Saint-Jeannet lies at the foot of the Baou de Saint-Jeannet, a rock formation that rises to 800 m. The Baou shapes the views and provides a striking backdrop for hiking and climbing. At the same time, the oldest quarter and several chapels invite you to discover the town through its history and architecture.
Baous and viewpoints
At the summit of the Baou de Saint-Jeannet, an orientation table provides information for walkers. The panoramic view extends across the Mercantour Alpine peaks and the hills of Nice to Antibes, the Lérins Islands and the Estérel Massif. The village can be seen below. Another viewpoint is at the Baou de la Gaude, also within the municipality of Saint-Jeannet: from there, the view stretches across the Mediterranean coast, the Bellet vineyards, and the wooded and hilly areas above Cagnes-sur-Mer. The views described therefore differ too: from the Baou de Saint-Jeannet, the panorama takes in the Mercantour, Nice, Antibes and the islands; from the Baou de la Gaude, it takes in the coast, vineyards and hilly terrain.
Lanes and chapels
The Quartier de Queirard is the oldest quarter of Saint-Jeannet. Its calades, typical of mountain villages, are interrupted by steps. The Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste was built in 1753 and is now used for various cultural events. The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Baous, built at the end of the 15th century, houses numerous ex-votos: they commemorate mountaineers who died in the mountains and Padre Pio.
The Promenade de Sainte-PĂ©tronille leads to the Chapelle Sainte-PĂ©tronille. The chapel is thought to date from the 12th century and was decorated in 1973 by the Belgian painter Delporte. The Circuit des Chapelles, described in 2023, is a short family walk from Sainte-PĂ©tronille to Notre-Dame-des-Baous. As local access conditions can change, check them before your visit.
Hikes for different time budgets
The Grand Parcours des Baous is a 97 km multi-stage route through nine villages that can be completed in five days: Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Coursegoules, Bouyon, Le Broc, Carros, Gattières, Saint-Jeannet and Gilette. The Sentier 4 section from Bouyon to Saint-Jeannet is a 22.5 km hike that takes about eight hours and is rated highly difficult. The Circuit du Castellet is a moderately difficult circular hike that takes about four hours and has around 450 m of elevation gain. A report from 2018 gives these route details; check trail conditions locally.
The time estimates highlight the differences between the options: the Circuit des Chapelles is described as a short walk, the Circuit du Castellet takes about four hours, and the Sentier 4 around eight. The Grand Parcours, meanwhile, is designed as a multi-day stage route. You can plan accordingly, depending on whether you have a short outing or a longer hike in mind.
Climbing, cycling and wine
The cliff face of the Baou de Saint-Jeannet is suitable for climbing. A report from 2018 mentions around 650 established routes, including 48 multi-pitch routes. As the number of routes can change through maintenance or the establishment of new routes, check the information before your climb.
The Sur la Route des Peintres cycling route passes through Vence after a short climb, then follows the Balcons d’Azur greenway to Saint-Jeannet; along the way, it offers an impressive view of the Baou. A wine tasting at Vignoble Rasse included eight white, red and rosé wines, including the La Fontaine, Principium, Tuilé de Saint-Jeannet and Baussum cuvées. They were served with platters of local products such as tapenade, cheese, charcuterie and chocolate. This particular tasting combines wine and local produce, while hiking, cycling and cultural heritage each offer different highlights for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Caille, Gorbio, Cantaron, Le Broc, Puget-Théniers, Caussols, Vallauris
For the broader travel guide: Alpes-Maritimes.
