Three mountain passes from Ste-Claire (Levens)

We had previously hiked to Colla Bassa (888 m) from Levens. While exploring new itineraries in this region, we wanted to try a loop starting from the hamlet of Ste-Claire (512 m) by the M19 road south of Levens. There’s a decent parking at Place Antoine Icart. 

GR5 south of Ste-Claire

Mont Lion seen from trail

Above Plan de Couthon

Left turn after 20m!

Spring signs

Colla Bassa 30min!

Levens and Mont Vial

Mont Cima

Colla Bassa

Col de Travail

Rapid descent to Ste-Claire

Ste-Claire

Three cols loop hike

Tagliatelle with spinach and Parma ham

This is a simple and comforting dish, perfect to make in winter after hiking in hills or forests. It is quick to make from frozen spinach.

2 servings

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 handfuls of frozen spinach, defrosted

100 ml white wine

1 tsp. dried Provençal herbs

Freshly ground black pepper

About 120 g Parma ham

A generous amount of parmesan shavings

Whole wheat tagliatelle for 2 servings

In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic for 10 minutes until soft. Add the defrosted spinach, white wine, herbs, and black pepper and stir. Let simmer.

Meanwhile cook the tagliatelle according to the advice on the package. Drain the pasta and add to the sauté pan. Stir until the pasta is nicely coated with oil and spinach. 

Divide the tagliatelle on the lates. Fold in the Parma ham slices and top with parmesan shavings.

Menton to Castellar loop hike

We have used the village of Castellar north of Menton as a starting point for many hikes, such as the Mont Carpano loop. 

This time we wanted to start from Menton along the GR 52 trail, then back along a trail beginning in the Vallon de l’Orméa. We had marked the waypoints on our last hike.

Start from Menton

GR52 start in Menton

Menton seen from trail

GR52 still in Menton

GR52 now more sauvage

GR52 higher above Menton

Near Granges Saint-Paul

Signpost#414 return trail

Return trail to Menton

Menton Garavan

Roasted cherry tomatoes with white beans

This tasty lactovegetarian dish is often served as mezze, apéro in Eastern Mediterranean countries. It can also be served as a simple supper if supplemented by some good country bread, a green side salad, and perhaps some feta or goat cheese.

I have replaced the typical Eastern Mediterranean herbs and spices with herbes de Provençe and Piment d’Espelette.

2 servings

About 250 g cherry tomatoes

About 250 g white beans in a glass jar

3 tbsp. olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. Herbes de Provençe

½ tsp. Piment d’Espelette

100 ml white wine

2 tbsp. black olives

To serve:

4 tbsp. fromage blanc 0% fat or thick Greek yoghurt

Basil leaves

Preheat the oven to 190°C, roast

Rinse the cherry tomatoes. Spread 1 tbsp. olive oil in the bottom of an oven-proof sauté pan. Add the cherry tomatoes and mix until well coated with olive oil. Roast for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile warm 2 tbsp. olive oil in a large thick- bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic for 10- 12 minutes. 

Deglaze with white wine and let reduce a few minutes. Add the Provençal herbs and Piment d’Espelette. 

Rinse the white beans under running water and add to the saucepan. When the cherry tomatoes are well collapsed and a bit coloured, add them to the saucepan and mix.

Spread the fromage blanc or yoghurt on the sides of 2 bowls. Divide he cherry tomato mixture in the centre and decorate with basil leaves.

Èze Village to la Simboula

In one of our early blogposts, we described  a loop hike from Èze Village to Fort de la Revère.

As the village attracts a lot of visitors, a large underground parking was recently opened after years of construction.

We planned to redo the hike to the fort combined with a loop in la Simboula.

The village was already bustling with tourists on a sunny autumn weekend but we had no problems in finding a spot in the new parking house.

Ascending above Èze

Trail above Èze Village

Break near fort de la Revère

Viewing Cap Ferrat

Entering tunnel in la Simboula

La Simboula military tunnel

Route de la Simboula

La Simboula viewing tower

Viewing la Tête du Chien

Returning to Èze

Èze la Simboula hike track

Mediterranean fettucine

This tasty pasta recipe is full of healthy ingredients: olive oil, cherry tomatoes, whole wheat pasta, shallots, garlic, black olives, pine nuts, and fresh herbs. The not so healthy pancetta is used in a small quantity, like a flavouring, which was typical of the classic Mediterranean diet. This type of cuisine is shown to be the healthiest way of eating.

2 servings

Whole wheat fettucine for 2 servings

Olive oil

100 g pancetta, chopped

2 tbsp. pine nuts

1-2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes

2 tbsp. organic black olives

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

Some parmesan shavings

Freshly ground black pepper

100 ml white wine

Basil leaves for decoration

Warm 2 tbsp. olive oil in a sauté pan over medium- high heat. Fry the cherry tomatoes and pine nuts until the tomatoes start collapsing and the pine nuts are getting a bit of colour. Stir frequently.

Reduce the heat to medium. Add  the chopped pancetta, garlic, shallot, and black olives to the pan. Continue cooking for 10 minutes. Deglaze with white wine.

Meanwhile cook the fettucine al dente. Drain and add to the pan. Grind over some back pepper and mix.

Divide the pasta into 2 bowls and the pancetta- vegetable mixture around it. Sprinkle with parmesan shavings and decorate with basil.

Serve with a green side salad for a balanced meal.

Hyères: Coastal trail in Giens

 Located in the southern part of the city of Hyères, the western part of the  Giens Peninsula is much less inhabited, with rugged terrain, beautiful Mediterranean woods and several impressive cliffs. Here, the popular coastal hiking trail (le sentier littoral) circles along its shores with stunning views from many parts of the path. While admiring the scenery, it is advisable to stop as some stretches are narrow, exposed and steep.

Pines near Madgague Beach

Heading to beach from Madrague

View to north from Pointe des  Chevaliers

Western part of Giens Peninsula

Above a cliff in Giens

Giens Sugar Loaf

Point du Rabat Giens

Steep stretch of trail Giens

Like a scenery from Count of Monte Cristo Movie