Sauze: Mountain Village Above the Upper Var Valley

If you are considering Sauze as a destination for a hotel stay, its elevation, local history, and hiking trails offer useful points of reference. The main village sits on a ridge above the Upper Var Valley; its historical development and several described routes add to the picture of a high-altitude mountain village.

Location and Landscape of Sauze

The main village lies at an elevation of 1,365 m on a rocky ridge above the Upper Var Valley. The municipality covers 2,777 ha and ranges in elevation from 780 m to 2,520 m; its highest point is at Mont Saint-Honorat in the west. The village’s elevation therefore refers to a different scale from the wide elevation range across the entire municipality.

Sauze is reached by a winding road that climbs above Guillaumes, offering magnificent panoramas along the way. The road and the village’s position on the ridge shape the sense of place, though they do not indicate any specific travel time.

The natural setting includes the Natura 2000 site “Sites à chauves-souris - Castellet-Les-Sausses et Gorges de Daluis,” which includes Sauze. The site covers 3,384 ha, 70% of which lies in the Alpes-Maritimes department. Its name refers to bats and the Gorges de Daluis, while the area figures describe the size of the entire protected site.

Local History and Cultural Traces

Sauze is first mentioned in the first half of the 13th century as a fortified settlement. At the time, it comprised a village and a church, which is mentioned in 1351. Its early classification as a fortified settlement offers a historical point of reference for the development of this mountain village.

From 1388, Sauze was a Savoyard enclave above the territories of Guillaumes. Its border location and the wars between France and the House of Savoy shaped the village’s history. Its history as a border settlement is another key to understanding Sauze beyond its location on the Upper Var.

The village’s former agriculture is also part of its history: it included wheat, rye, and lentils, as well as livestock farming. These activities contributed to a degree of prosperity until the middle of the 19th century. This describes a historical way of life, not a statement about present-day offerings.

Notre-Dame de la Colle is considered an emblematic landmark of the village’s history and identity. Its restoration was inaugurated in August 2026. The early historical references to a church and the present-day significance of Notre-Dame de la Colle are two distinct aspects of the village’s history.

Hiking Trails Around Sauze

The Les hameaux de Sauze route starts in the village and is a marked PR out-and-back hike covering 8.5 kilometers. It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to walk. This gives you a useful time estimate when planning the hike as part of your stay.

The marked Tour des Gorges de Daluis leads to the village of Sauze via trail markers 83a, 83, and 81. Along the route, the trail runs from the square in Sauze past a chapel and the hamlet of Sauze Vieux. These waypoints make it different in character from the out-and-back hike to the hamlets.

Another option is the Balcons du Val d'Entraunes route, which leads to the Moulins de Sauze along a narrow forest track. The routes differ in the features described: Les hameaux focuses on the distance and approximate walking time, the Tour des Gorges on trail markers and stops along the way, and the Balcons on the route to the mill complex. Check trail and terrain conditions before setting out.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Le Broc, La Gaude, Sospel, Saint-Martin-Dʼentraunes, Valdeblore, Séranon, Châteauneuf-D'entraunes, Péone.

Go to the main travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.