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A very small village sitting on the side of the mountain above the east side of the Gorges-du-Loup. Sitting at the dead-end of a narrow road leading up from the hamlet of Bramafan, this is a great site for hiking.
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Nearby: |
Bar-sur-Loup 13 km |
Bramafan 4 km |
Caussols 21 km |
Cipieres 10 km |
Coursegoules 18 km |
Gourdon 10 km |
Grasse 22 km |
Gréolières 11 km |
Pont-du-Loup 9 km |
Saint Barnabé 25 km |
Tourrettes-sur-Loup 17 km |
Vence 22 km |
Hotels near Courmes: |
10 km Gourdon |
13 km Bar-sur-Loup |
17 km Tourrettes-sur-Loup |
22 km Grasse |
22 km vence |
The 4-km long road up to Courmes begins at the hamlet of Bramafan, 4 km north of Pont-du-Loup, on the road that goes up through the Gorges-du-Loup.
Communal Bread Oven
Courmes has a communal bread oven (four communal) — not unusual for Provencal villages, except this one is in active use by the village residents. It's a simple little room and a plain little building, a very useful left-over from a bygone era.
L'Augerge de Courmes
The Auberge de Courmes is a hotel-restaurant located at the entrance to the village. The hotel part has 6 rooms, a possible solution for GR51 hikers as well and other visitors.
Address: 3 Rue Platanes, 06620 Courmes
Tel: 0493 776 470
Prehistoric
Courmes Dolmen - Dolmen de Courmes
The Dolmen de Courmes (or Dolmen de Camptracier) was perched on ridge hagh above the Loup. Said to be a degraded site with difficult access, we've not been able to locate it. There's also a nice hiike to the top of the falls from the village of Cormes.
Waterfall
Courmes Waterfall - Cascade de Courmes
The 40-m high Cascade de Courmes can be seen just beside the D6 road going up the Gorges-du-Loup, at the right just before the bridge. Parking is a bit tricky; look for a wide place just after the long tunnel.
History
Name
First record, 1176 Corma
Medieval:
The primitive village with its castle was located on the high ridge of the Serre de la Madeleine, 2 km NNW of the present village. In 1235 the fief of Courmes was given to Romée de Villeneuve by the Count of Provence. Feudal rule later passed to the Cromis, the Lombards and finally the Bancillons.
More Recently:
The population was nearing zero at the end of the 1939-45 war, and has since grown mainly with retired people and for secondary residences.
Other Sites
Prehistoric
Courmes Dolmen - Dolmen de Courmes
The Dolmen de Courmes (or Dolmen de Camptracier) was perched on ridge hagh above the Loup. Said to be a degraded site with difficult access, we've not been able to locate it. There's also a nice hiike to the top of the falls from the village of Cormes.
Waterfall
Courmes Waterfall - Cascade de Courmes
The 40-m high Cascade de Courmes can be seen just beside the D6 road going up the Gorges-du-Loup, at the right just before the bridge. Parking is a bit tricky; look for a wide place just after the long tunnel.
Hiking
Maps:
IGN (1/25,000) #3642 ET "Vallée de l'Estéron"
IGN (1/25,000) #3643 ET "Cannes, Grasse, Côte d'Azur"
There's great hiking from Courmes. In fact, that's the main reason for visiting here.
The GR51 passes through Courmes (630 m). The trail goes south from Courmes for Saint Barnabé (968 m), 7 km to the northeast (2 hrs). North from Courmes, the GR51 Route goes up the east side of the Loup, the back south for Gourdon (750 m), 9 trail km.
Other loop hikes from Courmes use PR (Petite Randonée) hiking trails and parts of the GR51 to visit the high plateau of Saint Barnabé and the Col de Vence to the east.
Water is available at a small stone fountain in the Place de l'Eglise. Sitting low on a stone wall, it might be hidden by parked cars.
Lodging - Hotels
Hotels in Towns Nearby to Courmes
• 10 km — Gourdon hotels
• 13 km — Bar-sur-Loup hotels
• 17 km — Tourrettes-sur-Loup hotels
• 22 km — Grasse hotels
• 22 km — vence hotels
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Photo gallery of 9 photos for Courmes