Ubaye Valley: Col de Mary

 

Near Col de Mary

On our first ever visit to Maljasset, in the Ubaye River Valley at the end of the D25 road, we wanted to explore the trail to Col de Mary (2640 m) on the Italian border. Combined with the Col de Marinet and a loop via the Marinet lakes, the hike is considered one of the classics in the region.

Crossing Ubaye River
Crossing Ubaye River
Ubaye River Maljasset
Ubaye River Maljasset
GRP trail above Maljasset
GRP trail above Maljasset
Steep section of GRP to Col de Mary
Steep section of GRP to Col de Mary
Easy stream crossing on GRP
Easy stream crossing on GRP

It was early in the season with snow still present at altitude. Combined with heavy downpours in the recent days, some sections were fairly wet and there was a lot of water in small streams.

On the day of our hike, we woke up with clear skies but showers and thunderstorm activity were forecasted for the afternoon.

We drove to the very end of the D25 road, passed the hamlet of Maljasset and parked near the Chapel of Maurin. 


Peaks west of Ubaye Valley
Peaks west of Ubaye Valley
Crossing torrent Mary Valley
Crossing torrent Mary Valley
Midway to Col de Mary
Midway to Col de Mary
Higher in Mary Valley
Higher in Mary Valley
Col de Mary 2640 m
Col de Mary 2640 m


The trail to Col de Mary is a GRP de pays itinerary, marked yellow/red. We descended to the Ubaye river, crossed it along a wood bridge and continued in a larch forest which gradually gave way to alpine meadows. We passed a sign to an ancient marble quarry and soon a shepherd’s hut (Bergerie inférieur de Mary) on our left-hand side. Gaining altitude, we came to a crossroads near another hut (Bergerie supérieure de Mary). The stream Torrent de Mary was impossible to cross at this point as the signs indicated. The trail to/from the Marinet lakes and the Col Marinet was across the torrent as well. We continued on the same side of the stream, and found a crossing point higher up.

There were large snow-covered areas to be crossed as we approached the mountain pass. The GRP trail continued to Italy, connecting with a network of itineraries back to France. The rocky trail to the Marinet Pass (147 m climb; 30 min) forked right. The allegedly Europe’s highest mailbox was placed on the col, a relic from the 19th century. Due to gathering clouds and above all impossible torrent crossing from the Marinet lakes, we decided to return along the same trail. 


Climb: 740 m

Distance: 14 km

Duration: 5h 30

Map: 3538ET Aguille de Chambeyron


Upper Mary Valley
Upper Mary Valley


Col de Mary track
Col de Mary track

Spinach and pea frittata

 

Spinach and pea frittata

Frittata is the Italian variant of the French omelette. It is usually cooked over a low heat until the underside is set but the top is still runny. It is then quickly grilled to set the top layer.

Frittata can be simply cooked in the oven, 180° C roast for about 25 minutes, until the eggs are set. This is my preferred effortless way of cooking frittata. All you need is a good, heavy non-stick oven-proof dish!

2 servings

2 handfuls of baby spinach leaves

1 small onion, thinly sliced

A handful of frozen peas

1 clove garlic, minced

4 large eggs

Olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper


Preheat the oven to 180° C roast.


Warm 1 tbsp. olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic for about 3 minutes until softened. Add the spinach and frozen peas and cook for 2- 3 minutes until the spinach is wilted and until any moisture released by the spinach has evaporated.


Lightly oil a non-stick oven-proof dish with olive oil. Place the vegetables evenly in the bottom of the dish. In a bowl, beat the eggs with some black pepper. Pour over the vegetables and transfer the dish to the oven. Cook for about 25 minutes until the eggs are set.


Serve with a green side salad and some good whole wheat bread for a balanced light lunch.


"Shorter" loop above Tourrettes-sur-Loup

 

Descending from Pic de Courmettes

The following hike is basically a bit shorter variant of the previously posted long walk which started from the village (400 m) and included both summits. 

We drove up to le Caïre and parked by the narrow Route du Caïre at about 760 m elev. about 500 m before the auberge as they understandably don’t want their property to be used by hikers.

Route du Caïre is narrow, steep and potholed but negotiable with a normal car. Starting higher up meant over 300 m less climbing on a day when once again thunderstorm activity was forecasted in the afternoon. 

Near le Caire
Near le Caire
Early summer greenery above the Riviera
Early summer greenery above the Riviera 
Above le Caire
Above le Caire
Puy de Naouri
Puy de Naouri

We passed the properties in le Caïre and climbed along the familiar trail to la Baïsse and signpost #176 where we forked west. The trail is not in the hiking maps but nevertheless clear and we followed it to Puy De Tourrettes (1268 m) vast summit plateau. Another well visible but unmarked trail forked left, southwest, and we descended along it to the saddle between the two summits. 

The first part of the ascent to Cime de Courmettes ran in the woods, again along an unmarked but well visible trail. There were in fact a few trails, and we used the one nearest the precipitous western flank before reaching the summit (1248 m) with impressive views, notably to the coastline about 14 km away.


Towards Puy de Tourrettes
Towards Puy de Tourrettes
Trail to Courmettes well visible
Trail to Courmettes well visible
Courmes
Courmes
Near Pic de Courmettes summit
Near Pic de Courmettes summit
Pic de Courmettes
Pic de Courmettes

We descended straight south, now along the familiar yellow-marked trail to signpost #187 near the Domaine de Courmettes, forked left and followed the dirt track back to le Caïre. Light rain started before we reached our car, and we could read later that heavy hailstorms had hit the Grasse region only a bit later the same afternoon. 


Current loop:         Longer variant: 
Distance: 11,6 km                    16 km
Climb: 680 m         ~1000 m
Duration: 4h 30 5h 30 active


Tourrettes and Courmettes loop track


Spring stew of veal

 

Spring stew of veal


2 servings

About 350- 400 g lean veal, cut into cubes

2 baby fennels, cut into quarters

1 small onion, roughly chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

Olive oil

150 ml chicken stock

150 ml white wine

1 tsp. Provençal herbs

Freshly ground black pepper

Juice and zest of ½ organic lemon

Chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme, parsley or basil


Warm 2 tbsp. olive oil in a heavy cast-iron frying pan over high heat. Fry the veal cubes in batches and remove from the pan to a plate with a slotted spoon.


Warm 1 tbsp. olive oil in a heavy sauté pan, such as Le Creuset. Sauté the fennel, onion, and garlic for about 10 minutes.


Preheat the oven to 200° C, roast.


Add the veal, wine, stock, and lemon juice to Le Creuset and bring to a boil. Transfer to oven and cook for 30 minutes, stirring once.


Serve the stew with cooked quinoa or new potatoes. Decorate with lemon zest and chopped herbs.


Moulinet: Cime de Linière

 

Cime de Linière summit


Cime de Linière (1368 m) situated 2,5 km southwest of the summit of Mangiabo (1821 m) can be reached from the village of Moulinet (800 m) in the Bévéra River Valley. East of Bévéra, the verdant and steep mountain flanks are mostly forest covered. At Moulinet, the western border of the Mercantour National Park follows the river.

Moulinet village
Moulinet village
Leaving signpost#20
Leaving signpost#20
Crossing Bévéra
Crossing Bévéra

From the village square with limited parking, we walked about 400 m along the D2566 road to signpost #20. We passed some properties and a chapel, and entered the Mercantour Park. We descended to a bridge crossing the Bévéra and followed its tributary named Gouargas to signpost #21 where we forked left, passed a solitary house (Sapetta on the map). We continued to the east, and started to ascend along a narrow trail to l’Avenquet where we passed ruins of ancient dwellings. We were off the beaten track; only wild boars had been digging the path. 


Trail after Sapetta
Trail after Sapetta
Bévéra Valley
Bévéra Valley
Crossroads #24 above Moulinet
Crossroads #24 above Moulinet

We crossed another stream, turned almost 180°, and headed west to signpost #24 where we made another 180° turn and climbed to Baisse de Linière (1345 m). 

The path to the nearby summit was not marked and hidden under the grass at the clearing but soon became visible in the woods. From the rather flat mountain top we had best views to the south with the coastal peaks between Sospel and Menton visible in spite of the passing afternoon thunderstorms. There was a shepherd’s shelter in bad shape. Not one of the most impressive summits, but nevertheless worth a visit and above all a good springtime exercise!

We descended back to signpost #24 where we took the shorter and more frequently used path back to Moulinet.


Towards Baisse de Linière
Towards Baisse de Linière
Near Baisse de Linière
Near Baisse de Linière

Climb: 790 m

Distance: 13,8 km   

Duration: 5h 40

Map: IGN 3841 OT


Cime de Linière hike track
Cime de Linière hike track



Red mullet with black olives and spinach

 

Red mullet with black olives and spinach
Red mullet with black olives and spinach

Red mullet, rouget, is often sold as fillets in Nice. It is a tasty and colourful fish which can be prepared quickly. Red mullet fillets make a delightful light lunch with sautéed spinach and some whole wheat or rye bread.

2 servings

About 250 g red mullet, rouget, fillets

Olive oil

2 tbsp. sliced black olives

2 blocks of frozen spinach leaves

3 tbsp. pine nuts

1 spring onion, sliced


Warm 2 tbsp. olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and sauté the frozen spinach blocks on both sides until defrosted and all the liquid has evaporated. Add the pine nuts, stir and let simmer for a few minutes.


Meanwhile warm 1 tbsp. olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the mullet fillets for about 4 minutes on both sides if they are large. If they are very small, sauté them on the skin side only for about 5 minutes. The fish is done when it is opaque.


Divide the spinach on the plates and decorate with spring onion slices. Place the red mullet fillets on the plates and sprinkle with the olive slices. Serve with lemon wedges, a side salad, and some good bread for a balanced lunch.


La Turbie to Monaco revisited

 

The Rock of Monaco seen from GR trail
The Rock of Monaco seen from GR trail

We have hiked to Monaco from La Turbie a few times before. It is one of the great coastal itineraries on the Riviera. This time we wanted to combine the hike with a visit to the Oceanographic Museum with a lunch on their roof terrace.

La Turbie #619
La Turbie #619
Between La Turbie and Monaco
Between La Turbie and Monaco

We descended first along paved alleys, along the Roman Path, chemin romain (signposts #618,619,617 and 615) then along some stretches along a trail. At #615 we briefly merged with the GR51b trail, to signpost #615b where we forked left and followed a steep street named Chemin de la Turbie using pedestrian shortcuts when possible. We crossed the D6007 road and descended along stairs in Beausoleil in the Les Moneghetti neighbourhood, forked left at a soccer field (Stade des Moneghetti) and reached the Monaco railway station in about an hour.


The preparations for the approaching F1 Grand Prix were in full swing, and some pedestrian routes were blocked. We walked past the casino and descended further to the port. It was a religious holiday, and there were a lot of visitors from different parts of the world climbing along the stairs to the Rock and the palace square. 



Chemin Romain below La Turbie
Chemin Romain below La Turbie
Signpost#617 to Monaco
Signpost#617 to Monaco
Monaco port area
Monaco port area
Stairs to the Rock MC
Stairs to the Rock MC
Garden near Palace MC
Garden near Palace MC

We headed to the Oceanographic Museum through the historical district. It was noon, and we opted for lunch before visiting the museum. The rooftop restaurant was already packed with families. Fortunately, were able to get one of the last tables! 


The museum was hugely popular. The polar mission exhibition attracted a lot of families and school groups. In the aquarium, it was sometimes hard to move around! You could indeed spend a full day in the museum.  


We, however, had the ascent back to La Turbie waiting for us. We took the shortest route to the railway station, and in fact walked a few hundred meters inside the station before starting to ascend in Beausoleil along the same route to signpost #615 where we forked left and followed the GR trail under the north eastern flank of la Tête de Chien (signposts #614, 613, 602) then under Les Hauts de Monte-Carlo straight to La Turbie. 


The Palace Monaco
The Palace Monaco
Oceanographic Museum 1
Oceanographic Museum 1
Oceanographic Museum 2
Oceanographic Museum 2
Oceanographic Museum Aquarium
Oceanographic Museum Aquarium
Hirondelle 2 ship
Hirondelle 2 ship

Climb: About 550 m

Distance: About 11,5 km

Duration: About 3 hours (hiking time) 


La Turbie to Monaco hike track
La Turbie to Monaco hike track


Lemon tagliatelle with anchovies

 

Lemon tagliatelle with anchovies


This lemon tagliatelle recipe is perfect to make in spring when fresh basil is again available and tasty local lemons are still in season in Nice. Serve the pasta with some anchovies or chopped Parma ham for a simple but tasty lunch.  

2 servings

Whole wheat tagliatelle for 2 servings

2 handfuls of grated parmesan

A generous handful of chopped basil

Juice and zest of 1 organic lemon

Olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

A small tin of anchovies


In a small bowl, soak the anchovies in water for about 10 minutes to remove some of the salt. Spread on kitchen paper to dry.


Grate the parmesan, set aside.


Zest and juice the lemon into a bowl. Add 1 tbsp. very good and tasty olive oil, some black pepper, and the chopped basil. Mix into a basil pistou, thick basil sauce.


Cook the tagliatelle, drain and divide into bowls. Fold in the parmesan with a fork.  Place the lemon pistou in the centre and divide the anchovies around it.