Aspremont combines a historic village layout with two different routes: a hike on Mont Chauve and a mountain biking route on Mont Cima. This raises two distinct questions as you decide: would you mainly like to explore the village layout and its religious buildings, or would you prefer to focus on a specific hiking or mountain biking route? The sights and routes offer separate starting points for doing so.
The historic village and its elevated setting
The houses of Aspremont are arranged in concentric circles around a Gothic church overlooking the Var Valley. As you visit the historic village, cobbled lanes, vaulted passageways, flowering gardens, carved stonework, fountains and washhouses shape its character. Aspremont can be viewed on several levels: from the circular arrangement of the houses and the church’s location to the details in the lanes. Visitors interested in architectural and settlement history will find more than a single focal point here.
From the 11th century until the beginning of the 15th century, the village stood on a rocky spur south of Mont Cima, at an altitude of about 800 m. A castle protected it, and its ruins are still preserved. The altitude figures refer to different things: about 800 m describes the historic village site, while the Tour du mont Cima mountain biking route in Aspremont starts at an altitude of 500 m.
Churches and chapels
The Church of Saint-Jacques was consecrated in 1556 and rebuilt in its present form in 1766. It is considered the first church in the county. Its consecration and rebuilding mark two clear historical dates: the mid-16th century and, just over two centuries later, the church’s present form.
The Chapelle des Pénitents blancs was built in the 18th century, restored, and is used for art exhibitions. The Chapelle Saint-Claude dates from the 17th century and was built as a votive chapel to ward off the plague. The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Salettes is also among Aspremont’s sights. Together, these places reflect different historical and cultural connections, from art exhibitions to the votive purpose of the Saint-Claude chapel.
Hiking on Mont Chauve or mountain biking on Mont Cima
The Tour du mont Chauve hike starts at Aspremont’s entrance car park and follows the GR®5 above the village. It leads to a viewpoint with sweeping views across the Var Valley. The hike is also listed as accessible by public transport. If you would like to use this option, check the timetable that suits your visit.
The Tour du mont Cima mountain biking route starts in Aspremont at an altitude of 500 m. It is 16 kilometres long, with 400 m of ascent and 400 m of descent, and takes two and a half hours. It follows only roads and trails with a consistent gradient and is described as suitable for family-friendly mountain biking. Its length, elevation changes and duration give this route a clearly defined scale.
The choice between the two routes depends first on the activity: the Tour du mont Chauve is a hike along the GR®5 with views across the Var Valley; the Tour du mont Cima is a mountain biking route with specified distance and time figures. You can also treat a village visit and a route as separate focal points for your stay, rather than planning both trails as similar outings.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Cezaire-Sur-Siagne, Cagnes-Sur-Mer, Revest-Les-Roches, Grasse, Roquefort Les Pins, Le Cros-D'utelle, Le Mas, Biot.
Go to the regional travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.
