Loop hike: Bar-sur-Loup to Gourdon

Gourdon and Pic de Courmettes

We decided to ascend from Bar-sur-Loup to Gourdon via Bois de Gourdon and descend along Chemin du Paradis.

Bar-sur-Loup mairie

Chemin de St-Michel

GR51 west of Bar-sur-Loup

Towards Bois de Gourdon

Bois de Gourdon

Haut Montet seen from trail

GR51 under Gourdon

Chemin du Paradis below Gourdon

Chemin du Paradis GR51

GR51 above signpost#5

Missing bridge over Riou de Gourdon

Bar-sur-Loup Gourdon loop

Small spelt, asparagus, and egg salad

Small spelt or einkorn wheat, le petit épeautre, is an ancient grain which was popular in Northern Provençe. It has less gluten and more protein than modern red wheats. Its nutty taste makes it a good base for salads. In France, small spelt can be found in organic shops. It cooks in 45 minutes and can be frozen in batches. This is a tasty spring salad when green asparagus is in season.

2 servings

100 ml small spelt

6 organic green asparagus

A handful of baby salad leaves, mesclun

8- 10 radishes, sliced

2 soft-cooked eggs

A handful of organic parsley

A few basil leaves

Olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

Vinaigrette of olive oil and red wine vinegar

Cook the small spelt in boiling water for 45 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.

Peel the asparagus stems, discard the tough ends and chop into about 4 cm long pieces. Microwave about 3 minutes until soft. Set aside to cool. 

Cook the eggs for 6 minutes, let cool in cold water and peel.

Wash and slice the radishes.

Wash and dry the parsley. Chop it finely and mix with a little olive oil and black pepper into a purée.

Divide the small spelt on the plates. Top with salad leaves and asparagus. Sprinkle with some vinaigrette and parsley purée. Decorate with radish slices and place a soft- cooked egg in the middle. Sprinkle with some chopped basil.

Col de Cuore from Old Castillon

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

Biatonéa path

Trail under Mont Roulabre

View from trail before Baisse de Scuvion

Mont Ours seen from Baisse de Scuvion

Baisse de Scuvion

Col de Cuore

Near Col du Razet

Border post from 1927

La Pierre Pointue

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

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

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.

Near Col de Veillos

Vallon des Millefonts

Lac Petit

Cime des Lauses and Col Ferrière

Pépoiri and Lac Petit

Trail near Col Ferrière

Col Ferrière

Clouds gathering above Millefonts