Canyon de la Maglia ©Isabelle Fabre

We tested the Canyon de la Maglia, the most beautiful canyoning descent in Europe

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If you decided to amuse yourself by listing all the exceptional sites the Côte d'Azur jealously protects, it would take you a lifetime. Between the sea and mountains, wonder is everywhere - and all year round too! If you’re still not sure where to spend your next holiday, let the charms of the Côte d’Azur lure you.

Top spots, legendary routes that will take you to its most beautiful villages, or the cities that make it famous worldwide - be guided and surprised on the Côte d'Azur. Here is a selection of the top spots on the Côte d’Azur!

Few destinations bring together cities and villages that are legendary across the world in such a small area. Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Grasse, Saint-Tropez, Monaco, Menton and many others between the sea and the mountains create the uniqueness of the Côte d’Azur: a harmonious blend of culture, art and festivals in an exceptional natural setting.

Everyone knows it as a holiday destination in the South of France where it is always lovely and warm. But the Côte d'Azur is also full of jewels perched on the slopes of its hills, overlooking the sea, and valleys – their stones embodying the wealth of regional heritage. Between the sea and mountains, these hilltop villages create the unique character of the Côte d'Azur: a harmonious blend of culture, art and festive pleasures in an exceptional natural setting. Discover the most beautiful hilltop villages on the Côte d’Azur.

From the sea to the mountains, you’ll love the most beautiful natural sites on the Côte d'Azur! Here, nature reigns supreme. From its unspoilt islands, jewels surrounded by the Mediterranean, to its headlands sprinkled with beaches and creeks, protected natural parks, gorges and the Mercantour lakes... The different natural landscapes are grandiose on the Côte d'Azur. Discover these natural sites and you will discover another Côte d'Azur in the heart of a protected natural heritage.

You’ve arrived on the Côte d'Azur. Perfect. And now, take to the road! Which one? Mimosa, Perfumes, Gardens, Cinema or Baroque. It's up to you... Discover our selection of legendary routes on the Côte d’Azur!

Festivals and carnivals, fireworks, concerts and mega shows, magical places under the stars, major international sporting or artistic events, glamour, glitz and crazy atmospheres, passion for games and outings... Events are in the Côte d'Azur’s DNA. Discover the major events of the year on the Côte d’Azur.

Land of emotions and sensations, the Côte d'Azur owes a lot of its success to the exceptional diversity of activities. Whether you love culture, nature, sport, food or shopping you’ll find a wide range of activities to enjoy on the Côte d'Azur. Alone, with family or friends, be inspired by the activities available on the Côte d’Azur!

Land of inspiration for artists from all over the world, the Côte d'Azur offers an extraordinary cultural and artistic heritage that embraces every era. Satisfy your curiosity, discover museums with exceptional collections, travel through towns and villages to explore exceptional sites and monuments or learn about the intense love affair between the Côte d'Azur and the cinema.

Grasse is the world capital of perfumery... and the Côte d'Azur is the land of perfumes. When you organize your stay or your holiday on the Côte d'Azur, don’t forget to plan a visit to Grasse to discover its perfumeries... and learn how to create your own perfume in an olfactory workshop!

The diversity of its landscapes and the mildness of the climate have made the Alpes-Maritimes a land of choice for gardens and gardeners alike. In the last century the English introduced exotic species making mosaics in which the world’s gardens are juxtaposed. From natural parks to exceptional gardens, discover one of the most dazzling faces of the Côte d’Azur.

The Côte d’Azur is known and loved for its culinary specialities. In the same way it inspired the great masters of painting, it is now a land of great chefs. Enter the world of flavours, southern produce between the sea and mountains. The mix of authenticity and creativity gives this sunshine cuisine real style.

Live your passion to the full on the Côte d'Azur! Land of sport 365 days a year, every year the Côte d’Azur holds around forty high level sporting events. The range of sports is as varied as the diversity of its landscapes that stretch from the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Mercantour National Park. Whether you are a passionate sports and adventure enthusiast or a professional sportsperson, your stay on the Côte d'Azur will undoubtedly mean passion and performance!

A unique place for all lovers of outdoor activities and the great outdoors, the Côte d'Azur enjoys an exceptional natural environment set between the sea and the mountains – whatever the season. Hiking, trail, mountain biking, tree climbing, via ferrata, zip line, paragliding, canyoning, rafting, caving... there is something for everyone! With family or friends, fill up on sensations and nature on the Côte d’Azur!

A unique place for everyone that enjoys water activities, the Côte d'Azur boasts an exceptional natural environment with nearly 200 kilometres of coastline, six islands, exceptional sea beds and more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Hiking, diving, snorkelling, paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, kayaking, jet-skiing, water skiing, parasailing, boat trips and even sea fishing... there’s something for everyone! With family or friends, whether you are a beginner or more experienced, fill up on sensations on the Côte d’Azur!

Between the sea and mountains, the Côte d'Azur offers a wide choice of leisure activities to share as a family! Enjoy some special moments on the Côte d'Azur whatever the season. Both young and old will enjoy the large range of cultural, sporting, fun or creative activities for every desire! Follow the guide... Here are our tips for discovering the Côte d'Azur with your family!

With all its heritage and the infinite possibilities for cultural visits, the Côte d’Azur also offers great shopping in boutiques where special finds and new designs happily rub shoulders.... Young designers, craftspeople and the most prestigious brands can all be found in the shopping meccas of the Côte d'Azur. We’ll tell you all about them: here are our 100% shopping tips for the Côte d’Azur!

Rooftops, clubs, casinos, lounge bars or patios to go out for a drink... Find all our tips and recommendations for having a good time with friends or as a couple on the Côte d’Azur!

Between the Mediterranean and the Alpine peaks, the Côte d’Azur offers a wide variety of accommodation ranging from world-class luxury hotels to the most unusual places to stay and exceptional bed and breakfasts. You will discover refined gastronomy highlighting the sunny Mediterranean cuisine served by passionate chefs. Depending on your tastes, your holiday style and your budget, you’ll find all the information you need to plan your stay on the Côte d’Azur.

On the Côte d’Azur, there is a place to stay and an experience to fulfil your every desire. From a luxury hotel with a sea view to a charming bed and breakfast in the heart of a hilltop village, or a really unusual place to stay, you’ll find somewhere to suit you on the Côte d’Azur.

The Côte d’Azur invites you to its restaurants! With over 3,500 restaurants, inns and bistros, the choice is vast and everyone will find somewhere tempting. There is no shortage of guides and advice available. We invite you to enter the world of flavours and produce from the south between the sea and mountains. This mix of authenticity and creativity gives this sunny cuisine is true style.

Whether you are passing through for a weekend or planning a longer stay, the Côte d’Azur will be an open book for you! How to get to the Côte d’Azur? What administrative procedures and formalities do you need to complete before you leave? How to get around on the Côte d’Azur? How do tax free purchases work? Your holiday starts here with all the practical information and contacts you need to plan your trip with complete peace of mind.

Canyoning… jump, swim, slide! Jumps, abseiling and slides… Canyoning offers a maximum of sensations in an exceptional environment, between emerald coloured pools, bubbling waterfalls and wild nature. With more than 280 canyoning sites listed, the Côte d’Azur is a hot spot for canyoning. Did you know? The Canyon de la Maglia is one of the most beautiful descents in Europe!

What is canyoning?

Or how to travel on foot in a river bed!

You will successively walk, swim, abseil, sometimes jump and even slide down natural slides!
If you are not comfortable with jumping, there will always be an alternative, for example, a rope descent. Keep in mind that canyoning is not necessarily an extreme sport: there will always be a canyon to suit your level of skill. Your guide will be able to advise you on the difficulties you’ll encounter. You can also choose a horizontal canyon, which doesn’t require ropes: this is called a water hike!

Canyoning: a back to nature experience!

Canyoning puts you in the heart of nature where you can explore exceptional sites and discover not easily accessible places.

You’ll discover an unspoilt ecosystem: it is not uncommon to encounter toads, trout, bats – in the famous Ratapignata cave – and sometimes chamois. Enjoy swimming in the crystal clear water, jumping into turquoise pools, showering under several meter high waterfalls. Enjoy the incredible natural setting of the Côte d’Azur!

Canyon de la Maglia, one of the most beautiful canyoning descents in Europe!

From Breil-sur-Roya, the Maglia is the most famous canyon on the Côte d’Azur.

Quite challenging but nevertheless accessible to sports enthusiasts, it will delight both thrill seekers and canyoning enthusiasts. Natural slides and jumps quickly follow each other in this narrow and very photogenic canyon: most of the pools in this canyon are deep and surprisingly blue. But the highlight is the famous 20-metre abseil in the cave: you will squeeze into a passage between two rocks and then suddenly you’ll find yourself suspended in a magnificent cavity, adorned with amazing stalactites.

Maglia: the most beautiful canyoning

descent in Europe

Who hasn’t dreamed of changing lives one day and earning a living doing something you love? Two years ago, I left my job as an engineer to become a photographer, videographer and digital nomad. Living in Nice, I fell under the spell of the Côte d’Azur. This region has made me what I am today: a fulfilled sportsperson that loves and respects nature. I share the beauty of this area and its many sporting possibilities and show you the things that made me fall in love with it!
By Isabelle FABRE

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