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Monaco !! You finally reach the Mediterranean after 74 stages, over 1300km, and more than 80,000m of ascent and descent since walking out of the Marienplatz in Munich. The Alps, which seemed so vast and insurmountable in Bavaria, have been conquered and are now behind you.

A remarkable achievement, worthy of a great celebration... and where better to celebrate than in the glittering Principality of Monaco, the epitome of luxury in Europe? So why not spend at least a couple of nights here... there is plenty to do and enjoy, and you'll enjoy it all the more in light of what you had to overcome to get here.

Lounge in the sun, see the sights, and eat in some of the best restaurants to be found anywhere in the world. If possible, arrange to have someone not on the hike meet you here... and have them bring along some elegant clothes so that you can mix with the Glitterati in the Casino. Although at sea-level, Monaco is definitely one of the high points of the H2H, so have fun... you have earned it.

Route
Today's hike uses the same trails as the Via Alpina, at least until La Turbie. From Peillon the trail heads initially northeast, but after a hundred meters swings round to head east then south to St.-Martin-de-Peille (560m). There you walk along roads for about 1km until a new trail (the GR51) heads east and then south (again along a road) to the A8 Autoroute, which you then cross on the GR51B to the town of la Turbie (478m). The final descent down to and through Monaco is also for the most part along roads... no hiking trails here!

Alternatives: are you serious?
Map: IGN-3742OT Nice / Menton.

Journal
The House to House blog... stage 74.

Photos
<A couple of representative photos from this stage will be added here after the hike>
In the meantime, click here to go to all of the H2H photos on Flickr.

GPS Track
<To be added during or after hike>

Room and Board Options
Lunch: although you could eat in la Turbie, the view from the hilltop just before you go down into la Turbie is spectacular... so if the weather is nice, I suggest that you picnic.
Dinner and overnight: there are many superb restaurants and places to stay in Monaco (for a complete list, see here).

Getting There and Back
Peillon: from the village of Sainte-Thècle (180m), where there is a railway station, walk (1h minutes, +220m, 2.5km) up the hill to Peillon (for train schedule information, see the SNCF).
Monaco: there is a railway station here.
ViaMichelin Road Map and Driving Directions: centered on Peillon, centered on Monaco.

Background Information and Links
Many and various...

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