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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.
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 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.
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
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