Théouliennes, Théouliens, Raphaëloises, Raphaëlois celebrated one of the most beautiful roads in the world. 120 years ago, the Corniche d'Or was born, enabling everyone to admire the coastline of the Massif de l'Estérel and the beauty of the landscape, from Cannes to Saint Raphaël, blending the red of the Estérel with the blues of the sky and sea along this azure balcony.

Frédéric Masquelier, Mayor of Saint-Raphaël and President of Estérel Côte d'Azur Agglomération, Aurore Laroche, Regional Councillor and President of Esterel Côte d'Azur, Jean-Pierre Klinholff, Mayor of Les Adrets de l'Esterel, as well as numerous elected officials from Théoule-sur-Mer and Saint-Raphaël, Messieurs les Consuls, association presidents, Peter Van Santen, President of the Tourist Office and Jean-Claude Castillo, President of the Automobile Club Cannes Côte d'Azur, whose Club, like the Corniche, is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, were all present for the event, along with Georges Botella, Mayor of Théoule-sur-Mer. " This anniversary is an important one for both our communities, and I'd like to thank Frédéric Masquelier once again for his enthusiasm from the outset of the project proposed by Georges Botella".

Thanks to all the collectors who made this parade of beautiful vintage vehicles possible. Thanks also to Doctor Patrice Alzina, author of poems and in this case of strolls along our Corniche d'Or, for his presence and dedication of his book "Corniche de l'Estérel". Many thanks to Fortuné Evangélisti for his work on this anniversary.

Thank you to all Esterel lovers...

Thanks to the Touring Club de France and its president Charles Abel Ballif, and to Léon Basso, the visionary mayor of Saint Raphaël, this magnificent road was built after 5 years of work, 150 workers and more than 2.1 million euros.

"The Touring Club de France, which was very young at the time, in association with the PLM, had the extraordinary idea of creating a coastal road around the Esterel massif in 1901, using the Chemin du Trayas and the few remnants of access roads abandoned when the railroad was completed, not forgetting the chemin de ronde des douaniers.

The road was inaugurated with great fanfare in 1903 by the TCF, with a parade of 200 automobiles followed by numerous cyclists. It was immediately dubbed the "Corniche d'Or".

The French government immediately inventoried the country's roads and paths, making this "Corniche d'Or" a section of the fabulous "Nationale 7". Decommissioned and renamed "RN98" in 1938, it became part of the seaside road from Toulon to Menton. This remained the case until the recent overhaul of the French road network.

This achievement is not just a technical feat. It has been the means of fabulous development for our communities. However, like our predecessors, we are responsible for preserving its authentic character, which is what makes it so beautiful, attractive and exceptional. "We are working hard to achieve this in both Saint Raphaël and Théoule. The well-being of each and every one of us, and that of our future generations, is the common thread running through all our actions, thanks in particular to the forthcoming certification of the Esterel site, which attracts over 2.5 million visitors a year. To celebrate this beautiful page in the life of our towns, Frédéric Masquelier and I wanted to create an anniversary work, which Fortuné Evangélisti has done with talent.

This work, entitled "L'oeil",depicts an eye at the center of a multi-pointed star , and can be seen on avenue du Trayas (just past the Port de La Figueirette).