Driving the corniche de l'esteral coast?
Oct 1st, 2015, 12:01 PM
#1
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Driving the corniche de l'esteral coast?
Hi, I'm asking this question for DH.
We are coming on the A8 from Bedoin on Saturday, dropping the car at the Nice airport. He is wondering about getting off the A8 at St. Raphael and driving the coastal road to Cannes and Nice. What is the coastal road like to drive? Is it a balcony or corniche type road, because we won't do that. Is it a nice drive? I understand parts of the coastal road aren't that attractive.
Alternatively, we can just get off at Nice, fill the car with gas there, drop the car at the airport, and bus into Nice.
We are coming on the A8 from Bedoin on Saturday, dropping the car at the Nice airport. He is wondering about getting off the A8 at St. Raphael and driving the coastal road to Cannes and Nice. What is the coastal road like to drive? Is it a balcony or corniche type road, because we won't do that. Is it a nice drive? I understand parts of the coastal road aren't that attractive.
Alternatively, we can just get off at Nice, fill the car with gas there, drop the car at the airport, and bus into Nice.
Oct 1st, 2015, 01:00 PM
#2
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I only did the latter half of what you are contemplating, and it is not a corniche, but there was so much traffic the day I did it I wouldn't risk it again. But perhaps I was just unlucky and it wasn't typical (I was there in the late afternoon in early September, and can't remember which day of the week) Since I didn't see any of the area near St Raphael, can't comment, but hope someone will come along with a more complete picture.
Oct 1st, 2015, 10:32 PM
#4
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Thanks, might be best to go directly to Nice, especially since lots if rain is in the forecast for Saturday.
I didn't think it was a corniche, and I've been on the one from Nice to Monte Carlo, but that's what it's referred to on my map.
I didn't think it was a corniche, and I've been on the one from Nice to Monte Carlo, but that's what it's referred to on my map.
Oct 2nd, 2015, 01:37 AM
#5
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Sugarmaple means the Corniche d'Esterel, between St Raphael and Cannes.
It's an easy drive; just a winding road along the sea. Not high up the mountain like the Corniche east of Nice.
If you have plenty of time, it's a nice drive. But getting to St Raphael from the A8, then driving to Cannes and further to Nice will take a long time. We drove from St Maxime to Cannes along the coastal route recently, on a weekday, and it was about 1 hour 45 minutes, not stopping anywhere along the route.
You can continue along the Cannes Croisette, and get back on the A8 at Antibes. Or get on the A8 at Cannes (following Boulevard Carnot, which can be a pain if it's busy). If you want to follow the coast all the way to the airport, count on at least 1,5 hours from Cannes.
Once you're on the A8 at Cannes, the airport is only 15 minutes away.
Problem with having to catch a flight, is that you can be in a traffic jam along the coast, and getting back to the A8 can take some time too.
It's an easy drive; just a winding road along the sea. Not high up the mountain like the Corniche east of Nice.
If you have plenty of time, it's a nice drive. But getting to St Raphael from the A8, then driving to Cannes and further to Nice will take a long time. We drove from St Maxime to Cannes along the coastal route recently, on a weekday, and it was about 1 hour 45 minutes, not stopping anywhere along the route.
You can continue along the Cannes Croisette, and get back on the A8 at Antibes. Or get on the A8 at Cannes (following Boulevard Carnot, which can be a pain if it's busy). If you want to follow the coast all the way to the airport, count on at least 1,5 hours from Cannes.
Once you're on the A8 at Cannes, the airport is only 15 minutes away.
Problem with having to catch a flight, is that you can be in a traffic jam along the coast, and getting back to the A8 can take some time too.
Oct 2nd, 2015, 01:42 AM
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What you could do is get off the A8 at Villeneuve Loubet Plage; the motorway is close to the coast there. You drive down to the route de bord de mer - and follow the coast through Cagnes until you get to the airport. Very easy.
Not particularly scenic, but certainly a better view than you'll get from the A8. You drive right past the beach, and can stop for a coffee or lunch if you have time.
This way you can fill up your car before you get to the airport; there's often a queue there, and it's a bit more expensive. The Casino supermarket in Villeneuve Loubet has lower petrol prices.
You can decide this last minute, if you're early for the airport. From the exit Villeneuve Loubet to the airport will take about 15 - 20 minutes along the coastal route.
Not particularly scenic, but certainly a better view than you'll get from the A8. You drive right past the beach, and can stop for a coffee or lunch if you have time.
This way you can fill up your car before you get to the airport; there's often a queue there, and it's a bit more expensive. The Casino supermarket in Villeneuve Loubet has lower petrol prices.
You can decide this last minute, if you're early for the airport. From the exit Villeneuve Loubet to the airport will take about 15 - 20 minutes along the coastal route.
Oct 2nd, 2015, 09:06 AM
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Obviously, you have gotten a lot of wrong advice here from people who do not know the meaning of "corniche". "Corniche" simply means coastal road. What you mean is the Corniche de l'Esterel, also called Corniche d'Or, between St. Raphael and Mandelieu. It is one the world's most beautiful scenic drives - you have the blue sea on the right and the red rugged mountains on the left.
Driving the Corniche de l'Esterel is very easy. It is windy, but everybody drives slowly here. Vertigo is not a problem because it is not high. There are dozens of pull-outs for phantastic photo shots. At several "calanques" (coves) you can park and walk downs stairways to the beaches.
Leave the A8 at exit 37 - Puget sur Argens. Drive into Fréjus, then to St. Raphael. There you drive round the port onto the Corniche, direction Cannes par bord de mer, the D1098. The first section of the Corniche will lead through the outskirts of St. Raphael. Then you reach Le Dramont which is worth a short stop. There is the beach where the American troups landed in 1945 and there is a monument with a historic landing boat. The beach is called "Plage de l'Embarkation".
Less then a kilometre from there is the "Plage du Camp Long", one the most beautiful beaches. There is also a hiking trail up the cliff.
Then you round the large sandy bay of Agay, a seaside resort. After Agay, scenery becomes more rugged. In Antheor, there is another small beach under the mighty railroad bridge. After Antheor, the most beautiful part of the Corniche begins. Around Cap Roux, there is a protected wilderness area which is most beautiful. Stop at a couple of pull-outs, take your pictures and walk down into on of the coves.
In Le Trayas, settlement begins again. In Mandelieu, the Corniche de l'Esterel ends and you may drive back on the motorway again. Or you continue on the coastal road until you reach the wide beach of Cannes with the impressive row of magnificent hotels, including the historic Carlton.
Driving the Corniche de l'Esterel is very easy. It is windy, but everybody drives slowly here. Vertigo is not a problem because it is not high. There are dozens of pull-outs for phantastic photo shots. At several "calanques" (coves) you can park and walk downs stairways to the beaches.
Leave the A8 at exit 37 - Puget sur Argens. Drive into Fréjus, then to St. Raphael. There you drive round the port onto the Corniche, direction Cannes par bord de mer, the D1098. The first section of the Corniche will lead through the outskirts of St. Raphael. Then you reach Le Dramont which is worth a short stop. There is the beach where the American troups landed in 1945 and there is a monument with a historic landing boat. The beach is called "Plage de l'Embarkation".
Less then a kilometre from there is the "Plage du Camp Long", one the most beautiful beaches. There is also a hiking trail up the cliff.
Then you round the large sandy bay of Agay, a seaside resort. After Agay, scenery becomes more rugged. In Antheor, there is another small beach under the mighty railroad bridge. After Antheor, the most beautiful part of the Corniche begins. Around Cap Roux, there is a protected wilderness area which is most beautiful. Stop at a couple of pull-outs, take your pictures and walk down into on of the coves.
In Le Trayas, settlement begins again. In Mandelieu, the Corniche de l'Esterel ends and you may drive back on the motorway again. Or you continue on the coastal road until you reach the wide beach of Cannes with the impressive row of magnificent hotels, including the historic Carlton.
Oct 2nd, 2015, 10:28 AM
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Well, traveller1959, it can't both be true that "corniche" simply means "the coastal road" as you claim in the first paragraph of your post when in the last paragraph of your post you write: " In Mandelieu, the Corniche de l'Esterel ends and you may drive back on the motorway again. Or you continue on the coastal road."
In case it wasn't clear, the only part of the coastal road that I drove was where you say the corniche has ended -- which is why I wrote what I did. That part isn't a corniche. See def. below
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/corniche
In case it wasn't clear, the only part of the coastal road that I drove was where you say the corniche has ended -- which is why I wrote what I did. That part isn't a corniche. See def. below
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/corniche
Oct 2nd, 2015, 11:38 AM
#11
Original Poster
Thank you traveller1959 for the detailed description!
If the weather is good tomorrow, (looks like showers) we will get off the A8 at exit 37, and drive through to Mandelieu, back on the A8, and off again at Villeneuve Loubet, gas station fill up, drop the car at the airport, bus into Nice.
I much appreciate everyone who gave advice, and as a bonus, now I know what a corniche is!
Merci.
If the weather is good tomorrow, (looks like showers) we will get off the A8 at exit 37, and drive through to Mandelieu, back on the A8, and off again at Villeneuve Loubet, gas station fill up, drop the car at the airport, bus into Nice.
I much appreciate everyone who gave advice, and as a bonus, now I know what a corniche is!
Merci.
Oct 3rd, 2015, 01:10 AM
#12
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A corniche is a ledge; mountain on one side, dropping off on the other side. The corniche de l'esterel has that; it's just not high up. It's a very scenic road. We drove it two weeks ago.
I was under the impression that Sugarmaple had to catch a flight - in which case it's not a good idea to drive along the coast. You never know how long it will take.
If you have plenty of time, it's a beautiful drive to take.
Villeneuve Loubet Plage and Cagnes-sur-mer are ugly towns. But if you're going to the airport and need to fill up your rental car, getting off the A8 at Villeneuve Loubet is quite handy.
I hope the weather improves for you Sugarmaple; two weeks ago it was glorious!
I was under the impression that Sugarmaple had to catch a flight - in which case it's not a good idea to drive along the coast. You never know how long it will take.
If you have plenty of time, it's a beautiful drive to take.
Villeneuve Loubet Plage and Cagnes-sur-mer are ugly towns. But if you're going to the airport and need to fill up your rental car, getting off the A8 at Villeneuve Loubet is quite handy.
I hope the weather improves for you Sugarmaple; two weeks ago it was glorious!
Oct 3rd, 2015, 12:29 PM
#13
Original Poster
We arrived in Nice about 5:30 this afternoon, after a drive along the coast that can only be described as ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous!
Unfortunately, it began to rain the minute we left Bedoin, and continued until just before St. Raphael, but the traffic was very light, and I don't know what they do here, but there was very little spray on the highway, so it wasn't too bad.
Sublime-the drive from St. Raphael through to Cannes, absolutely glorious, with the deep blue sea and red volcanic rocks. For a Saturday afternoon there was surprisingly little traffic, next to none in fact, so we could travel at our usual 40 and not worry about cars behind us. It was a wonderful, wonderful drive, a vision around every corner.
Ridiculous-Then we hit Villeneuve Loubet, and ended up on the D6007 instead of the D6098, and it took more than an hour to get through what was ridiculous traffic for no apparent reason. Stop and go. A bunch of box stores on a brutally ugly stretch of road. I get enough of that at home.
We finally made it to Nice, and I can't thank you enough for the terrific advice we got here about the corniche de l'esteral drive. We probably wouldn't have done it without your first hand knowledge. It has been a real highlight of our trip.
Merci.
Unfortunately, it began to rain the minute we left Bedoin, and continued until just before St. Raphael, but the traffic was very light, and I don't know what they do here, but there was very little spray on the highway, so it wasn't too bad.
Sublime-the drive from St. Raphael through to Cannes, absolutely glorious, with the deep blue sea and red volcanic rocks. For a Saturday afternoon there was surprisingly little traffic, next to none in fact, so we could travel at our usual 40 and not worry about cars behind us. It was a wonderful, wonderful drive, a vision around every corner.
Ridiculous-Then we hit Villeneuve Loubet, and ended up on the D6007 instead of the D6098, and it took more than an hour to get through what was ridiculous traffic for no apparent reason. Stop and go. A bunch of box stores on a brutally ugly stretch of road. I get enough of that at home.
We finally made it to Nice, and I can't thank you enough for the terrific advice we got here about the corniche de l'esteral drive. We probably wouldn't have done it without your first hand knowledge. It has been a real highlight of our trip.
Merci.
Oct 4th, 2015, 12:40 PM
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sugarmaple, good that you enjoyed the Corniche de l'Esterel. Keep the memories in your mind and forget the Villeneuve-Loubet section.
You did something that 98% of the Fodorites miss when visiting the Côte d'Azur.
You did something that 98% of the Fodorites miss when visiting the Côte d'Azur.
Oct 5th, 2015, 01:08 AM
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Yes the drive is beautiful there.
Corniche always implies some altitude.
A corniche can be coastal but not at sea level.
A 'corniche' is also the horizontal piping under a roof that takes care of water falling on your roof.
Mvg.
Corniche always implies some altitude.
A corniche can be coastal but not at sea level.
A 'corniche' is also the horizontal piping under a roof that takes care of water falling on your roof.
Mvg.
