Fort du Mont Alban

For visitors to Nice, a stroll up to the top of Castle Hill offers extraordinary views of the city from the Old Town straight on to the airport. And with such beautiful weather being the norm, getting a bird's eye view of the Cote d'Azur can be addictive! For those who want to see even more from up high, Fort du Mont Alban is a must.
Built in the mid-1500s for military defense, Fort du Mont Alban is located close to Nice in Mont Boron Park, just outside of Col-de-Villefranche. Although it suffered some damage in WWII, the fort is in excellent condition and was declared a national monument in the early 20th century.
While tours of the fort are available only by appointment, the grounds are open to the public and free to enter. From the top there are sweeping views from Italy to Antibes – and after a rain, when the skies are clear, those with binoculars can even see Corsica!

Practical Info

Using public transport, take the Lignes d'Azur Line14 bus from Nice to  the Mont Boron “Chemin duFort” stop, then enter the park and climb to the top using the trails. If driving, take the Corniche Andre de Joly (M6007) to the Route Forrestiere du Mont Boron; it is possible to drive to the top using this road.