Col de Cuore from Old Castillon

 

Viewing Mont Razet from Col de Cuore


The following hike runs along familiar trails between Menton and Sospel.  It basically features the loop around Mont Razet (posted earlier), but with an extension to Col de Cuore on the Italian border.

The proximity of the coast, relatively easy access, and all-year round hiking options make Col de Castillon (706 m) a popular starting point.

Col de Castillon parking
Col de Castillon parking
Biatonéa path
Biatonéa path
Trail under Mont Roulabre
Trail under Mont Roulabre


From the vast parking next to the ruined church, we descended a bit to Col de Castillon (signpost #135), then headed straight north towards the Biatonéa neighbourhood, first along a narrow street then a trail, reaching signpost #137 at a crossroads. We took the middle trail, and climbed to Baisse de Scuvion (1154 m; signpost #92) with good views to the west (Mont Ours etc), and to east.



View from trail before Baisse de Scuvion
View from trail before Baisse de Scuvion
Mont Ours seen from Baisse de Scuvion
Mont Ours seen from Baisse de Scuvion
Baisse de Scuvion
Baisse de Scuvion
Col de Cuore
Col de Cuore
Near Col du Razet
Near Col du Razet

Border post from 1927
Border post from 1927
La Pierre Pointue
La Pierre Pointue




We descended in the woods along the Northern flank of Mont Razet to Col de Roulabre and Col du Razet (1033 m; signpost #90). Crossing the GR52 trail, we followed the trail northeast then north on the French side of the border. Apart from a few rockslide areas, the trail was good. After a short climb, we reached Col de Cuore with a border post from 1927. We had views down to the Sospel Valley, and Mont Razet while the view to Italy was limited due to the woods and vegetation.

As Col de Cuore marked our turning point today, we returned to Col du Razet, then headed to Pierre Pointue (1168 m; signpost #93a) on the southern side of Mont Razet. We passed remains of several bunkers, then forked left at signpost #93, and descended steeply back to the village via Biatonéa.


Climb: 750 m

Distance: 13 km

Duration: about 5 h active

Map: 3742 OT Nice Menton Côte d’Azur



Col de Cuore from Col de Castillon



Creamy lemon tagliatelle with shrimp

 

Creamy lemon tagliatelle with shrimp



You can cook this pasta dish in no time if you use peeled and cooked giant shrimp, gambas, which are quickly reheated in the pasta sauce. 

For your pasta choose organic wholewheat Italian tagliatelle, such as Delverde, which is cooked in only 5 ¼ minutes according to the information on the package. It is the best tagliatelle that I have ever tasted.

2 servings

Wholewheat organic tagliatelle for two servings

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

Freshly ground black pepper

Grated lemon zest from ½ organic lemon

Lemon juice from ½ organic lemon

2 tbsp. crème fraîche 15% fat or cream

1 package, about 200 g, cooked and peeled giant shrimp, gambas

A small handful of freshly grated parmesan

Chopped fresh basil


Warm the olive oil over medium- low heat in a frying pan. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté for about 10 minutes until soft but not browned.


Add the lemon zest and juice, crème fraîche and black pepper and stir. Cook for a few minutes. Add the gambas and continue cooking for a couple of minutes until the gambas are reheated.


Meanwhile cook the tagliatelle and drain. Divide the pasta on the plates. Fold in the grated parmesan with a fork, then top the pasta with gambas sauce and decorate with basil.


Col Ferrière above Millefonts

 

View northeast from Col Ferrière




We had not driven up to Millefonts (2040 m) for a long time. The parking is at the end of a narrow, potholed albeit paved road starting above St-Dalmas Valdeblore, manageable with a normal car.

Our primary goal was Col de Ferrière (2484 m), bordering the Mercantour National Park. We had hiked there some years ago, then looped to Col du Barn and back to the parking.


View southeast from Millefonts
View southeast from Millefonts
Millefonts parking
Millefonts parking



The morning was glorious, with blue skies and little wind. From the parking, we took a shortcut to the GR52 trail and ascended along it to Col de Veillos (2194 m; signpost #83). At the col, we quit the GR trail and headed to Lacs des Millefonts and Col Ferrière along a yellow-marked PR trail in the eastern part of the Millefonts Valley.


We came to Lac Petit (2225 m), in fact the biggest of the Millefonts Lakes. We followed the main trail, heading northwest along a grassy slope. A secondary path circled the lake and continued to one of the upper lakes. 





Near Col de Veillos
Near Col de Veillos
Vallon des Millefonts
Vallon des Millefonts
Lac Petit
Lac Petit

The good morning weather was gone, summits were partly covered with clouds and the wind picked up. Some high cumulonimbus cloud formations were visible. We reached Col Ferrière easily, but decided not to continue to the nearby Cime des Lauses (2651 m). The imposing chain of mountain massifs bordering Italy was still visible under the cloud layers. 


We descended a bit to a warmer spot for our picnic then returned back to Millefonts parking.


The hiking area above Millefonts offers several possibilities in a high mountain environment. The summits are reachable in good weather, and it is easy to modify your itinerary when needed.


Cime des Lauses and Col Ferrière
Cime des Lauses and Col Ferrière
Pépoiri and Lac Petit
Pépoiri and Lac Petit
Trail near Col Ferrière
Trail near Col Ferrière
Col Ferrière
Col Ferrière
Clouds gathering above Millefonts
Clouds gathering above Millefonts


Climb: 500 m

Distance: ~7 km

Duration:  about 3 h active

Map: Moyenne Tinée 3641 ET     



Col Ferrière hike track



Butternut risotto

 

Butternut risotto



The following risotto recipe is adapted from the wonderful cookery book, The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, by Nancy Harmon Jenkins. She described having a golden pumpkin risotto in a restaurant in Mantua, Italy, on a late autumn day. She wrote that “the rice shimmered on the plate like a golden harvest moon”. This must have been some time in the 1970’s when the cuisine in small Italian restaurants still was quite local.

I have adapted her recipe for a modern risotto served with duck breast slices or a sliced steak as a main course. The colours will complement each other.

2 servings

2 handfuls of butternut cubes

120 ml risotto rice

½ medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp. olive oil

150 ml white wine

500 ml chicken stock (you may not need it all)

A handful of freshly grated parmesan

Freshly ground black pepper


Heat the chicken stock to simmering and keep it warm while preparing the risotto. 


In a heavy saucepan, cocotte, warm the olive oil over medium- low heat and gently sauté the onion and garlic until soft, about 5- 10 minutes. Add the butternut cubes and stir until well coated with oil. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes until the butternut is soft enough to be mashed with a fork to almost a purée. 


Add the rice and stir to mix well. Increase the heat to medium and pour in half the wine. Keep stirring and as soon as the rice has absorbed the wine, add the rest. Then continue stirring and adding the chicken stock, ladle by ladle. The rice is done in about 25 minutes. It should be al dente, with a bit of a bite in the centre. The risotto should be thick enough to be eaten with a fork and the butternut sauce should be dense and brilliant yellow.


When the rice is done, remove the cocotte from heat and stir in the cheese and some black pepper. Divide the risotto on the plates and surround with duck breast or steak slices.


Col de Sanguinière hike above Estenc

 

Col de Sanguinière in sight

We had previously hiked from Estenc to Col de Boucharde and Col de la Cayolle; it was an excellent loop in the upper Var River Valley. This time we wanted to explore the trail to Col de Sanguinière (2601 m), using the same starting point by the D2202 road just north of the hamlet of Estenc.

Trail start above Estenc
Trail start above Estenc
Trail to Cabanes de Sanguinière
Trail to Cabanes de Sanguinière
Cabane de Sanguinière
Cabane de Sanguinière
Above tree line to Col de Sanguinière
Above tree line to Col de Sanguinière
Rocky trail near Col de Sanguinière
Rocky trail near Col de Sanguinière
Col de Sanguinière
Col de Sanguinière
Col de Braïssa seen from Col de Sanguinière
Col de Braïssa seen from Col de Sanguinière
View south from Col de Sanguinière
View south from Col de Sanguinière
Descent from Col de Sanguinière
Descent from Col de Sanguinière




From signpost #284 (1870 m elev.) next to the parking, we entered the Mercantour National Parc, and climbed northeast. We crossed the D2202 road twice (signposts #285, 286), and continued in the woods to Cabanes de Sanguinière (2049 m). Soon after the huts and a clearing, we reached a crossroads at signpost #287 (2072 m). We continued straight, still in the woods, following the Sanguinière Stream along a nice and soft trail.  We crossed a wooden bridge, passed signpost #288 and started to ascend more steeply along the southwestern flank of Tête de Sanguinière, the summit east of the homonymous col.


Above 2300 m elevation the forest was gradually replaced by a rugged high alpine scenery, and the trail became much rockier. We saw the mountain pass in front of us, but the marked trail had to make extra loops due to huge boulders south of the col.


From the col, on the opposite side, we had a view of the wide Vallon de Sanguinière, Col de la Braïssa, and the row of peaks south of Col de la Bonette. The atmosphere was tranquil but sauvage, just the screams of marmots broke the silence from time to time.


We returned along the same trail.


Climb: 730 m


Distance: 14 km


Duration: 5h 20 active time



Col de Sanguinière track


Butternut and chicken sauté

 

Butternut and chicken sauté


The following tasty sauté is perfect to make in autumn and winter when the butternuts and pumpkins are in season. 

2 servings

2 small organic chicken breasts without skin and bone

½ small butternut squash

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp. grainy mustard, moutarde à l’ancienne

2 tbsp. crème fraîche, 15% fat

½ tsp. cinnamon powder

Freshly ground black pepper

Chopped fresh herbs


Cut the chicken breasts into about 2,5 cm x 2,5 cm cubes. Peel the ½ butternut and cut into cubes about the same size as chicken cubes. Microwave the butternut cubes for 3- 4 minutes until half-cooked.


Warm the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and sauté the chicken and butternut cubes on all sides for 10 minutes. Stir now and again. Add the onion and garlic and continue cooking and stirring for 10 minutes.


In a bowl, whisk together the créme fraîche, mustard, and cinnamon powder. Pour the mixture into the pan and stir. Grind over some black pepper. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5- 10 minutes.


Serve with brown rice or rice mixture and decorate with chopped fresh herbs.


Puy de Tourrettes from St-Barnabé

 

At Puy de Tourrettes


We have hiked up to Puy de Tourrettes (1268 m) many times, and written a few blogposts featuring different itineraries.

Because of its elevation (970 m), the parking on the St-Barnabé plateau is a tempting starting point to explore the surroundings. It should be added that marked routes to the Puy de Tourrettes   summit have been removed from new maps and some guides.

The terrain is not restricted but seems to be often used by sheep farmers.

Start along GR51 signpost#262
Start along GR51 signpost#262
Between signposts #167 #177
Between signposts #167 #177
Puy de Tourrettes eastern flank
Puy de Tourrettes eastern flank
Puy de Naouri seen from trail
Puy de Naouri seen from trail


From the parking, we followed the GR51 southeast (almost flat) to signpost #261 where we forked right, heading south. We reached la Baïsse (signpost #176) above le Caïre. We forked right(west) and started to ascend along a good albeit unmarked path which took us directly to the flat summit marked with a big cairn. 


Pic de Courmettes seen from trail
Pic de Courmettes seen from trail
Pic de Courmettes seen from trail
Puy de Tourrettes summit
Descending to Plateau St-Barnabé
Descending to Plateau St-Barnabé
Oratory by GR51 trail St-Barnabé
Oratory by GR51 trail St-Barnabé
Chapel in St-Barnabé
Chapel in St-Barnabé

The trail continued along the bare north western flank, and we descended along it passing Clapière Rousse and some pine woods. We came back to GR51, walked to signpost #255 and an oratory where we forked right again, and still on the GR51, headed first to the hamlet of St-Barnabé then back to our starting point.


Distance: 10 km


Climb: 360 m


Duration: 3h 30 active


Map: 3643 ET Cannes Grasse Côte d’Azur


Puy de Tourrettes loop



Chicken breast with sun-dried tomato cream sauce

 

Chicken breasts with sun-dried tomato cream sauce


This is a simple one-pan recipe that can be cooked in about half an hour. The secret for its taste is in quality ingredients; organic chicken breasts, good Italian oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and organic fresh herbs.

Very little crème fraîche or cream is needed to achieve the creaminess of the sauce if it is stirred in the wine sauce almost at the last minute. In France, you can also choose the thick fat-reduced crème fraîche which tolerates heat without getting runny.

Serve the chicken breasts with rice mix or green lentils and some greens; green beans or broccoli or zucchini.

2 servings

2 organic chicken breasts without skin or bone

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

75 ml white wine

4 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes

2 tbsp. crème fraîche 15 % fat or cream

Freshly ground black pepper

Fresh chopped herbs


Start cooking the rice mix or green lentils which need about 25- 30 minutes cooking time.

 

Warm the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and sauté the chicken breasts on both sides until golden. Add the shallot and garlic to the pan and continue sautéing for about 10 minutes. Add the wine and continue cooking, scraping up any browned bits. 


Place the sun-dried tomatoes on kitchen paper to remove some extra oil before chopping. Add to the pan and grind over some black pepper. Cover and let simmer over low heat for 5- 10 minutes until the chicken is done. Just before serving stir in the crème fraîche.


Meanwhile microwave the greens and chop some herbs.


Divide the chicken breasts, sauce, rice or lentils, and the greens on the plates. Decorate with herbs.