Baou Mourine

Born in Escragnolles on February 9, 1770, François Mireur became a doctor at the age of 22. In June 1792 he organized the movement of volunteers from the south to Paris to fight the Austrians. He sings for the first time in Marseilles the song of Rouget-de-Lisle which will become the ";Marseillaise". General under Bonaparte at age 26, he distinguished himself by his bravery in the army of Italy, and died at the age of 28, on July 9, 1798, in Damanhour during the Egyptian campaign.

Commune située sur la route Napoléon, Escragnolles se détache en douze hameaux qui furent repeuplés à partir de 1562 suite aux guerres et épidémies de peste du Moyen Age. L’économie du village reposait principalement sur l’agro-pastoralisme. Vous remarquerez notamment les traces de cette activité avec la présence de murs en pierre sèche tout au long de la randonnée. Une fontaine est disponible au niveau du parking et, en traversant la route et le rond-point, vous trouverez un snack bar tabac presse. Un peu plus loin sur la route, vous disposerez d’une boulangerie, d’une épicerie et d’un restaurant. 

The Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, crossed the Préalpes d'Azur in 1815. On his return from the Elba island, he brought with him an army of 1 ;200 men. He will make a stop in Escragnolles, and after 64 km of walk from Golfe-Juan, he will wait on March 2, 1815 in the village of Séranon where he bivouacked in the snow at more than 1 000 m of altitude.

The territory of Escragnolles is framed by a dozen fortified enclosures. They have served over time, as refuges, lookouts and observations points. This one in particular (to 100 m on the left) crowns a peak at the northern end of the Baou de Mourine. Consisting of several ramparts, the main entrance to the east is still visible.

From his latin name Empusa pennata, it has the frail look of the Phasme, the weapons of a Praying Mantis and a sci-fi monster's head. If luck is with you, you can meet him on the side of Escragnollles, but you will have to be patient because he can remain motionless for hours. Indeed, its prey (small flies) come directly to be placed in his mandibles for a little known reason, which could be olfactory. ;

The communal forest of Briasq is very rich from a landscape and natural point of view. Maple tree stations are present along the route. From its latin name Acer opalus, there is a large population on this territory, a real treat for the eyes especially when the autumn comes.

A lookout cabin located at the end of the route dominates the Siagne valley and offers an unexpected view of these gorges with vertiginous reliefs to the coast. We can see the Saint-Cassien lake and the peak of the Bear, one of the summits of the volcanic massif of Estérel. An orientation table will allow you to better distinguish the elements of the landscape.