At the western end of the Alpes-Maritimes, in the municipality of Théoule-sur-Mer, stop on the Corniche de l’Estérel and take the time to discover the extraordinary spectacle offered by the meeting of red rocks plunging into a sea where the blue and the green are charged of nuances according to the seasons.
Presentation the western end of the Alpes-Maritimes, in the town of Théoule-sur-Mer, stop on the Corniche de l’Estérel and take the time to discover the extraordinary spectacle offered by the meeting of red rocks plunging into a sea where the blue and the green are charged of nuances according to the seasons.
From supplies for ships to bathing
A little piece of paradise with a tormented geological past
Using the trails that the Department has developed in the middle of the maquis, you will arrive on one of the four beaches nestled in coves with clear waters. You will be surprised by the shredded forms of the rocks, by their colors which bring us back to a history geological tormented. The Esterel, an ancient massif of crystalline rocks, has a volcanic past, as witnessed by the red cliffs of the park. Its flamboyant rocks reflect the episodes of volcanism. 300 million years ago, thick vitreous lavas escape from volcanoes (strato-volcano Maurevieille next to the park) .Coulées and lava projections create the rock of the Pointe de l’Aiguille: the pyromeride.
At the edge of the stairs, near the hands, you can admire this pink, orange or purplish “volcanic glass”, which has cooled in tormented folds. At the end of Pradeyrol walk, observe the base of the wall: made of tuffs A mixture of magma and rocks, it comes from an explosive phase. The erosion has hollowed out some blocks of lava and dug caverns. Elsewhere, the magma escaping from the faults formed red rhyolites. Over the years, erosion and collapses, deposits and folds have shaped and shredded the landscape to give it its current forms.
An explosion of colors
In a setting of red rocks develops a vegetation characteristic of the coastal zones of the massif of Estérel and adapted to siliceous grounds. An explosion of colors and Mediterranean scents surprises you: arbutus, broom, lavender bloom in the middle of the maritime pines The spread of spray enriches the flora with remarkable species, such as the anthillic beard of Jupiter, a rare species of one meter high with silvery branches and yellow flowers. wood, to the north, the presence of a spring promotes the exceptional development of unusual plants on the Mediterranean coast: horsetails, rushes, alders, holly and royal osmonds, ferns two meters high.Long the rocky coastline, in clear waters, the seabed is very rich. In a beautiful Posidonia herbarium, you can observe the ballet of sea bream, sea bream and saupes, and if you venture deeper, you will discover rock fish and crustaceans.
Access
- On the A8 motorway, take the Mandelieu exit and follow the RD 6098 to Théoule. Continue along the Estérel Corniche for 2 kilometers towards Saint-Raphaël.
- By train, get off at Théoule-sur-Mer station. Then, access is by taking the promenade Pradeyrol along the beaches from the center of Théoule-sur-Mer.
Parking
Three parking areas can be used:
- parking along the Corniche de l’Estérel, located below the RD 6098,
- The Théoule car park, which from the city center takes the Pradeyrol promenade to access the beaches of the Pointe de l’Aiguille.
Amenities
- Pedestrian walks Above the Estérel corniche, a path leads in a short time to the belvedere. As the park is made up of cliffs plunging into the sea, it is essential to follow the trails.
- A submarine discovery trail Accessible from mid-June to mid-September, it runs along the beach at the Pointe de l’Aiguille. Submerged inserts are available from the Théoule-sur-Mer tourist office.
Specials
- Four pebble beaches
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