In which village house to visit the Mercantour?

You're leaving in the Alps? Here you are in which village to visit the Mercantour, one of the ten French national parks!

Located on horseback between the departments of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Mercantour National Park is renowned for being one of the most preserved in France; In addition, its particular geographical location (the park is nestled at the edges of the Côte d’Azur while enjoying a typical alpine location) and the extraordinary fauna and flora it houses makes it a unique place. Here, in Mercantour, the wolf made his reappearance on French territory! But many other species, animal and plant, can be admired and the grandiose landscapes can conquer visitors from all over the world, lovers of nature and large spaces.

So, ready to take a good bowl of pure air? Come on, we'll take you and give you the best tips to find the accommodation of your dreams where to stay to visit the Mercantour.

Ascros

This splendid little village is perched at the top of a rocky grove at 1150 meters above sea level, stuck between the valley of var and that of Esteron. The current village is no other than an emblematic place in the history of the Counts of Beuil: its castle of the 12th century, which was shaved by order of the Duke of Savoie, is also the privileged witness! Today, one can still walk in the middle of the paved and narrow streets of this charming town that has a Romanesque church, typical of the religious buildings of this corner of France, and a lavoir.. again according to our days!

Ascros, it is also many activities throughout the year, many hiking trails accessible to small and large and offering incomparable views of the region and its famous "restayers" - walls of restraint, of dry stone. For who is looking to sleep to visit the Mercantour, Ascros is a sure value not to miss.

Ilonse

Ilonse is a small village also perched on a rocky piton and derives its name from Rostaing d’Ilonse, a member of the Beuil baron family. Today classified medieval village, it has the peculiarity of being designed and built in a cosmoon all around the rocky eperon that supports it!

The visitor looking for a place to visit the Mercantour will be delighted to be able to rent a small studio located just in the middle of the authentic and typical medieval buildings that the village has; In addition, it will be possible to discover in the streets overlooking the columned washbasin, the splendid golden baroque chapel and the exceptional view offered by the village square on the surrounding landscapes.

Peone

Peone , nestled at the foot of a cliff, is famous throughout the region for its “demoiselles”, natural dolomitic monuments, rock rockets rising to the sky, which face it! The village is an architectural example of Provencal and Mountain Meta: there are typical elements of these two distinct cultures, but here, beautiful and well mixed. The facades, painted in trumpet-eye, are an invitation to dreaming and hikers will feast on the many shaded paths that depart from this charming Mediterranean village.

In addition, the visitor looking for a place to sleep to visit the Mercantour will be delighted to be able to discover and apprehend the historical vestiges of this small town, such as the Saint Vincent church , the ruins of the castle of the thirteenth century or the chapel of Saint Pierre. Péone is one of the flagship destinations of this national park with Provençal accents, so go for a jump!

Moulinet

Moulinet is a charming village perched at 800 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Mercantour National Park. This small town reigns over 4,000 hectares of mountainous terrain, part of which is dedicated to ski resorts Turini and Camp d’Argent : you will have understood it, if you are told, it is that this quiet town is the paradise of lovers of slip and strong sensations during the winter! In the summer, this mountainous territory is obviously ready for the joys of the hike and many panoramas will offer to the bravest of you, who will climb the surrounding mountains to enjoy a large bowl of pure air. We also recommend the Authion circuit, a local curiosity that is worth the detour: military remains are scattered in the midst of magnificent landscapes and many, which also offer refreshing and gastronomic stops for gourmets who come to make a nice bike ride!