The Maritime Alps – The Cote d’ Azur’s more sparsely visited neighbour!

If the heat of the Cote D’ Azur is getting to you, then maybe you need a cooler break in the French Maritime Alps. These Alps are much closer than you may think, and after leaving the heat of the coast you soon find yourself high up in a very different world.

Situated only 90 minutes to the north of the French Riviera, Isola in the French Maritime Alps has become a very popular ski resort with those who live on the Mediterranean coast. Although it’s not only skiing that attracts tourists as this attractive inland town perched high in a mountain range, affords sensational views and is well worth a visit at any time of the year.

The Maritime Alps is a mountain area that is renowned for the vast amount of sunshine it receives every year, approximately 300 days. Isola is also renowned for having large snow falls in the winter time. The crisp climatic conditions of Isola and the Maritime Alps means that on a clear day you can actually see the sea 60 kilometres away.

There are many beautiful French villages in the Maritime Alps but it is the weather in this part of the world that is the real winner. These Alps divide France from Italy and whilst it is normally clear and sunny on the French side, it can often be cloudy and raining on the Italian side.  This goes to show just how much influence the Alps have on the weather, as these huge domineering mountains force the damp air upwards.

In fact it is safe to say that the Maritime Alps are a bit of an overlooked gem and there is a hive of activities for all manner of sports going on in this beautiful part of the world, most of which are done without snow and without the crowds.

The pretty villages around these Alps are too numerous to mention, although a good suggestion would be to drive off from the coast towards Isola and simply stop off at any place that takes your fancy – there’s guaranteed to be a few!

Saorge and Tende, the perfume town of Grasse, and the beautiful village of Gourdon, there really are so many unique and wonderfully spectacular mountain villages in the Maritime Alps. You really will need at least a full day to forage into these mountains and get to know this outstandingly beautiful and sparsely visited mountain range.