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.
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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
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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
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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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