Pont des Tuves - A Picture Perfect Place

This is a fairly strenuous hike but the scenery and setting are really worth the effort (for an easier version read to the bottom). Pont des Tuves / Pont des Gabres is a 200+ year old stone bridge on the border between the Var and Alpes Maritimes which spans the Siagne river and is an unbelievably idyllic place to visit, picnic beside and swim in (if you dare!)

Pont des Tuves / Pont des Garbes

Built in 1802 and restored in 1978 the bridge is called “Pont des Tuves” on the western, Montauroux side of the river and “Pont de Gabres” on the eastern side of St Cezaire sur Siagne. Originally it served as a link between the two villages, facilitating the crossing of the river Siagne and promoting trade in products such as cereals, wine and olive oil. From this period, you can also spot other remains: the wash house (lavoir), the chapel Saint Saturnin and the Canal de la Siagne, which still supplies drinking water to the towns of the Siagne Valley.

We undertook this 10km hike on a very warm September day. It is fairly easy as you descend down to the valley floor and river but the return leg up the hill is strenuous and exposed so bring lots of water, even on a cooler day. A link to the hike can be found here Hike information

The parking is beside the cemetery in the centre of Saint Cezaire Sur Siagne – address: 30 Rue de l'Égalité, Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne. Once parked, the walk begins by following the road along the right hand side of the cemetery. (Chemin de Chautard)

The cemetery with the walk starting down the road to the right

You follow the yellow markers until you reach waypost (balisage) 2 after about 600m. At this point you turn right on to Chemin de Corbron following the signs for Chapelle Saint Saturnin. Continue along here following the signs for the Chapelle and it will turn into a path at waypost 3. Keep going to the right and then at the next marker go straight on. About 50m later at a water tank leave this path for another parallel path on the right with the yellow markers (be careful as this is easy to miss). This path runs parallel to the main track for a while and then descends into the forest.

Descending down through the forest

At the next intersection you go right still following the Chapelle and yellow markers and it will descend quite steeply in hairpins through the ancient ‘restanques’.

Turn right following the sign for the Chapelle

The hairpins!

You will cross the canal de la Siagne and keep going down until you reach waypost 6.

Cross the Canal de la Siagne

Now you follow the red/white markers to the Chapelle and continue to the left and keep descending. At waypost  5 leave the red/white markings and go right for a few hundred metres to visit the Chapelle Saint Saturnin.

Chapelle Saint Saturnin

Spend some time soaking up the tranquillity of this secluded chapel before retracing your steps back to waypost 6. From here you follow the red/white markers which bring you slowly up through the forest and back to the Canal de la Siagne.

Some helpful waymarkers

Continue back up through the forest until you reach the Canal again

Here you leave all markers behind and take the path which is on the left edge of the canal. It is fairly narrow but there are barriers in place and it’s a lovely walk alongside the canal for approximately  1 km until you come to a fairly large bridge across the river and find the yellow markers again.

The path on the left hand bank of the Canal

Following the yellow markers you will descend down to the left in more hairpins towards the Pont des Garbes.  Just before you reach the bridge you will pass under a light waterfall – be careful here as it can get very slippery and you don’t want to end up in the river!

You finally reach the Pont des Tuves

Once at the bridge you will no doubt want to spend some time here, have lunch, possibly a swim. The water is very fresh and even after a long hot summer was invigoratingly cold on a warm September day. You will also often see people jumping from the bridge!

An invigorating swim!

To continue the walk you cross the bridge to the Montauroux side and continue straight into the woods for about 50m before you will see the yellow markers leading you on a path to the right. This path brings you through the lush forest and alongside the beautiful banks of the river Siagne. Not far along there is a great pebbly beach where you can also picnic and swim.

Another spot perfect for a picnic and / or swim

This path continues for about 2.5km and you will see the remains of an ancient paper mill before finally arriving at a big bridge crossing the river. You cross over to the other side of the river and then continue to follow the path to the right as it brings you up and around a few hairpins, past the canal for a final time and then the final push all the way back up to the village of Saint Cezaire Sur Siagne. This part of the walk is quite steep and exposed – be sure to take breaks and drink lots of water.

Finally the village in sight at the top of the hill.

Once back in the village you will be rewarded with fantastic views of the valley. Keep right as you head through the village and back to where the cars are parked beside the cemetery.

We made it!

Walking back through the village to the cars

This walk and other versions can be found by following the links below. If this is a bit too much of a hike for your party, you can access the bridge from the Montauroux side via a rocky dirt road which means you have a flat walk to access the bridge. Follow the Chemin de Siagne , 83440 Montauroux and park at the end.

Alternative Hike

And from the Montauroux side Montauroux hike

Acces:

Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne is 32km from Cannes: take the penetrante to Grasse. At the 4 chemins follow the direction of Peymeinade (Departmental 2562) and then fork right on to the D 113 then D 13 to reach Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne. At the entrance of the village turn left to park at the parking of the Romanesque church and cemetery. 30 Rue de l'Égalité, Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne.

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