Cascade de Gairaut

The hills above Nice, Saint-Barthélémy neighbourhood. The path is short but naturally filters out anyone who prefers the Promenade. Up top, the monumental 19th-century waterfall drops into a basin surrounded by vegetation, with the sea as backdrop. No tourist infrastructure. No flashy signs. Rocks to sit on, light that shifts with the hour, and the sound of water drowning out the city below. What plays out here is a natural selection by taste: everyone present chose this over a packed terrace. That common ground isn't obvious at first, but it's there. And often, it's enough to start something.

Ecotourism

Activities

• Panoramic view
• Picnic
• Hiking

We'd both packed a picnic. We ended up sharing it.

I sit down on a rock and pull out my picnic. The guy next to me pulls out his. Same baguette, more or less the same cheese. We laughed, merged the two spreads, and ate looking out at the sea. You don't end up here by accident.

Léa, 28

Credit monoi_et_vanille