Sallagriffon is an old village perched on a hill at the foot of Mont Saint-Martin and Mount Miollans, in the Estéron Valley and on the edge of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. Hiking options range from a challenging circular hike to the trail through the Clue d’Aiglun. The village’s history and a bridge over the Riolan gorges nearby also add their own points of interest.

Hiking: Circular Route and Clue d’Aiglun

The Sallagriffon–Mont Saint-Martin circular hike is challenging, takes six hours and is 9.5 km long. It involves 591 m of ascent and 593 m of descent. The route starts and ends in Sallagriffon and passes through the communes of Sallagriffon, Aiglun and Sigale. Its duration and elevation changes make it possible to gauge how much time to allow for it in your day’s plans.

The GR 510 runs from Sallagriffon to Sigale. The Alpes-Maritimes department maintains the route to Mont Saint-Martin, along with its signposting and waymarking, as part of the PDIPR. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

Sallagriffon’s entrance parking area is at an altitude of 750 m; the route through the Clue d’Aiglun starts here. The walk from the parking area to the Clue takes 45 minutes. These timings refer to different things: the 45 minutes is the walk to the Clue, while the six hours is for the entire circular hike to Mont Saint-Martin.

A low water level is essential for the route through the Clue because the gorges are extremely narrow. In places, the path runs along rock ledges above the water. Water and access conditions may vary, so check them before setting out. A low water level is a prerequisite for this route, not a general recommendation for the circular hike to Mont Saint-Martin.

The Village and Its History

Sallagriffon is built of dressed stone. A fortified house, a restored former castle, overlooks the village. This historic architecture offers a different focus from the hiking trails. Visitors interested in village architecture will therefore also enjoy exploring Sallagriffon itself, not just the named routes.

Roman remains have been found within the territory of Sallagriffon. The original fortified settlement centre, known as the castrum, has been mentioned since the 13th century. The Eglise Sainte-Marguerite was rebuilt in the late 18th century and subsequently dedicated to Saint Margaret. Together, these historical references span different periods: Roman remains, the first mention of the fortified settlement centre, and the later rebuilding of the church.

The Pont du Riolan and Its History

Nearby, the GR® 510 section between Sigale and Sallagriffon leads to a well-preserved old bridge over the Riolan gorges. The Pont du Riolan spans the Riolan, a tributary of the Estéron, and provides a crossing over the deep gorges of the same name on the way to Sallagriffon. A relic of the Sardinian period, the bridge served as a border between France and the Duchy of Savoy until 1860. It thus links a practical crossing of the river and gorges with the region’s border history.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Etienne-De-Tinée, Gilette, Nice, Saint-Dalmas-Le-Selvage, Villefranche-Sur-Mer, Sainte-Agnès, Andon, Roquesteron.

See the main travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.