldn’t be the same without its thronging markets full of all types of treasures, be it fish, flowers or ancient books.
An excellent way to discover this part of France if you’re hiring a motorhome in France or hiring a motorhome in England is to follow the ‘route du Mimosa’. The Mimosa is a flower which was introduced to Europe by our very own Captain Cook and has many uses, not least of which is the manufacture of perfume.
The starting point of the route du Mimosa is Bormes-les-Mimosas, and from there you have 130km and the time to discover 8 communes living from activities based around the Mimosa. Le Rayol-Canadel, Saint-Raphaël, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, let your eyes succumb to the magnificent surroundings as you pass through these villages steeped in the history of the Mimosa for hundreds of years. Different things to see and smell depending on the time of year that you do your motorhome travel in France.
Grasse is the world capital of perfume making and is the final point on the route. In Grasse, you will appreciate the architecture and little streets of this town, developed since the 12th century and finding its vocation in the perfume industry in the 18th century. You can also visit one of its perfumeries or simply breathe the delicate perfumes carried on the wind.
Visit the old quarter of Suquet, the historical centre of Cannes. From here you will have an excellent view over the old port and the surrounding area before going down the Rue Saint Antoine, the oldest street in Cannes. It is very animated, bordered by restaurants and monuments such as the baroque church of Notre Dame de l’Espérance, the ruins of the château and its ramparts and ending in the old 19th century port, best appreciated at sunset.
Along the way you can use the Aires de Service in the Alpes Maritime for free overnight stays and go on to do some motorhoming in the Var or motorhoming in the Alpes de Haute Provence.
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