La Turbie

The town’s most famous landmark, this partially reconstructed Roman monument once stood nearly 50 m high. It commemorates Augustus’s conquest of the Alps and remains one of the most impressive Roman structures in southern France. The site includes a small museum and offers spectacular views over Monaco and the coastline.

Hiking from Monaco to La Turbie follows a section of the Via Alpina, a major long-distance hiking network that crosses the entire Alpine arc from Monaco to Trieste. This stretch also forms part of the GR51/GR51B trails, linking coastal and mountain terrain above the Riviera. The route climbs steeply from Monaco through pine forest and rocky paths, with continuous views over the Mediterranean. Although only a short segment of a much longer alpine route, it takes around 2–3 hours and ends in La Turbie, beside the Roman Trophy of Augustus. From La Turbie, the Via Alpina / GR51 continues as a quieter inland stage toward Peillon, one of the most picturesque perched villages in the Riviera hinterland. This section is roughly 10–12 km depending on variant routes and typically takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours on foot.