Les Corniches

Scenic drives
Les Corniches on the French Riviera

In music, as in life, it’s best to experience the highs, the lows, and the midrange. For drivers seeking a fully articulated impression of the Cote d’Azur, they can do just that. Oui.

Les Corniches, The Cliffs, are a trio of parallel routes at three different altitudes, giving drivers three different options to tour the sublime French countryside. Edging decoratively around the bends of steep mountains, these roads tie Nice and Menton together.

At the top, nearly 500 meters high, Grand Corniche offers million-euro views. Part of the route is ancient, built in xxBC, and was extended later by Napoleon. It is said that this drive, at times whitewashed in a veil of fog, is more about a mood than a journey. With drama suitable for Bond and Hitchcock, and the glamour of Princess Grace, the peaks and valleys of this landscape have a historical soul indeed.

Cut into the middle of the mountain, Moyenne Corniche offers unfolding vistas of the Mediterranean and its shore. It has less hairpin turns than the Haute, or Grand Corniche. However, it was at this level that Nietzsche wrote and Princess Grace fell. The luminosity and clarity of air here have inspired some of the most famous painters in the world: Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse.

The lowest road of the trilogy, Basse Corniche, or Corniche Inférieure, runs along the coast and offers access to famous seaside resorts. It can get backed up during peak traffic, but the route is peppered with elegant 19th-century villas and gardens. All three roads lead to Monaco. No matter which tier you choose, the trek is a symbol of pure driving pleasure.