Chemin Strategique des Banqettes s(u) by Bicycle - Velo

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Chemin Strategique des Banqettes s(u)

Col des Banquettes is a narrow quiet road, that can be used to quickly escape the nightmare traffic on the coast. It is the highest point between a road connecting two boastful towns. On one side, the most beautiful - St Agnes, on the other side the most "curiouse" Peillon. Peillon lies a little above the route profiled below. But it's a small detour.

A third road joins the Col des Banquettes at its summit. This partially unpaved road goes quite a bit higher, over two more passes as shoulder points and has several great alpine views. It's partially unpaved. This third road is the subject of this page.

01.(20m,00.0km) START-END SOUTH 1: Nice harbor
02.(327m,07.3km) Col de Quatre Chemins(shp)
03.(507m,11.8km) Col D'Eze(shp)
04.(557m,18.1km) Col de la Guerre(shp)
05.(670m,24.1km) Col de Pacrace
06.(640m,26.0km) Peille
07.(736m,34.0km) Col des Banquettes(shp)
08.(940m,39.4km) Col de Segra
09.(1080m,42.9km) Col de Farguet
10.(1090m,44.9km) TOP: Chemin Stratequiqe des Banquettes s(u)
11.(1000m,46.6km) route turns left onto pavement at Col de Braus
12.(390m,56.6km) profile turns left in l'Escarene
13.(20m,76.5m) START-END SOUTH 2: same as point 1, Port in Nice

Approaches

From South. There are many ways to get to the Col des Banquettes. The profile shows one direct option from Nice, that goes over more passes as shoulder points.

Leaving the Col de Banquettes, the road climbs with many switchbacks up the forested slopes. Looking back on a warm spring day, the blue sea fuses with a blue sky in a layer of white. From up here the houses of St Agnes don't seem to be in nearly as a precarious position as from other viewing angles

After a good climbing workout the road crests at the first summit point on Mount Ours, together with a powerline, and opens up the view to l'Authion to the north (between points 7 and 8 on the profile). A very small descent leads to a clearing in the trees towards Col Castillon below, and Sospel a little to the north. The sing verfies that this Col de Segra. An old old military fort can be seen further north along the same hill.

The paved surface ends a few hundred meters later, and another small dip and climb lead to the next pass, Col du Farguet. This spot has the best views of the surrounding far peaks. I met a couple on a pique-nique here. I said no-thank you to their offer for a glass of wine, but I did accept the banana.

From here signs point the way to options for the way down, left over (or under) Col de Cavalier to l'Escarene, or the option the profile takes, right and straight ahead to the Col de Braus, the easiest way back to pavement. The highest point along the way is traversed on this option. It is just slightly higher than the Col du Farguet.

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top left: a fort from WW1, located above Col de Castillon is visible on the left.
bottom left: village St Agnes from above
right: Cols in every direction, and every direction is downhill

From North. (described downwards) From the summit you barely need to pedal the bike, to roll to the very top of Col de Braus on reasonably smooth dirt. My own route continued at this altitude, and even climbed a little higher to collect more passes, which are also dips in the road. It continued via Col de l'Orme and Col de l'Able to Luceram.

But in the profile I want to show direct approaches to both sides for the summit. So I picked the route down the west side of Col de Braus in order to return to the Nice harbor.

A Dayride with this point as intermediate summit is on page: Col del'Orme

approaching the highest point on the Chemin Stratequique des Banquettes

somwhere above Col du Farguet

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