The port of Cap d’Ail !!

Posted in Europe, France

And why not indulge myself on the Sea; not just the one near me mind you but far away in my belle France. This was a surprise visit on a business trip as usually do not go by this area for some reasons, I like to update this older post on the Cap d’Ail, in Alpes Maritime dept 06, PACA region. Do read my other post on the town in my blog, Therefore, here is my take on  the port of Cap d’Ail !! Hope you enjoy it as I

I have realised that the whole country is beautiful. Not that folks tells me, or books told us, but living it and enjoying it everyday reminded me that no matter where you are in France, there is always the exclamation “Oh how beautiful it is! ” Well this place is no difference. I had a taste of Cap d’Ail just in the border with Monte Carlo, Monaco!  I arrived by  Avis  rental car from the Nice-Côte d’Azur airport coming in on the A8, then M6007, and into city center and port Cap d’Ail. Glorious road warrior driving on the corniches !

The port of Cap d’Ail, (I stayed in front of it! )at the eastern end of the town, has its northeast quay on the border with Monaco, in Fontvieille as the entire eastern part of the town. The port of Cap d’Ail extends over a water body of 47,000 m² and has 257 mooring berths. Regattas and feasts of the sea are organized during the season and attract many amateurs. The Heliport is 3 minutes away, allowing Monaco and Nice to be connected by a 6-minute flight. The Marina can accommodate boats up to 60 meters.

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The wonderful beaches which had no time to see them all, but briefly Mala is worth it for sure. These are : Pissarelles Beach: The only way to reach it is via a winding path off the lower Corniche road. The beach of the Pissarelles is reserved for the most sporty, it is lined with rocks and accessible by a path a little difficult for the children. Mala Beach: Accessed either via the Littoral Coastal path or via the Mala steps which run alongside the great and illustrious Eden residence. The Mala Beach is nestled in the vegetation and accessible on foot by a small footpath, it is also family oriented and has 2 restaurants. Marquet Beach: Popular with both families and sports enthusiasts, the beach offers many activities. It can also be accessed and used by the handicapped. The Marquet beach is the most family-run, gentle slope and easy access, it houses the nautical circle and has 2 restaurants.

A superb suggested walk (but not done) in a wild and very bucolic setting is to be done by the seaside Trail (coastal trail). This stroll (approx. 3.6 km) will take you from the Marquet Beach to Mala Beach, you will pass by pinewood forest and overlook the cliffs and rocks where the waves come to crash. Close to the sea, a peaceful garden, the Sacha Guitry Park has been set up in restore land next to the villa (which once belonged to this famous author). He is not the only one to have been conquered by Cap D’Ail.  Its 5 km of coastline has attracted many personalities, the Prince of Wales, the Tsarevich, the Lumière brothers, Greta Garbo, Apollinaire, and of course Jacques Cocteau…etc,

A bit on Cap d’Ail or garlic cape will tell you the town is crossed by the RD 6098 (lower Corniche) and the RD 6007 (formerly RN7-known as the “Middle Corniche” called Avenue Prince-Rainier-III-de-Monaco) on its northern periphery. On the seafront, the coastal trail is an old renovated course of 3 600 meters, joining the beaches Mala and Marquet, passing by the pointe des Douaniers (Customs). To the north: border with the Turbie. /Isola 2000, at 105 km. /Grenoble, at 340 km. /Lyon, at 492 km. /Paris, at 954 km.  To the east: border with the Fontvieille district of Monaco. /Menton, 16 km away. /Ventimiglia (Italy), 29 km away. /San Remo (Italy), 59 km away. /Genoa (Italy), at 183 km. /Rome (Italy), at 694 km.  To the West: border with Èze. /Beaulieu-sur-Mer, 9 km away. /Nice, 18 km away. /Toulon, at 170 km. /Marseille, at 226 km.

A bit of history tell us that the arrival of Garlic merchants in 1848, Cap d’Ail, which was called before its creation la Turbie-sur-Mer, was the maritime façade of the town of La Turbie before it was detached in 1908.   At the end of WWII it was liberated on September 3, 1944. The town has beaches famous for their natural, as well as a coastal path, bordering a typical Mediterranean vegetation. The steep terrain, characteristic of the Monegasque watershed, plunges the town from the vertical slopes of the dog’s head to the wild coves of the Mala beaches.

The town of Cap d’Ail on its heritage : https://cap-dail.fr/culture-et-evenements/patrimoine-architectural-historique-culture/

The port marina of Cap d’Ail : https://www.portdecapdail.fr/en/home-en/

The Cap d’Ail tourist office on the beaches : https://cap-dail.com/en/the-beaches/

My fav plages tv on the beaches of Cap d’Ail : https://en.plages.tv/seaside-resorts/cap-d-ail-06320

There you go folks, again a pleasant surprise and something to say I was here ! This is Cap d’Ail, a bit pricey due to the proximity of Monaco ,but for a romantic getaway would be perfect indeed.me think, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the port of Cap d’Ail !! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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