WHAT TO DO IN GRASSE: OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Grasse - Pégomas - Thorenc - L'Audibergue
1 Day
What can you do in Grasse and the Pays de Grasse? Just a few miles from the glitz and glamor of the Cannes Croisette, the Pays de Grasse is full of treasures that are renowned worldwide. Perfume, excellent cuisine, cultural heritage, but especially breathtaking landscapes. That was all the encouragement we needed to spend a day there with friends for some thrilling adrenaline and fantastic food. After a stroll through the market to stock up on local products for a picnic, we set off to conquer La Moulière mountain. We enjoyed lunch at the summit, immersed in the natural landscape, then let off some steam at the treetop adventure park before rewarding our efforts with a hearty meal at a charming mountain restaurant.
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The Highlights:
1 : TREAT YOUR TASTE BUDS AT THE PAYS DE GRASSE MARKETS AND VISIT A FARM
2 : ENJOY FRESH AIR AND HIKING FROM THE LA MOULIERE CHAIRLIFT
3 : LET OFF STEAM IN HIGH-ADRENALINE ACTIVITIES
4 : SAVOR FANTASTIC LOCAL FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP
Highlight #1:
WHAT TO DO IN GRASSE IN THE MORNING?
TREAT YOUR TASTE BUDS AT THE PAYS DE GRASSE MARKETS AND VISIT A FARM
« Pégomas, Thorenc »
The best in local foods
The Provencal market is one of the regional symbols of the Pays de Grasse. Not only can you buy fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, meat and cheeses, and local specialties there, but it is a central meeting place in the village. The rainbow of colors and rich smells from the stands mingle with lively talk between merchants and passers-by, bright bursts of laughter and sunny smiles. We mainly bought some fruits and vegetables and Provençal fougasse bread, before going to visit an actual farm. The breeder happily took us on a tour of her 19th-century farm, typical of the region, showing us her herds of Aubrac and Abondance cows, Préalpes du Sud sheep, chickens, and pigs. Dazzled and delighted, we topped off our picnic basket with some of the cheeses and cold cuts she had for sale.
The region’s specialties
We bought only what could be easily eaten picnic-style, meaning finger food that did not need reheating, but for a regular meal we’d have tried the region’s essential specialties, including:
- tapenade: a paste generally composed of olives, garlic, capers, and anchovy filets;
- aïoli: sauce made from olive oil, garlic, and egg;
- pissaladière: a sort of Provencal pizza topped with onion compote and pissalat sauce (a mixture of sardines and anchovies);
- bouillabaisse: chunky fish soup (weever, whiting, monkfish, sea bream) served with garlic croutons and potatoes;
- soupe au pistou: a thick soup of summer vegetables, pasta, and pistou sauce made from crushed basil, garlic, and cheese.
Highlight #2:
THINGS TO DO AROUND GRASSE: ENJOY FRESH AIR AND HIKING FROM THE LA MOULIERE CHAIRLIFT
"L’Audibergue, la Moulière"
Set out to conquer the wilderness
Equipped with a hiking GPS and excited at the prospect of an outdoor adventure, we set off to meet the guide who would lead us up L’Audibergue mountain to take part in some “geocaching” – a kind of newfangled treasure hunt. As we worked our way up the 1,200-foot ascent, we happily discovered the site’s wildflowers as our guide explained their histories and characteristics. There were also works of art subtly incorporated into the natural landscape, part of the recently established “Chemin des Arts” trail. After hiking nearly two hours, we reached the top. The Mediterranean climate can sometimes shroud the mountain crest in a persistent mist, but on this day the view was superb. This is where we decided to have lunch, near the two-sided toposcope, one side depicting the Mercantour mountain range, the Argentera mountains with the Pic de l’Aigle and the Castellaras, the other indicating the Lérins Islands, the Esterel, Saint-Cassien Lake, and the entire coast, from Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat to Cap Camarat.
Recommendations before any mountain hike
First, confirm the weather forecast to avoid disappointment. Wear appropriate clothing: a breathable t-shirt, lightweight pants or hiking shorts (avoid clothing that leaves the legs uncovered, to protect them from insect bites or prickly or stinging plants, such as nettles), as well as proper hiking shoes (or sneakers with good tread). Then, in a 20- to 30-liter backpack, bring:
- energy bars made of grains or nuts and fruit and at least 1.5 liters of water per person. It is best to carry water in a glass or stainless-steel bottle that is more eco-friendly than plastic. Never set out on a hike without food or water;
- for sun protection: sunglasses, a hat or cap, and sunscreen;
- warm and waterproof clothing. Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains;
- and, of course, a camera to capture the panoramic view!
A little closer to the stars
Though we really enjoyed our daytime hike with the certified guide, we’d heard about a nighttime version that piqued our curiosity. More astronomy-focused, but just as fun, this walk starts at sunset and gives you the chance to perceive the beauty of nature and the sky in a different way. Come nightfall, the guide sets up an inflatable, dome-shaped planetarium, giving you a map of the heavens to start your education before observing the beauty of the starry sky for yourselves, using sophisticated observation equipment. You can then pick out familiar constellations like the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, Hydra, Cassiopeia, along with Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. The descent is done without lamps or lighting and, surprisingly, people find that they can see quite well in the dark after a few minutes. A beautiful night of reaching for the stars!
Highlight #3:
WHAT TO DO IN GRASSE TO LET OFF STEAM:
A BREATHTAKING AFTERNOON OF HIGH-ADRENALINE ACTIVITIES
"Caille, La Moulière"
Adrenaline-charged activities
After our “picnic with a view,” we followed a way-marked trail to reach the chairlift at the Parc de la Moulière, where the multisport site begins. The treetop adventure park has five routes of varying levels of difficulty, and ages 4 and up are allowed in the park, so we’ll probably bring the kids next time. The routes are super-fun and ultra-secure, with 85 challenges and ziplines that keep you moving from tree to tree for about 2.5 hours, above a network of mountain-biking trails for more “down-to-earth” folks. The Moulière multi-zipline cascade, with occasional small monkey bridges and nets, is one of the biggest in Europe. We loved the “Super Tyro” – a fabulous zipline that’s 1,500 feet long and more than 30 feet off the ground, which had our hearts beating at top speed!
An underground Via Ferrata
Next on our thrill-seeking schedule: We plunged deep underground to try an incredible Via Souterrata, giving us a taste of the world of caving. We were each equipped with a protective suit and a headlamp and then started our journey by descending to a depth of 130 feet beneath the earth. It was completely silent there and we set off to discover sights of remarkable beauty: an underground lake, then a gallery of concretions with stalactites and stalagmites, and columns typical of karst topography. The rest of the 1,150-foot course we followed much resembled a Via Ferrata: rungs, ladders, footbridges, rope bridges, and cables crossing two sinkholes. The suspension-bridge room was just amazing, as was the climb out again. It was a superb experience of being suspended in both time and space. Extraordinary!
Highlight #4:
WHAT TO DO IN THE PAYS DE GRASSE IN THE EVENING:
SAVOR LOCAL FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP
"Caille, l’Audibergue"
Good food and good fun
After getting such a great workout on this very physical day, we needed to recharge before heading home. We found a small mountain restaurant with great hospitality and wood décor, like a chalet. We were treated to a gigantic charcuterie platter as a starter: local cured ham, homemade terrine and pâté, sausage, garlic bread. For the main course, it was family-style cuisine in hearty portions. Lots of different dishes and meats: old-style beef stew, stuffed quail, succulent leg of lamb on the bone, and an array of vegetables alongside, like Niçois-style stuffed vegetables, zucchini-flower fritters, chunky home fries. We ended our dinner by filling the little space we had left with the cheese platter and the homemade desserts. Even with our gigantic appetites, we couldn’t quite finish the job, but we sure had fun trying!
