Levens lies in the hinterland of Nice and close to the Côte d’Azur coast. Several different ways to plan your trip are available: a visitor route through the old village, historic buildings, and opportunities for hiking and climbing. You can decide whether you would mainly like to explore village culture or spend time in the landscape.

The Old Village and Its Views

The visitor route leads along cobbled lanes and through narrow passages. Solid bronze arrows set into the ground mark its course. Along the way, remarkable views stretch from the Mediterranean to Gélas. The contrasts between narrow lanes and sweeping panoramas shape the walk: the route passes through the old village while also opening up views of the landscape.

Abbey and Gallery: Two Historical Perspectives

The Ancienne abbaye de la Madone-des-Prés was built in the second half of the 11th century; it was first mentioned in 1075. These two details provide different points of context: the first indicates the period of construction, while the second gives the year of its first mention. A decree dated 5 October 1965 designated the choir and crypt of the abbey church as protected historic monuments.

The Galerie du Portal offers a different historical perspective. It is built against surviving remains of the 14th-century fortification walls and has a medieval cellar. The gallery hosts temporary exhibitions; various events, conferences and concerts are also planned. While the abbey focuses on the history of the building and the protection of its choir and crypt, the gallery combines historic fabric with changing exhibitions and a planned cultural programme.

Hiking, Climbing and the Landscape

Seven hiking trails are offered in Levens for exploring the municipality’s landscapes on foot. Check their current availability locally before setting out. The Circuit de l’Arpasse provides specific figures: this moderately difficult hike is 9.5 km long, with 420 m of ascent and 420 m of descent, and takes three hours. The elevation figures apply separately to the ascent and descent; together with the difficulty level and duration, they provide more details for planning than the distance alone.

As an alternative to hiking, the “la grotte du rat” climbing area has 30 routes. Different features matter when choosing between these outdoor activities: for the Circuit de l’Arpasse, the difficulty, distance, elevation gain and duration are specified; the climbing area is characterised by its number of routes. North of Levens, the ridge of Mont Férion reaches an elevation of 1,414 m. Alongside the views from the village route, visitors can therefore choose to explore a named ridge or try climbing, offering different ways to experience the landscape and its activities.

Discover more destinations: Cabris, Mandelieu-La-Napoule, Saint-Blaise, Sainte-Agnès, Beausoleil, Tourette-Sur-Loup, Biot, Colomars.

For the regional travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.