Greolieres

Gréolières sits below the massive south face of the Cheiron, the biggest and most obvious ridge in the Pre-Alps behind Nice — you can pick it out from the plane on final approach to the coast. It is a genuinely year-round site: thermals pull the air up the front even when clouds are scooting over the top from the north, and dynamic soaring adds another workable mode. The classic cross-country line here is a straightforward 15 km ridge-run out-and-return to Coursegoules, achievable on any reasonable day. Multiple launches step up the mountain from the lower Le Dahut / '300' takeoff at a 30-minute walk from the school landing field to the Cheiron summit at 1 hour 20 minutes on foot. In winter the Gréolières-les-Neiges chairlifts also serve the upper launches.

Launch & conditions

Main lower takeoff ('300', Le Dahut) is a 30-minute walk from the school landing field. Upper launches: '600' and '700' (~1 hour walk from Gréolières-les-Neiges), '1000' Cheiron summit (~1h20 walk from the school landing). Private 4x4 access to the upper launches is not allowed. The school runs a navette from 9 am; ski chairlifts serve the upper takeoffs in winter.

Getting there & local rules

Landing is the big meadow east of Gréolières village. Access to the launches is on foot from Gréolières-les-Neiges, by the school navette from the landing field (fee), or via the chairlifts in winter.

Local rules & hazards

Maximum flying height 2,000 m under the Nice TMA. Valley wind at landing is usually easterly — if a westerly is blowing, the site turns very turbulent and is not advisable to fly. If you climb above cliff height, be ready to meet the northerly overtopping the ridge.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Greolieres, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Greolieres with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.