The Esterel coast is certainly still quite virgin in its central part, but it is nibbled away on both sides by the construction of villas and hotels. However, there are still a few historical viewpoints that remain hidden from too fast travellers. This is the case for the small park at Pointe de l'Esquillon.

We go up in a few minutes to two viewpoints, one of which has an orientation table. The very busy road between Théoule-sur-Mer and Saint-Raphaël remains hidden in a notch between the viewpoints and the various rocky branches of the cape.

Access by public transport

The line 19 of the network Palm Bus comes from Mandelieu and line 22 leaves from Cannes. Line 22 runs more frequently. The L'Esquillon stop is at the starting point.

Access by car

We are on the Corniche de l'Esterel between Mandelieu in the Alpes Maritimes to the north and Saint-Raphaël to the south. More concretely it is south of Théoule-sur-Mer on one of the many bends of the D6098 road.

The starting point is marked by a crossing with several branches to the north and a bend at almost 300 degrees when coming from the south.

Parking site

On the Col de l'Esquillon there are just four places to park and one place to charge an electric car. The departmental road and the adjacent streets are very narrow and without public parking spaces.

Short trail

From the parking lot of the Col de l'Esquillon leaves a single uphill lane, the orientation table is signposted.

Do not be disturbed by the prohibition sign that follows, this applies to access by car and we are here by foot on a public access. It is always irritating and disappointing to see various signs springing up that unfairly insinuate absolute property rights just to keep people away from those in their gilded palaces.

We are in any case in a few minutes at the top and on a large platform which presents a still limited view.

For the first point of view you have to go down before the platform.

The path leads to a solitary bench with a view to the south and over Cap Roux and the Pic de l'Ours.

We then return to the large platform.

The second point of view is accessible by passing the platform and going up to the left. There is an orientation table renovated in 2017. You can see from here towards Antibes and the Lérins Islands.

Signs warn to climb on the rocks and indeed it is not very useful since we are surrounded by the road. An exception however is to go straight from the platform and pass left of the warning sign. You arrive in a few meters on a natural flat area with the road below.

However, we also see a modernist house with a very simple form, it is the Villa Le Trident. It was built in 1925 by and for the architect Barry Dierks who became famous with this construction.

We return by the access path to the starting point at the saddle.