D719 Aspremont (sh)
The east side of the river Var,
immediately north of Nice has just about the worst
traffic and urban sprawl in the city. Climbing the
ridge to the west to this summit is an
alternative. It is a more interesting ride and it
will also take a lot longer.
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1.(50m,00.0km)START-END
WEST:route starts climbing D719 or Chemin
de Cremat
2.(280m,07.0km)Route de Bellet/Boulvard de
Madeleine joins from right
3.(310m,08.9km)another Corniche joins from
the Var Valley on left
4.(530m,15.9km)TOP: D719 Aspremont(sh), a
short distance past Aspremont
5.(360m,20.2km)START-END EAST ALT:
Tourette-Levens: jct with road to Col
Chateauneuf
6.(60m,28.0km)START-END EAST: M19 in Saint
Andre De La Roche
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Approaches
From West. A GPS was
useful for finding the initial part of this climb.
All remotely traffic unclogged sideroads seem to
terminate at gigantic construction project, that
looks like an oversized deflated, fraying tire. My
map says it's supposed to be a Le Clerc business
complex. But to the west a small road labeled
Chemin de Cremat starts to climb the ridge to the
west with determination.
A maze of intersections to houses in the hills
follows. But actually, given that there are so
many structures up here, it is surprising that the
traffic here is fairly light, and the road does
its best to keep it no faster than a bicycle by
providing millions of turns. I just followed sings
for Aspremont and when in doubt choose the uphill
option. It worked for me, and finally I arrived at
this little hilltown, just in time for the local
fruit market next to the road. There are not only
great views of the various human construction
projects, lining the glacial deposits of the Var,
but also great views of the snow cloaked ridge
line to the north.
The road reaches its summit after Aspremont,
where it crosses a saddle over to the viewshed to
Tourette Levens. It looks like small secondary
roads to the north reach 50m or so higher
elevation. So I'll call D719 a shoulder summit.
From East. A quick
descend goes to M19, accompanied by great views of
Tourette-Levens and its crowning church tower. M19
is a lot busier and traffic less friendly than on
the route described sofar. But one doesn't have to
put up with it for very long, if you also go over
another summit. That option involves going up M19
to the next traffic circle and then turning right
to climb Col de
Chateauneuf. The profile does not do this,
but instead takes M19 down to Nice, to show a
direct climb with maximum elevation gain.
A Dayride with this point as
intermediate summit is on page: Chemin
de la Greo: Berre les Alps s(u)
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