Liven up your holidays!
Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Alpes-Maritimes
8.5
4
Add to favouritesRemove from favourites
Add to itineraryRemove from itinerary
Located on the historic Napoleon road, the commune of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the Alpes-Maritimes department. It takes place about ten kilometers from Grasse and thirty kilometers from Cannes, between the Alps and the sea, more than 700 meters above sea level.
This summer climate resort, former seigniory until the Revolution, was put into fashion in the nineteenth century by the rich families of Grasse. It takes its name from Saint Vallier, former bishop of Antibes martyred in the 4th century, and from the mountain that dominates it, the Thiey.
Today, Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey has retained its tourist vocation, unveiling a natural and architectural heritage of great interest and which lasts for centuries. Rich in history and traditions, this old medieval city will not fail to seduce you with its warmth and its authenticity.
Geographical information
Municipality | Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey |
---|---|
Postcode | 06460 |
Tourism labels | |
Latitude | 43.6985210 (N 43° 41’ 55”) |
Longitude | 6.8479560 (E 6° 50’ 53”) |
Altitude | From 460m to 1542m |
Surface area | 50.68 km² |
Population | 3775 inhabitants |
Density | 74 inhabitants/km² |
Prefecture | Nice (55km, 51 min) |
Insee code | 06130 |
Intercommunality | CA du Pays de Grasse |
Department | Alpes-Maritimes |
Territories | Alps, French Riviera |
Region | Provence-Alps-French Riviera |
Nearest cities & towns
Cabris | 8.6km (11 min) |
---|---|
Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne | 9.9km (15 min) |
Spéracèdes | 10.9km (15 min) |
Caussols | 11km (16 min) |
Le Tignet | 12.5km (17 min) |
Grasse | 14km (21 min) |
Peymeinade | 14.3km (20 min) |
Châteauneuf-Grasse | 16km (24 min) |
Escragnolles | 16.9km (17 min) |
Opio | 18km (26 min) |
Le Bar-sur-Loup | 18.5km (28 min) |
Le Rouret | 19.7km (27 min) |
Andon | 21km (27 min) |
Auribeau-sur-Siagne | 21km (33 min) |
Gourdon | 22km (28 min) |
Things to see and do
By visiting the old city of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, you can discover many monuments and other tourist sites rich in interest. Thus, the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church will seduce you with its 13th century nave, as well as its 18th century bell tower and 19th century bell tower. Formerly fortified and greatly enlarged in the 17th century, it has a beautiful carved wooden altarpiece inside and 17th century paintings. There are also charming chapels in the town, including that of the Holy Spirit from the 17th century and that of Sainte-Luce from the first half of the 16th century. The latter still houses today a well of miraculous reputation against stomach aches.
Listed as a Historic Monument, the Castellaras de la Malle camp consists of a dry stone enclosure built in the Iron Age. It is the most spectacular and the most important in the department, and takes place at an altitude of 1,200 meters. We can also see dolmens, tumuli, oppidums and pseudos-megaliths.
Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey hosts a large network of caves developed for tourism, like the Baume Obscure cave. It offers nine rooms to visit for a course of 500 meters going up to 50 meters deep. Do not miss the Audides cave and its route with reconstruction of life-size scenes. Around the town, it is also possible to see bories and dry stone huts, formerly for agricultural use.
Do not miss a visit to the bastide of Arbouin, listed as a Historic Monument. The building has, among other things, a lake, an old icehouse, terraced vegetable gardens, a sheepfold, a dovecote, a bread oven and can also be visited from the inside.
In the city, a bust of Napoleon Bonaparte installed on a fluted column with a Corinthian capital was erected in 1869. It testifies to the passage of the emperor following his return from Elba.
There is no shortage of sites to stroll around, such as the botanical path and its vivarium, or the many hiking and horse riding trails that surround the town of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey.
It is possible to discover several workshops of craftsmen in the town, such as a ceramist and an artist-painter.
- Unmissable:
- The Baume Obscure cave: In the heart of a vast wooded limestone plateau overlooking the gorges of Haute Siagne hides a true jewel of nature. The Souterroscope invites the visitor to live a unique experience, delivered to himself and guided by sound, image and light. The diversity of playful, visual and didactic approaches make it an incredible museographic show, with light and shadow effects suitable for a very large audience.
- The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption: The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is one of the oldest churches in the region and was built in several stages. The primitive church, built in the 12th century, had only the central nave. The apse and the bell tower, both in Romanesque style, were added later. The side nave in Gothic style in 1555. In the following period, the baroque altar was added. Finally, the main door dates from 1667.
- The natural bridge of Ponadieu: It results from the limestone deposit (tuff) from a source that has now disappeared. The Siagne, a river which rises at the foot of the Audibergue, in the town of Escragnolles and flows into the Mediterranean at Mandelieu, accompanies visitors throughout this hike accessible to all. The path leading to the Pont de Ponadieu partly runs along the valley of the Combe, in the shade of large holm oaks. Close by is the Saint-Jean chapel.
- Activities:
- Hiking on the territory of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey to discover the druidic stone, the Verdoline dolmen, the oppidum of La Malle…
- Visit of the cave of the Obscure Baume.
- Observatory of the Calern plateau.
- Paragliding.
Places of interest
Leisure centres | Cave of the Baume Obscure |
---|
Events and festivities
The weekly market takes place on Friday morning as well as Sunday all day in the large meadow.
Garage sales take place several times a year. A night market is organized in July and August. In December, the city offers its Christmas market.
In July and August, the Summer Evenings are an opportunity to attend various shows in the town.
The patronal feast of Saint-Constant takes place in August.
Espace du Thiey (Cultural center) allows residents to benefit from a Media library, a Cultural Café, an Exhibition Space, a Green Theater and an Auditorium, hosting shows and a traveling cinema every Friday evening.
Photos
Village
See photo
Village seen from Pas de la Faye
See photo
Chapelle Saint-Jean
See photo
Lavoir
See photo
Pierre Druidique
See photo
Weather
Monday 5 august
Min. 22°C - Max. 31°C
Day
Night
Tuesday 6 august
Min. 21°C - Max. 30°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 7 august
Min. 21°C - Max. 30°C
Day
Night
Visits, leisure and activities nearby
There are many marked hiking trails around the village, for walkers or for users of the Trott'évasion electric scooters, with several levels of difficulty for beginners or experienced.
Leisure activities
Last name | Activity type | Rate | City |
---|---|---|---|
Rock Climbing in Cabris (15 mins. From Grasse) | Sports sensations | 36€ | Cabris (5.2km) |
Canyoning Adventure at the Siagne de la Pare – Departing from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (30 mins. From Grasse) | Sports sensations | 80€ | Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (6.6km) |
Rock Climbing at the Siagne Gorges – Departing from Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (30 mins. From Grasse) | Sports sensations | 55€ | Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (6.6km) |
Workshop on creating a 100% natural perfume | Well-being | 40€ | Grasse (7.5km) |
Molinard Perfume Creation Session – Perfumery in Grasse | Arts and Crafts | 84€ | Grasse (7.8km) |
All leisure activities around Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Outings
Last name | Outing type | Difficulty | Duration | Departure municipality |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Druidic Stone | Hike | Easy | 1:30 | Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey |
Siagne valley | Hike | Intermediate | 2:30 | Le Tignet (6.5km) |
Défens Wood and the Siagne Gorges | Hike | Intermediate | 3:00 | Callian (7.9km) |
Paradise Circuit | Hike | Intermediate | 3:30 | Le Bar-sur-Loup (11.4km) |
The Tanneron Ridges | Hike | Intermediate | 4:30 | Tanneron (12.2km) |
All outings around Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Restaurants
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
All restaurants around Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Bed & breakfasts
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
Vacation rentals
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
All vacation rentals around Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Campsites
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
All campsites around Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Hotels
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
All hotels around Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Related articles
Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey
Guide of the Alpes-Maritimes
Unmissable places and recommendations in the Alpes-Maritimes
Alps
Guide to the territory - Tourism and staying here
French Riviera
Guide to the territory - Tourism and staying here
Outings in the Alpes-Maritimes
Ideas for walks and hikes in the Alpes-Maritimes
Photos of the Alpes-Maritimes
Photos of the Alpes-Maritimes to view and download
Hotels in the Alpes-Maritimes
A wide choice of hotels with reductions of up to 70%.
Vacation rentals in the Alpes-Maritimes
Self-catering holiday homes, gîtes and apartments.
Rooms from local hosts offering a personal welcome.
Campsites in the Alpes-Maritimes
Open-air accommodation.
Restaurants in the Alpes-Maritimes
Regional and international cuisine, style of restaurant and menus.
Leisure activities in the Alpes-Maritimes
A great selection of activities including sports, well-being, gourmet food and entertainment.
Your holidays
By continuing to browse our site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies to improve your experience and make targeted offers.
Find out more and make settings
Your account