The French Riviera is full of treasures and little nuggets that clearly have nothing to envy the world. In addition to its magnificent perched villages or its numerous walks along the seaside on the French Riviera, some places stand out like the Pont des Tuves. It is a very atypical little marvel that stands out from the others. Located on the banks of the Siagne, 20 km from the Saint-Cassien lake in the commune of Montauroux, it is a pretty hike accessible to all, whether with family or friends, which at the end will lead you to the “Tuves Bridge” and its magnificent waterfall.
1. Its history
The Tuves bridge is a magnificent structure made up of tuff rocks (hence the name Tuves bridge), built in 1802 to cross the Siagne river. For a long time this bridge was the only means of communication between Montauroux and Saint-Cézaire.
Its particularity? The bridge actually has two names: on the Saint-Cézaire side, it is the Gabres bridge and on the Montauroux side, it is the Tuves bridge.
2. The different routes
There are two routes to reach the Tuves bridge:
From the municipal stadium of Défens, 2 km from Montauroux. As the stadium is not well signposted, it is recommended to use the GPS which will direct you to the car park. Once parked, you can take the path downhill. It takes 40 minutes to reach the bridge.
From the village of Saint-Cézaire, you have to park in the large car park at the entrance to the village, then cross the village to join the Chemin du Courbon and follow the yellow markings with a long, winding descent (be careful not to do this hike in rainy weather as the rock is slippery once you reach the waterfall). A hike that will last 4 hours, much more sportive than the one from Montauroux.
3. things to see at the Tuves bridge
- The tuves bridge or bridge of the gabres is already in itself an exceptional work but it is even more reinforced by the turquoise colour of the water. It is a wild place quite frequented in summer where some adventurers do not hesitate to jump off the bridge.
- Siagne Beach: a small pebble beach ideal for picnicking. You can swim but the water is quite cool even in summer. The colour of the water is exceptional, both turquoise and green.
- The waterfall
- A small tropical forest
4. Practical information on the Tuves Bridge
- Height difference: 250 metres
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Distance: 4.2 km
- Altitude: between 166 and 395 m
- Difficulty: easy
- Recommended period: all year round
