"Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far." Thomas Jefferson.

THE LOUP VALLEY

In order to reach the scattered villages of the Loup Valley one must follow a winding and hilly path which is among the most scenic paths of the Riviera hinterland. An outstanding reward awaits the walker energetic enough to climb the majestic but desolate hillsides of Caussol, for 2,500 feet up is the rocky spur known as the Gourdon la Sarrasine. From here he can get an eagle's eye view of the entire Loup gorges. The old houses with their red roofs are scattered around the castle of the Counts of Provence, built in the 13th century on the ruins of a Saracen fort.

A small museum of medieval art has been established in the village, which because of its commanding views has become a favourite abode for artists and craftsmen of all sorts. Following the road down toward the Saint-Arnoux hermitage one passes the turbulent Courmes waterfall, all 45 feet of it, before reaching the Pont-du-Loup. This bridge was destroyed during the war by Allied bombing and has never been replaced and now stands as a monument to the fact that in wartime nothing is sacred.

Continue down to the valley and you come to Le Bar-sur-Loup, a typical Provençal village, whose concentric narrow streets centre on a conical rocky spur. There you'll see a church built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the Gothic style two centuries later. It has a huge altar-piece designed by Luois BrΘa, consisting of no less than fourteen panels. Several stately 16th century towers blend in with the ruins of the castle of the Counts of Grasse.

TOURETTE-SUR-LOUP

"A village that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5.14 (New Testament).

This is one of the famous "perched villages" of Provence, villages perched on hillsides so as to have better defense and communications in the event of attack. Attacks were frequent by Vikings, Saracens, English Pirates, Spanish mercenaries, and from time to time, French armies. So long as you have prepared yourself for an aesthetic shock, you will undoubtedly enjoy this famous medieval village. Situated on a rocky plateau whose sheer sides fall away into the valley, Tourette-sur-Loup is perched 1,300 feet up and its narrow houses still form what was obviously at one time a powerful defensive rampart.

Entrance to the 3-towered church is through the fortified gate beneath a belfry. The two most spectacular features of this unique village is the 14th-century church, most noteworthy for its gilded altar-piece carved from a single piece of wood, and a stone slab belonging to a pagan sanctuary dedicated to Mercury . The slab dates from the first century AD.

This delightful, unspoiled village has attracted a host of artists and craftsmen, potters, weavers, engravers and sculptors, all doing their creative tasks in the shadow of the castle ruins built by the Lords of Villeneuve-Tourette.

BIOT

"The poor work miracles every day we give them and they give us treasures in heaven." Matthew XIX. 21

Situated close to Antibes , Biot is a very interesting "perched village" as its houses appear to adhere to a hillside just above the Brague Valley. Achieving fame from earliest time on account of its pottery which was utilitarian in design, Biot went from strength to strength until now it has become a recognised centre for ceramics and artistic handicrafts.

In the 18th century glassworks were normally located in the middle of pine forests where the fuel was plentiful and cheap. However after 1850 hand-made glass failed to pay its way having had to give way to industrial production.

Today however glass artwork, using the old hand-made techniques has been reintroduced - for the benefit of the tourists. Being aerated and illuminated by many thousands of bubbles which catch the light in a dozen different ways, glass paste is melted at a very high temperature after being coloured with oxides of manganese, peat and cobalt to produce three colours of the spectrum - violet, yellow and blue.

With its quaint sloping streets and narrow vaulted passageways, Biot has all the charm of the best of the villages of Provence.

VALBONNE

This is a picturesque village set in a cradle of green vegetation. In the centre are the remains of a church founded by Monks in the fifth century. The Norman church and belfry are still among the remains that are well worthy of a visit. There is a pretty square noted for its many arcades.

Valbonne is one of the boroughs of which Sophia Antipolis, Europe's first technoligical park, forms part. It is situated 7.5 miles (11 kms) from Antibes.

Created, composed, constructed and caressed by Virtual Riviera 1995