Access

By car

From Grasse: Go through Pont-du-Loup towards Tourrettes-sur-Loup. After 3 km, turn left at the « Courmettes » sign (this is on the right-hand side of the road).

From Nice and Italy: take exit 48 Cagnes-sur-Mer, towards Vence and then Tourrettes-sur-Loup. Go through Tourrettes-sur-Loup heading towards Grasse/Pont-du-Loup. After 5 km turn right at the sign for « Courmettes », which is a short distance after the bus stop marked « Saint Antoine » and road marker 26.

The « Route de Courmettes » is narrow and winding for 4 km. After the farm on your right continue for 300 metres when you will see the buildings on your left.

You can then park in the free area near the buildings.

GPS: enter: 1 Route de Courmettes as the address (or for GPS taking intersections, the intersection of the Route de Courmettes and the route de Grasse). NB: some GPS offer a route via the route du Caire (a road which rises very steeply from the centre of Tourrettes-sur-Loup). If this is the case, turn round again as the track between Le Caire and Les Courmettes is unsuitable for cars (forestry track) and closed to traffic.

On foot

For those brave enough you can walk up to Courmettes along the paved but quiet mountain road from the « Courmettes » bus stop (route de Grasse, Tourrettes-sur-Loup). Allow a good hour for the climb of 4.5 km and more than 500 metres of ascent.

It is also possible to walk up using various footpaths (superb views) from the centre of Tourrettes-sur-Loup. The distance is about 5 km and involves more than 500 metres of ascent. Find here a possible route

By bus

A useful site for working out your routes using public transport in the Alpes Maritimes is Sud Mobilité.
A single fare ticket is €1.5. and you can usually buy it in the bus, but you have to give the exact amount.

Buses 400 and 9 are the most useful; they link Nice (« Parc Phoenix » bus stop) to Vence via Cagnes-sur-Mer.

• bus 400 : direction ” Vence -Halte routière de l’ARA “.
• bus 9 : be careful : choose the direction ” Vence -Halte routière de l’ARA “, because there is also a bus n°9 direction ” Le Gué – Polygone riviera ” which does not go to Vence!

At the terminus (Halte Routière de l’Ara, Vence), you may be able to take the 511 bus for  « Pont-du-Loup » (get off at the « Courmettes » stop), but there are only a few connections. Contact us well in advance, when you are planning your trip so we can arrange a shuttle if needed.

And if you are courageous enough, you could even walk the last portion :there is a walking path between Tourrettes-sur Loup and Courmettes!

By train + bus

Nice-Ville: 33 km/55 min – Cagnes-sur-Mer: 22 km/40 min – Grasse: 16 km/35 min

A useful site for working out your routes using public transport in the Alpes Maritimes is Sud Mobilité.
A single fare ticket is €1.5. and you can usually buy it in the bus, but you have to give the exact amount.

From Cagnes-sur-Mer railway station (probably the easiest option): 3 minutes walk to the « Square du 8 mai » bus stop, and then take the 400 or 9 bus for Vence where we can arrange a shuttle (see below).

• bus 400 : direction ” Vence -Halte routière de l’ARA “.
• bus 9 : be careful : choose the direction ” Vence -Halte routière de l’ARA “, because there is also a bus n°9 direction ” Le Gué – Polygone riviera ” which does not go to Vence!

Update Spring 2021 : due to construction work, the bus stop “Square du 8 mai” has been slightly moved along the same street. Ask for information at the station.

From Nice-Ville railway station: 10 min walk to the “Jean Medecin” tram stop, then take the tramway n.2 to the « Parc Phoenix » bus stop  then take the 400 or 9 bus to Vence.

From Grasse railway station, take the 511 for « Pont du Loup » and get off at the « Courmettes » bus stop.

By plane + bus

Airport Nice Côte d’Azur.

A useful site for working out your routes using public transport in the Alpes Maritimes is Sud Mobilité.
A single fare ticket is €1.5. and you can usually buy it in the bus, but you have to give the exact amount.

From the Nice Côte d’Azur airport, walk (3 min) to the « Aéroport/Promenade » bus stop (outside terminal 1, cross under the bridge) then take the 400 or 9 bus to Vence.

• bus 400 : direction ” Vence -Halte routière de l’ARA “.
• bus 9 : be careful : choose the direction ” Vence -Halte routière de l’ARA “, because there is also a bus n°9 direction ” Le Gué – Polygone riviera ” which does not go to Vence!

Shuttle