The GR 51 is known as Les Balcons de la Cote d’Azur or Les Balcons de la Méditerranée. In parts it does just what it says: takes a route halfway up a ridge just above the coast, with fantastic views from the Italian border near Menton to Marseilles.
Go to Stage 1 and then links to all the other 18 stages we have walked. Also a page on the sections we haven’t walked yet.
Tourist information: Each stage has links to tourist information for cities, towns and villages that are passed or are nearby. There are also links to the places where we have stayed.
Maps – details of the IGN 1:25 000 required.
Distances – the sections as published in the out of print FFRP Topo-guide, useful for planning.
Transport - links to bus timetables, route maps and trains that cross the GR51 or are easily accessible from the path.
GR51 Topo-guide published by the FFRP is now out of print. The distances for the GR51 have been taken from this book.
These pictures below give some idea of the variety of scenery we have seen. You can also look at the page on each day/stage for a bit more detail. Go to Stage 1. The stages that we have done will have to adapted to you walking preferences, transport and time. We have taken each stage to mean a day.
Walking this route gives you an idea of the countryside above the busy seaside resorts. We have met few walkers and none actually walking the GR51. perhaps it isn’t that popular. However, it does give an insight into the variety of scenery, people and customs of France. We have met some very interesting and helpful people, and stayed in some good hotels and generally good food – inexpensive and expensive!
The GR51 also has timings which haven’t been included as they are all based on 4km per hour.
The View west from the GR51 above the village of Courmes and over the gorge du Loup
This is a brief description and pictures of each section we have completed since 2011. We aim to complete the walk in 2013.
The GR51 is right by the sea in Theoule-sur-Mer, but that is unusual
Maggie the magnificent on the GR51 with the magnificent ridge of Rocher de Roquebrune in the background
For a list of the maps required for all sections click here.
Signpost near Le Muy
Except on private land the GR51 is generally well waymarked
The waymarking is always a white red and white line with a red line beneath. Changes in direction are marked as these two photos.
A red cross signifies that it is not the way to go.
On some of the sections there are signposts which are numbered and have the GPS position marked on them. The number on the signpost is also on the newer IGN 1;25 000 maps.
Waymark on a cork oak in the Esterel forest
Not this way
Water tank - marked on the map as Cit.= citerne on the 1:25 000 - at strategic points in the forest areas of the GR51
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February 16, 2011 at 9:39 pm | Permalink | Reply Edit
Interesting. Do you have any more photos? And was it easy to find the route?
June 2, 2011 at 3:43 pm | Permalink | Reply Edit
We’ve now done most of the route apart from the western section from Mont Vinaigre. It is fairly well marked apart from the section around the Domaine mentioned, where there are no signs mentioning the diversion, which makes it difficult if you are trying to follow the map.