"Medieval Roquebrune and luxurious Cap Martin" Roquebrune-Cap-Martin by NiceLife

Two kilometres vertically from the coastal road halfway between Monaco and Menton is the medieval village of Roquebrune, which looks down over the wealthy villas of Cap Martin, and offers fine view of Monaco.

The zig-zag climb up to the medieval village is by the aptly-named escaliers no.1. This is not for the faint-hearted : the cardiac work out is equivalent to two hours in the gym. Do this climb daily for seventy years and you will develop thighs like a Sumo wrestler and the lungs of a marathoner.

Chateau crowning the village

Crowning the village is the ancient 11th Century Chateau, which contains I know not what ,as it shut two hours for lunch immediately as I arrived. This may also explain why the foot of the Chateau is surrounded by leisurely-paced restaurants, full of people dining while they wait for the Chateau to reopen.

Cap Martin - Villa Cyranos

The Sentier Littoral offers an invigorating two hour walk around the length of Cap Martin all the way to Menton.

En route you will catch just the barest glimpse of the superb villas whose estates cover the main area of the Cap. Somewhere above is the ravishing Villa Torre Clementina, and here shown a viewing gallery built onto the rocks for the magnificent Villa Cyranos.

At the furthest reach of the Cap you will stumble on the architect Le Corbusier's "Cabanon" - cabin - in which he worked until his death by drowning while swimming off the Cap.

• Pros:Interesting excursion from Monaco
• Cons:You need to be fit to do this one
• In a nutshell:A nice life here