26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Côte d’Azur

Florence Chatzigianis
AzurAlive Press (2008)
ISBN 9780979279621
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/08) 


Traveling is a great way to de-stress when done right, which for me always meant being careful not to over-schedule the activities in each of the places on my itinerary. I’ve learned a long time ago that taking a day to be lazy, or to just people watch, or mindlessly wander around, does wonders for one’s soul. How many museums, castles and cathedrals do you really want to see each day?

When one finds him- or herself in an area as breathtakingly beautiful as the French Côte d’Azur, it would probably be a waste not to take in some more scenery – but where should one go? Florence Chatzigianis’ “26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Côte d’Azur” will be of great help to any traveler wishing to do hiking in the area. With detailed descriptions of 26 hikes of different difficulty, which range in time from an hour to four hours, the choices are really various.

Each of the hikes is described in detail, from the distance and the time needed to complete it to elevations and difficulty. A very useful feature is “Getting there,” which provides useful tips on what mode of transportation to take or where to park. Maps and elevation diagrams provide useful visual aides and the photographs in the book should really tempt you to do some exploring. The detailed directions in each chapter should make hiking relaxed and worry-free.

In addition to the information directly related to each hike, Florence Chatzigianis also provides insights on the flora, fauna, geology and history of the area as well as useful contacts for the area, which are oftentimes tourist offices, but also include wine-growing estate, a cork museum, a chocolate confectioner and more. Those sections include telephone numbers, website addresses and hours of operation.

Florence Chatzigianis’ writing is fluid and engaging. Her descriptions of the hiking trails and the wonders to be discovered while wandering on them made me want to be on Cap Taillat as I write this. Who knows, this just might inspire another trip to France…

I would recommend “26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Côte d’Azur” to globetrotters and armchair travelers alike – for both it should provide a pleasant change of pace.

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