See you on 29th October for the announcement of the routes for the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes with Zwift in 2025.

SOUTH PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE-D'AZUR REGION

Departments: Alpes de Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Vaucluse.

Population: 5.1 million

Prefecture: Marseille

Surface area: 31,400 km2

Specialities: Mediterranean cuisine, pizza, pissaladière, panisses, chichis, bouillabaisse, petits farcis (stuffed vegetables), alouette sans tête (mea trolls), pieds et paquets marseillais (lamb feet), salade niçoise, pan bagnat, gardiane de taureau (bull stew), sea urchins, fish (sea bream, sea bass, red mullet, denti, marbled, pageots, pagres, sars), wines (rosés of Provence, côtes de Provence, côtes du Rhône, Palette, Bandol...). 

 Sports clubs: Olympique Marseille, OGC Nice (football), Rugby Club Toulon. Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (swimming).

Competitions: football world cup, Euro 2016 football, rugby world cup, rugby test matches, Tour de France cycling, Paris-Nice, GP La Marseille, Haribo Classic, Tour du Haut-Var, Tour de la Provence, beach volleyball, beach football, rugby in Toulon. Mondial à pétanque in Marseille. 

Tourist attractions: beaches and seaside resorts (Saint-Tropez, Nice, Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Cassis, Bandol etc...), Palais des Papes in Avignon, Arles (amphitheatre, Roman remains), Marseille (Old Port, Panier, calanques, château d'If, Mucem), Nice (Promenade des Anglais, old Nice, old port), Mont Ventoux, Cannes, ski resorts in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes maritimes (Serre-Chevalier, Le Sauze, Orcières-Merlette, Isola 2000), Briançon (citadel), Aix-en-Provence.

Economy: 7% of French GDP, 3e region in France, 16e in Europe. Agriculture (wine, market gardening), service sector (80%), universities (Aix-Marseille, France's leading university, Nice, Toulon), ports (Marseille, La Ciotat, Nice), petrochemicals (Fos), logistics, Nice and Marseille airports, tourism.

Festivals: Cannes Festival (cinema), Avignon Festival (theatre), Chorégies d'Orange, Aix en Provence Festival (opera), Jazz à Nice, Marseille Festival (dance). Midem (Cannes), Marsatac (Marseille), Fiesta des Suds (Marseille), Plages électroniques (Cannes), Rencontres d'Arles (photography).

Websitewww.maregionsud.fr

 ALPES-MARITIMES (06)

Prefecture: Nice

Sub-prefecture: Grasse

Population: 1,103,941

Surface area: 4,299 km2

Specialities: pissaladière, fougasse, socca, brissaouda, tapenade, salade niçoise, pan bagnat, porchetta niçoise, trulle, ratatouille, daube niçoise, bellet (wine)

Economy: tourism (64,000 jobs), second largest airport in France, perfume industry in Grasse, new technologies in Sophia-Antipolis, space centre in Cannes-Mandelieu.

Sport: OGC Nice, AS Cannes (football). Olympique Antibes (basketball). Olympic Nice Swimming. Paris-Nice cycling, Nice Ironman. Monte Carlo Rally. Nice Open.

Culture and heritage: Cannes Film Festival, Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, Nice Carnival, Mouans-Sartoux Book Festival. Promenade des Anglais in Nice, Croisette in Cannes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Matisse Museum, Maeght Foundation, perfume factory in Grasse, Lérins Islands, Mercantour National Park.  

Website: www.departement06.fr

Km 1.4

LA TRINITÉ (POP: 10,000)

Built along the River Paillon, La Trinité is an industrialised suburb of Nice, with a modern, dispersed settlement. Formerly a hamlet of the commune of Èze, from which it was separated in 1818, it was named La Trinité-Victor in honour of Victor-Emmanuel I, King of Sardinia, before becoming La Trinité in 1951. The village boasts a neo-classical church, a fountain dating back to 1654, quiet squares, a few brightly painted facades... and even the ruins of a medieval castle. Take the old Laghet road to discover the remains of a watchtower and drawbridge, both dating from the 11th century. The sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Laghet is a monastery that was built in the 17th century after miracles were performed here. Its reputation for miracles continued to grow, and it became one of the main centres of pilgrimage in eastern Provence and northern Italy. The sanctuary is even nicknamed the "little Lourdes of Nice"!

Km 24.7

COL DE BRAUS (1,002 M)

Generally rated as a second category climb, Col de Braus has been ridden 27 times by the peloton since 1911, when Émile Georget was in the lead. However, the Tour de France has not been back here since 1961. On the pass, a stele pays tribute to a local rider, the whimsical René Vietto, who led the way on the climb in 1934.

Km 35.9

SOSPEL (POP: 3,800)

A medieval village at the gateway to the Mercantour Park, Sospel is famous for its old toll bridge. This type of bridge is one of the last in Europe and is a rare sight indeed. In addition to this historical curiosity, Sospel boasts a remarkable natural environment. Nestling on the banks of the River Bévéra, the medieval village lies just 20 km from Menton, at an altitude of around 350 metres. Ideally situated to see the enemy coming, it played a strategic role in history. Its importance grew with the creation of the Académie des Occupés Littéraires in 1702, where a number of historians, chroniclers and poets distinguished themselves. Of course, it was also a stopping-off point on the salt route. The Second World War almost devastated the town. But Sospel fought back, and even today proudly displays its rich historical heritage, with no fewer than seventeen listed buildings.  

Old bridge

Construction: 13th century.

History: certainly the symbol and the most romantic spot in the town. This fortified bridge spans the Bévéra river, which divides the town in two. It was built in the early 13th century, probably in wood, then rebuilt in stone in 1522. The two arches were apparently replaced in 1823. According to tradition, its central tower served as a toll booth between Piedmont and the Mediterranean on the famous Royal Salt Road between Nice and Turin. Its two asymmetrical arches allowed water to be channelled to the districts on the left bank. Linking the two banks of the Bévéra, its tower served as a home and housed various businesses until 1960. It was completely restored by the Beaux-Arts department in 1953 using local materials, following the damage caused in October 1944 during the fighting to liberate the valley.

Current use: the tower currently houses the Circle of Research on the Heritage and History of Sospel.   

Listed as: Historical monument since 1924.  

Co-cathedral of Saint-Michel

Construction: 17th century.

Style: Romanesque and Baroque.

History: in 1229, the population of Sospel was divided between three parishes, including that of Saint-Michel. The church has a Lombard Romanesque bell tower that survived the destruction of the Romanesque church. It comprises a high base dating from the late 12th century, pierced at the top by a narrow bay with high sides. It is topped by two storeys ending in a pyramid-shaped spire that must date from the first third of the 13th century. The church became a cathedral in 1378 when the town sided with the Pope of Avignon against the Antipope of Rome during the Great Western Schism, which lasted until 1411. During the plague epidemic of 1632, the people of Sospel vowed to rebuild the church. It was rebuilt in 1641 to the plans of Nice architect Jean-André Guiberto, who had built the cathedral of Sainte-Réparate in Nice. Construction lasted until 1672. Improvements to the second floor of the church façade and its pediment were made in 1762. This church is the largest in the Alpes-Maritimes. The church was restored in 1888 following the earthquake of 23 February 1887, which shook eastern Provence and Liguria.

Listed as: historical monument since 1951.

Km 59.8

COL DE TURINI (1,604 M)

Made famous by the Monte Carlo Rally, the Turini pass has featured on the route of the Tour de France on four occasions, each time allowing a talented climber to express himself. In 1948, Louison Bobet was first at the top. Two years later, another Breton, Jean Robic, was the first to reach the summit. In 1973, the man in the lead was Spaniard Vicente Lopez-Carril, who won that day in Nice. In the 2019 edition of Paris-Nice, Colombians were in the limelight, with Daniel Martinez winning the stage and Egan Bernal taking the leader's jersey and never relinquishing it. In the 2020 Tour, it was Anthony Perez who led the way and in 2022, it was Primoz Roglic who broke away in Paris-Nice to win the Race to the Sun.

Km 71.3

LA BOLLÈNE-VÉSUBIE (POP: 580)

At the foot of the road leading to the Turini pass, La Bollène-Vésubie has been a tourist destination since the end of the 19th century, thanks to its fresh air, the countless hikes that start from the village and the small winter sports resort on the slopes of the massif. The village is also notable for the Maginot Line installations in the commune, notably the Flaut defences and the Authion fortress, which were used in the fighting against Italy in June 1940. In the village, the butterfly museum, housed in the former chapel of the white penitents, exhibits a large collection of insects. In January, La Bollène is a must for the Monte Carlo Rally. 

Km 77

ROQUEBILLIÈRE (POP: 1,840)

The name of the village, first mentioned in the 12th century, means "bee rock". The old village was destroyed by a landslide in 1564, and partially destroyed again in 1926. The current village was rebuilt opposite, on the right bank of the Vésubie. Roquebillière is best known for its small spa, the only one of its kind on the French Riviera. A spa town since the time of the Romans, it became popular again around 1850.  Its church, Saint-Michel de Gast, dates from the 14th century and is pure Gothic in style.  

Km 86.5

 SAINT-MARTIN-DE-VÉSUBIE (POP: 1,410)

At the gateway to the Mercantour National Park, between the Boréon and Madone de Fenestre valleys and surrounded by 3,600 hectares of forest, this beautiful village, at an altitude of 975 m, offers a wide range of traditions and outdoor activities. Take a trip up lou Bial, a canal in the heart of the village, to discover the medieval centre and a number of mansions dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. There are still significant medieval traces in the heart of the village, around the church of the Madonna of Assumption. The Château site, narrow streets, arched doorways and medieval half-timbered houses. Even today, major remains of the ramparts (14th-16th centuries) surround the west side of the village, which can be accessed via the monumental Sainte-Anne gate. There are a number of historic sites to discover: Maison du Coiffeur (Hairdresser’s House), a typical medieval Alpine house; Place de la Frairie, where major assemblies were held and which today hosts numerous events; Gubernatis Palace, an aristocratic Renaissance stronghold which controlled the salt trade between Piedmont and Nice; and the parish church, a late 17th-century Baroque edifice which still has some of the architectural details of the earlier Romanesque and Gothic buildings that have now disappeared. Its main treasure is the sacred statue of the Madonna de Fenestres, carried in procession to the Sanctuary in early summer and brought back for the winter. The important religious heritage of Saint-Martin-Vésubie is completed by the chapel of the Black Penitents, a jewel of popular Alpine Baroque art, and the chapel of the Holy Cross or White Penitents, on Place du Marché. Recently restored and illuminated, the Genoese-style copper-bulb bell tower now stands as a rallying point for visitors. The village's past is on display in the old municipal museum. On 2 October 2020, during storm Alex, the Boréon torrent and the Vésubie and Tinée rivers rose 7 to 8 metres above normal levels, causing extensive material damage in Saint-Martin-Vésubie, including the collapse of the Maïssa bridge over the Boréon, and the destruction of the village's petrol station, fire station, part of the industrial estate and police station.  

Mercantour National Park

The Mercantour National Park is a protected natural area offering an incredible diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna, with more than 2,000 species of flowers. It borders the Italian Alpi Marittime Park, with which it is twinned. In the Vésubie valley, nature reigns over the crystalline massif. The highest point in the department, the Gélas overlooks lush, forested valleys that are home to some exceptional wildlife. Passing through the Gordolasque, you reach the Vallée des Merveilles (Valley of Wonders), whose impressive glacial landscape, dotted with unreal colours, will enchant mountain enthusiasts by revealing the secrets of this mysterious site through its rock engravings. The Alpi Marittime - Mercantour European Nature Park is in the process of having its territory listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The House of the National park, in the centre of St-Martin-Vésubie, offers events, exhibitions and tools for discovering the natural environment.

Km 95.4

VALDEBLORE (POP: 860)

The name Valdeblore refers both to the valley of glacial origin that links the Vésubie and Tinée valleys at right angles, and to the municipality that today comprises three settlements, La Bolline, La Roche and Saint-Dalmas, and a hamlet, Mollières. Since the late Middle Ages, the history of the community has been linked to the existence of the Benedictine priory of Saint-Dalmas. In 1860, the annexation of the county of Nice to France was only achieved by re-drawing the border, leaving part of the territory of the communes in the high country to Italy, as was the case with Valdeblore. In 1947, the Franco-Italian treaty regularised the border. In the meantime, the commune had seen the beginnings of a boom in tourism, both as a summer resort and in winter sports with La Colmiane. From 1960 onwards, the economic importance of the resort grew, partly offsetting the exodus of rural populations to the coast. Of its extensive religious heritage, the most remarkable building is the church of Sainte-Croix in Saint-Dalmas, built at the very beginning of the 11th century by Benedictine monks.

Km 95.9

COL DE LA COLMIANE (1,503 M)

Col de la Colmiane, or Col Saint-Martin, links the Tinée valley to the Vésubie valley. It has already been ridden three times by Tour de France riders: in 1973, with Pedro Torres in the lead; in 1975, when Lucien Van Impe was the first to reach the summit in a stage to Pra-Loup marked by Eddy Merckx's failure and Bernard Thévenet's victory; then in 2020, it was Benoît Cosnefroy who opened the road. In 2017, Col de la Colmiane marked the finish of the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice, won by Simon Yates. The British rider took the leader's jersey before losing it by four seconds in Nice to Marc Soler. In 2021, Primoz Roglic won the stage ahead of the late Gino Mader, before also losing the Yellow Jersey after three crashes on the final stage.

Km 97.6

SAINT-DALMAS  

Church of the Invention of the Holy Cross

Construction: 13th and 18th centuries.

Style: Romanesque.

History: the church was first mentioned in 1060. It was then a former priory of the Abbey of San Dalmazzo da Pedona, located in Borgo San Dalmazzo, Italy. The church was dedicated to St. Dalmatius. The bells are listed as historical monuments. Archaeological discoveries in the apse and nave have revealed remains of wall paintings that appear to date back to the 12th century.

Listed as: historical monument since 1943.

Km 116.1

 SAINT-SAUVEUR-DE-TINÉE (POP: 300)

Saint-Michel Church

Construction: 16th and 17th centuries. 

Style: Gothic and Baroque.

History: all that remains of a church built in the 16th century is the Gothic bay and the bell tower topped by a pyramid-shaped spire dated 1532. The church was rebuilt in the 17th century, probably as a result of war.

Listed as: historical monument since 1939.

Nice

Genießen Sie in Nizza den Charme der Côte d'Azur und ein wahres Fest für die Sinne. Vor der Kulisse des azurblauen Wassers und der goldenen Sonne bietet dieses Küstenjuwel die Essenz des glamourösen Küstenlebens.  

Die engen Gassen der Altstadt versprühen historischen Charme, und auf Schritt und Tritt finden Sie etwas Faszinierendes, von eleganten Boutiquen bis hin zu belebten lokalen Märkten. Ein Spaziergang entlang der berühmten Promenade des Angles ist ein Muss, aber wenn Sie die Stadt aus einem anderen Blickwinkel sehen möchten, sollten Sie auf den Colline du Château hinaufsteigen, von wo aus Sie einen Panoramablick auf die eklektische Architektur Nizzas und die atemberaubende Küstenlinie haben.  

Ob Sie sich an den glitzernden Stränden sonnen, die Düfte frischer Produkte auf dem lebhaften Markt Cours Saleya genießen oder den kulturellen Reichtum der Stadt erkunden - Nizza verspricht eine bezaubernde Reise. Egal, ob Sie in die Kultur eintauchen oder einfach nur entspannen möchten, Nizza ist ein wahrhaft inspirierendes Reiseziel, in dem jede Erfahrung in die Wärme des mediterranen Charmes getaucht ist.  

Mehr Informationen finden Sie auf lastminute.com

Col de la Couillole

Der Col de la Couillole ist ein Gebirgspass hoch oben in den französischen Alpen, der bereits in die Annalen der Tour de France eingangen ist.
Über eine Länge von 16 Kilometern windet sich dieser Pass zwischen Felsvorsprüngen und grünen Wiesen mehr als 1.100 Meter in die Höhe.

Die Strecke beginnt in der Gemeinde Saint-Sauveur-Sur-Tinée und führt durch die malerischen Dörfer Roure und Roubion, deren farbenfrohe Steingebäude sich scharf von der alpinen Flora abheben.

Folge uns

Erhalten sie exklusive informationen zur Tour de France