Moyenne Corniche(sh)
There are three direct routes that connect Nice with Monaco.
In order of increasing elevation these are the Basse
Corniche, Moyenne Corniche and Grand Corniche. All three are
interesting bike routes. But the lowest Corniche (Basse)
usually has traffic that is so heavy, that the ride becomes
a stop and go affair, not only for the purpose of taking
pictures. The Moyenne Corniche traverses at half height
between the limestone cliffs, speckled with white villas and
ragged castle ruins on one side, and the boating
extravaganza, floating on blue sea on the other.
The profile does not traverse the entire Moyenne Corniche,
but it does go over its highest point. The profile stays
lower in the beginning, then traverses up to its highest
point, and descends into Monaco, while the Moyenne Corniche
stays higher.
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1.(km0,10m)point
on coast in Villfranche sur Mer
2.(km1,70m) route turns up Avenue de General Gaillen
3.(km2,90m) route splits from Basse Corniche and goes
up Ave Leopold
4.(km3,190m) route turns right onto Moyenne Corniche
5.(km8,360m) turnoff on right goes to Eze
6.(km8,371m) TOP: just before turnoff to Route de la
Turbie
7.(km11,270m) descent from Grand Corniche into Monaco
joins from left
8.(km19,10m) point in Monaco harbor
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Approaches
From West. A bike path goes around the
Nice sailboat harbor with three sides of a neatly drawn
rectangle. It's possible to pick up the Moyenne Corniche just
west of there. However, just following road sings for
Monaco, leads to staying closer to the coast on the Basse
Corniche. The first Moyenne Corniche sign along the coast shows
up after the road has rounded the base of Mount Boron. The
cyclist together with other traffic is directed up Ave Leopold
II. But most of the heavy traffic stays behind, and so the first
few steep switchbacks, climb into cleaner smelling air, aiming
for eye level with the lower villas.
The climb through super residencia quickly reaches a wider
road, the Moyenne Corniche. The route traverses upwards. Below
the cruise ship, that seems to be an anchored hotel, make an
interesting contrast to what nature has made on the coast. The
road leads trough a short tunnel to emerge on a picturesque
arched bridge into the town of Eze. The streets of this old
medieval castle are full of tourists, art galleries and
restaurants. As is often the case in places like this, the best
view is reserved for the final resting place, the cemetary.
Fortunately, the living are allowed to see it too. On the other
side from the town of Eze, a climb leads to Col
d'Eze , almost the highest part of the Grand Corniche. The
highest part of the Moyenne Corniche is a short distance east of
these two turnoffs

upper left: the portal under the bridge is actually the railroad
station in Monte Carlo
upper right: exit a short tunnel, cross this dazzling bridge and
enter into the old village of Eze
lower left and right: climbing to the Moyenne Corniche from Nice
From East. (described downwards). .
The road named "Grand Corniche" stays up on the cliffs
all the way to Menton, The Moyenne Corniche till east of Monaco.
But following the flow of traffic, rolling downhill the road
quickly becomes four lanes and merges with all the A8 access
traffic. All this combined traffic funnels together, and comes
to a screeching halt when the route enters the traffic chaos of
Monaco. But maybe it's not always as screeching and halting, as
when I experienced it, during a pre race day of the Grand Prix,
ie a race with vintage Formula 1 cars.
From this vantage point, the kingdom resembles a vertical
cliff completely cloaked with luxury high rise buildings, that
have grown together into a single structure like a bees hive.
Far below the screeching of racing motors, at this altitude the
quiet imperceptible purring of thousands of idling Mercedeses,
Ferraris, Maserattis and whatever other names man attaches to
expensive automobiles. The steepest housing cliff, neatly
flanked by pedestrian circular staircase is actually the portal
to the underground railroad station. It looks as adventurous
from the inside as from the outside. It's visible in the center
of the top left photo.
Dayride:
COMPLETELY PAVED:
Moyenne Corniche(sh): Ave Ste Margue 237, <> somwhere
between 5 and 10 miles worth of loops looking for a suitable
grocery store near the starting point > Nice > Nice Port
> Basse Corniche east > up Ave Leopold II, Moyenne
Corniche west <> out and back to town Eze >
Moyenne Corniche west > Monacco > Basse Corniche east >
Beaulieau Sur Mere > Nice Port <> loops around Leu
Casteu Cemetery, park and ruins on hill east of port > back
to staring point: m4: 54.9m with 2791ft of climbing in 5:22hrs (VDO
MC1.0 m4:14.5.9).
Notes: first exploratory ride around Nice on this tour. Lots
of stop and go traffic, another high point of this day was the
Leu Casteu cemetery and late light views onto Nice
The first day with different start and end points on this
tour is on page: Col de
Palmarella/ Col de la Croix

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