The Plateau de Caussols and Plateau de Calern, in the hills north of Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes) is a great place for Springtime hill-walking, seeing fields full of wildflowers, birds of prey, and the colorful birds of mankind (parasails and hanggliders). We've just added a lot of new photos to Beyond's Hangglider page.
There's a nice walk from the "village" of Caussols up along the front of the cliff face to the Plateau de Caussols. (There's a "secret" chapel in an undergound grotto along this trail.) A couple of days ago here, we watched the parasailers passing close overhead, and sometimes just beside us. Several types of orchids are in bloom, with fields full of them, and mixed with scores of other wildflower types in bloom, including wild tulips and the rare Fritillaris.
We saw only one Golden Eagle, but there are a few Short-Toed Eagles soaring these skies, cuckoos can be heard and the distinctly striped and crested Hoopoe can be heard and seen up on the higher plateau.
I love it up on Caussols - terrific views across Cannes/Nice as well as the Southern Alps. The perfect day would include a picnic OR, better, if you didnt have to wait for hours to get served, a lunch at the hearty Auberge de Caussols.
Posted by: roger willcocks | 16 June 2007 at 09:43