Sentier du Plateau Saint-Michel
Rising steeply from the western edge of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, the Sentier du Plateau Saint-Michel is a coastal footpath that climbs through maquis scrubland to a limestone plateau sitting roughly 100 metres above the sea. From the top you get an unobstructed panorama stretching from Cap d'Ail and Monaco in the east to Cap Ferrat and the Esterel massif in the west — a view that rivals anything on the R
The Walk Up
The path begins near the junction of Avenue Albert I and the old corniche road and ascends through rosemary, cistus and wild thyme; in spring the hillside is blanketed in yellow broom and the air is thick with its coconut scent. The climb takes about 25 minutes at a leisurely pace and the trail is well-worn, though sturdy shoes are recommended as the limestone can be slippery after rain.
At the plateau's edge, a natural rock shelf acts as a natural bench; bring water, a picnic from the morning market and a pair of binoculars to spot the yachts threading through the passage between Beaulieu and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat below.
Wildlife and Seasonal Highlights
The garrigue habitat supports a surprising variety of birds — Sardinian warblers, blue rock thrushes and, in autumn, migrating honey buzzards riding the thermals above the cliff face. Lizards bask on the warm limestone throughout summer.
February and March bring the famous Riviera mimosa bloom, and the hillside above Beaulieu is threaded with trees whose yellow pom-pom flowers perfume the entire trail — this is arguably the best free natural spectacle on the coast during winter.
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