Cap Ail | French Riviera Cap d'Ail
Cap Ail is linked to the Principality of Monaco and borders to the district of La Colle in the city. It is a small town on the French Riviera. Beaulieu sur Mer is at 11 kilometres, Beausoleil at 5 kilometres and Eze at 5 kilometres. Between Nice and Monaco, the town can be reach by the highway A8, exit from Nice onto route RN7 (Moyenne Corniche). Cap d'Ail can also be easily reached from Nice by train or by bus.
Its inhabitants are the Cap d'Aillois. In Occitan Caup d'Alh and for its inhabitants read as capolhencs Cau d'Ai and read as Capouienc. The history of Cap Ail shows that its name comes from "small cap d'Ail". The French dictionary Petit Larousse says that the correct pronunciation is "Cabdail" as [kabdaj] but that it can be also pronounced as [kap daj]. The town is known for its luxurious villas "Belle Époque", where a lot of personalities and stars arrived in the fist part of the 20th century. Cap d'Ail stretches along a peaceful part of the coast, at the border with the principality of Monaco. When you arrive take the road that overlooks the coast until you reach the Tête de Chien viewing point from where you will have a superb panorama of Italy and the Var coastline.
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Cap Ail harbour covers an area of 47,000 sqm and provides 253 berths. Regattas and sea festivals are organised during the holiday season, attracting many visitors. There is a superb walk in an unspoilt bucolic setting along the coastal path. This walk (approximately 4 km), will take you from Marquet beach to Mala beach, passing through the pine forest and looking down on the waves crashing against the cliffs and rocks. Do not miss these other shady walking trails in the "calanques" and climbings at Barres de la Loubière, outings on the cave trail, Roman trail and Eden trail. Visit the Mediterranean centre with its amphitheatre designed by Jean Cocteau, and right beside the sea is the Sacha Guitry Park which has been laid out in terraces beside the villa that used to belong to this famous author.
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Local "Culture" on La Mala Beach!   (Please click on the Play Button above and be patient, the video may take a minute to load. It is hosted on You Tube.)  Back to top.
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