La Pointe de l'Aiguille - park in France

La Pointe de l'Aiguille is a natural park next to the city of Théoule-sur-mer in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Understand

At the western end of the Alpes-Maritimes, in the commune of Théoule-sur-Mer, stop on the cornice of the Estérel and discover the spectacle offered by the meeting of red rocks plunging into the sea.

In ancient times, the natural cove of Théoule was a place for ships to stop and get fresh water from the many springs in the Esterel. In 69 AD, Théoule sheltered the fleet of the Roman emperor Otto. At the beginning of the 19th century, the installation of a couple of Italian fishermen in the cave of the northern beach gave birth to the legend of troglodyte fishermen.

The traditional fishing remains, but another form of exploitation of the sea appeared: the aquaculture. Today, Théoule-sur-Mer has become a seaside resort appreciated for the beauty of its site.

Landscape

The Esterel, a massif of crystalline rocks, has a volcanic past, as shown by the red cliffs of the park. 300 million years ago, thick glassy lava escaped from volcanoes (strato-volcano of Maure Vieille, neighbor of the park). Lava flows and projections create the rock of the Pointe de l'Aiguille: the pyromerid. Over the years, erosion and collapses, deposits and folds, have shaped and shredded the landscape to give it its present form.

Flora and fauna

A characteristic vegetation adapted to the siliceous grounds develops: arbutus, broom, lavender bloom in the middle of maritime pines, holm oaks and cork oaks.

The diffusion of sea spray enriches the flora with remarkable species, such as the anthyllid Jupiter's beard, a rare species of one meter high with silver branches and yellow flowers.

In the undergrowth, to the north, the presence of a spring favors the development of unusual plants on the Mediterranean coast: horsetails, rushes, alders, hollies, osmondesroyales, and ferns two meters high.

The underwater bottoms are very rich. In a posidonia meadow, you will be able to observe the ballet of sars, sea breams and saups and, further down, rock fish and shellfish.

Get in

• From the A8 highway, take the Mandelieu exit and follow the RD 6098 to Théoule. Continue along the corniche de l'Estérel for 2 kilometers, in the direction of Saint-Raphaël.

• By train, get off at the Théoule station. Then, the access is done by taking the Pradeyrol promenade which goes along the beaches from the centre of Théoule.

2 parking areas can be used:

• the parking of Estérel, along the Corniche de l'Estérel, on the sea side, serves the eastern side and the beaches,
• the Théoule parking lot (after the beaches) allows access to the creeks along the shore via the Pradeyrol promenade.

Fees and permits

It is free to access.

See

• Viewpoint from the Belvedere on the whole gulf of La Napoule.

Do

• Hiking: above the cornice of the Esterel, a path leads in a short time to the belvedere. As the park is made up of cliffs plunging into the sea, it is essential to follow the trails.
• Underwater discovery trail: accessible from mid-June to mid-September, it runs along the pebble beaches. Take a mask and snorkel. Underwater brochures with all the fauna and flora are available at the Tourist Office of Théoule-sur-Mer as well as at the first aid post of the Pointe de l'Aiguille. A deposit of 10€ will be asked and returned afterwards.
• Beaches: 4 pebble beaches surround the red rocks of the Pointe de l'Aiguille and the Grotte de Gardanne.

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