Visit the Mercantour National Park: full guide

Discover the natural treasures of the Southern Alps! Wanderlix takes you to the sublime National Park of Mercantour!

It is one of the most popular French national parks. Since its inception in 1979, no less than 800,000 visitors per year survey 600 kilometres of marked trails. It must be said that it is only one hour from the Côte d’Azur ! We can visit the Mercantour National Park all year round.

In spring and summer, snow melted and temperatures are pleasant. In winter, snow-capped peaks and the calm of the place are enjoyed. Everywhere, fauna and flora are of an amazing wealth. Villages and valleys contain archaeological and cultural treasures.

Faced with the vastness of this natural space, difficult to know where to start... To help you, we have identified the best ways to visit the Mercantour National Park. Follow the guide!

The Mercantour National Park in a few words

In the middle of the 19th century, the mountainous region of the Azurean hinterland belonged to kingdom of Piedmont-Sardaigne . It was to preserve his hunting ground that the reigning sovereign decided in 1859 to make the Mercantour massif a royal reserve.

Horse between the departments of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Parc National du Mercantour now stretches on several valleys. The Tinée, the Vésubie, the Gordolasque, and the high valleys of the Var and the Cians thus constitute a vast playground for hikers and amateurs. The heart of the park offers remarkable trails, punctuated with perched villages.

In this vast protected area, there are some 40 species of endemic plants. Animals also benefit from protective measures, such as past ubiquitous from 70 to 1,600 individuals and chamois estimated at about 10,000. So it doesn't take much time to see chamois and marmots! The wolf also returned, causing many tensions with the breeders of the region.

1. Tours in the Valley of the Wonders

The Vallée des Merveilles has been listed as the Historical Monuments since 1989 for its outstanding archaeological heritage. The site is located in the Roya Valley. With about 40,000 rock engravings of the Protohistory (the contemporary period of the first metallurgy), the valley is home to Europe’s largest rock art sanctuary.

The altitude lakes are also numerous. The GR52 hiking trail crosses the Valley of the Wonders and allows you to see some engravings without leaving the marked path. As the space is protected, it is not allowed to get away from the trail without being accompanied by an approved guide. You are advised to start your visit by the Musée des Merveilles in the village of Tende, before taking part in a guided journey to the engravings.

Practical information

Organisms of accredited guides organize day trips, or two days with night in refuge or bivouac in the middle of the valley. What to leave you an unforgettable memory of the area! Count 30€ to 70€ according to the chosen formula.

2. Sports in bright waters

Do you have a soul of adventurer? Canyoning is the perfect activity to make the full of strong sensations! The Mercantour is a must-see destination for some live water activities. Reminders, slides, jumps, swims... you are guaranteed that in the evening you will not make long fire after a day of canyoning or rafting!

For those who start and don’t want to jump more than 2 meters high, water hikes are an excellent alternative. In any case, you will spend unforgettable moments with family or friends, safely with an experienced guide. The different valleys of the Mercantour massif offer a wealth of impressive clues and canyons. Among the must-see canyons:

• The Maglia Canyon ;
• Audin Creek Canyon ;
• But also the Barbaira canyon ;
• The Bendola Canyon ;
• The Carleva Canyon ;
• And finally the Bollène Canyon.

Practical information

Canyoning and rafting are framed activities, accessible at all levels provided you can swim. If you come to visit the Mercantour National Park and want to practice this leisure, it will only be possible between April and October . We have to count about 65€ the day of canyoning and 30€ half day of aqua-rando.

3. Hiking in the Mercantour National Park

The Parc du Mercantour has a very dense network of marked trails, with 1,700 kilometres of hiking trails. The landscapes are beautiful summer as winter. In hot season, the snow melted and the trays green.

Footwear suitable for mountain walking are thus essential, as we climb very quickly steep and crispy trails. In winter, some trails are also available in snowshoes, and this is the opportunity to see the snow-covered peaks! Finally, many are the routes of large hikes, such as GR5, GR52, GR52A.

Some of the most beautiful trails in the park:

• Prals Lake Circuit, Madone de Fenestre : easy, 4h
• Lake of Lauzanier, the Cross : easy, 5h
• Mont Pelat by the lake of Allos by Clignon high and collar of the Encombrette average, 2 days
• Vens lakes by the Pra and Col du Fer : medium, 6h30
• Lakes and Rocks engraved in the Valley of the Wonders : medium, 6h30

Although the heart of the park is very protected, mountain biking is possible on some trails, individually. Among the 7 routes allowed are the water track to Claï Haute, the Salèse track, or the Céva track in Breil-sur-Roya.

Practical information

You can walk alone on the trails, being equipped with suitable shoes, what to drink, a windscreen and a IGN card.

An interesting alternative to visit the Mercantour National Park is to surround yourself with an experienced mountain guide. Legends and landscapes will no longer have secrets for you! The cost of an attendant is on average 30€ per person per day.

4. Alpineism and climbing

The Mercantour National Park is a high place of mountaineering. With routes of difficulty sometimes extreme on snow, ice or rock, the reputation of some routes is no longer to be done. The main tracks of the massif are dominated by the Gélas, the highest peak of the French Alps at 3,143 metres.

Cramponnage, encordement, progression on ice: whether you are a beginner or experienced mountaineer, you will be able to learn and perfect your technique. Among the most popular natural climbing sites are:

• The Boréon: "Salese" cliff with 23 tracks;
• The road to Venanson: cliff " Trou du Diable" with 20 tracks.

The sports via ferrata is also an increasingly popular activity on the Mercantour peaks and in the gorges of Vésubie. The goal is not to use the mountain’s weaknesses to reach a summit, but to create a true sporting path that offers maximum sensations.

Practical information

For a successful experience, you will go with a high mountain guide graduated from state. He will share all his know-how on these techniques that are very specific to mountaineering.

5. Hiking in snowshoes and skiing

In winter, it’s time to visit the Mercantour National Park under another face. In snowshoes or cross-country skis, the territory offers beautiful routes. You will have every chance of seeing chamois and marmots on your way.

For the snowshoe, call on professional companions: it will make you discover this white paradise safely. For hiking skiing, have a good IGN map and go for exceptional descents between sea and mountains.

Practical information

Learn about weather conditions before leaving. Team yourself in a suitable way. In any case, never leave alone and warn your surroundings of your itinerary.

On the way out, count about 80€ the day including the provision of the security kit. Different providers also offer weekends with night in refuge and half board ( 175€ approximately).

6. Lake Allos

Located 2 228 metres high, it is Europe’s largest altitude lake. This natural mountain lake comes from the snow melt and springs. It has an area of 54 hectares, for a depth of 48 meters. An interpretation trail around the 4-kilometre lake allows you to admire the fauna and flora.

In the spring and summer, the landscapes relate to multicolor flowers and virevolting butterflies. Throughout the year, you will also meet chamois, ubiquitous and wild vultures of Verdon . Don’t forget your twins!

Practical information

If Allos Lake is so well preserved, it is that you cannot access it directly by car. Indeed, it is necessary to take a small mountain road open only from June to October, to the parking lot of the Laus. From there, 45 minutes walk are still necessary.

hikers can also go to the lake 6 a.m. from the village of Val d’Allos, through the path GR 56B.

Attention: swimming in Allos Lake is prohibited all year round.

7. The tower of the villages of the valleys

The villages of Mercantour have an exceptional heritage, like the chapels decorated with ancient frescoes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. In each valley of the park you can discover the still alive traditions of the alpine populations, savour the local specialties or admire the casouns , these little stone houses with arches.

On the hillside or near the rivers, here are some towns that deserve a detour:

• Breil-sur-Roya ;
• The Brigue ;
• Saint-Dalmas ;
• Saint-Martin-Vésubie ;
• Colmars-les-Alpesv;
• Saorge ;
• Tende.

8. The Train des Merveilles

Want to visit the Mercantour National Park in an unusual way? Take the historic route of the salt trade by train! From the Mediterranean coast to the French Alps, this panoramic tour takes you away from the tourist crowd of the Côte d’Azur.

This rail route is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It starts from the sea level in Nice, to reach the 1,000 meters above sea level in Tende. Every morning of the summer season, a guide is present on a row to comment on the landscapes. A succession of viaducts overlooking cashed canyons characterizes this impressive journey. The arrival in Tende announces the starting point for hikes and activities of all kinds.

Among the places of interest available since Tende, are:

• The remains of the castle of the Counts Lascaris ;
• The little Pia roadnear the river;
• The Eagle Hill ;
• The Museum of Wonders ;
• La Maison du Mercantour ;
• The House of Honey and Bees ;
• And finally Saint-Sauveur chapel and its 360° view.

Practical information

The train runs daily from June to September, and weekends and holidays in May and October. The journey with guide leaves at 9h17 from Nice train station and arrives at Tende at 11h24. The cost is one 15 euros .

9. Museums of Mercantour

The associations and museums around Mercantour aim to value the original know-how, productions and local traditions. Objects and documents are preciously preserved for little to little recompose the face of the Alpine heritage.

For the public, temporary or permanent exhibitions are presented in the summer season, conferences are organized and some books can be purchased. Here are three museums among the park's must-sees:

Compused by the Roudoule

Since 1986, the ecomusée en terre gavotte Roudoule intends to cover the cultural area of the Parc National du Mercantour and the Natural Parks of Verdon and the Préalpes d’Azur. Its exhibition space is a beautiful part of the people’s know-how and regional heritage. It presents thousands of artisanal objects, period images, lectures, reference works on the art of living and biodiversity.

Roudoule is located in Puget-Rostang. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between May and September and by appointment from October to April. His entrance is at 4€ at full rate.

Villa and museum La Sapinière

The collections of this amazing museum can surprise: there are more than 1,000 objects from Asia, Africa and America. Yet, everyone tells in his own way the history of the inhabitants of the Ubaye valley and the links with these distant lands.

The museum in Barcelonnette is open every day during the great holidays. He is free for children under 10 years of age 4€ at full rate and 2€ at a reduced rate.

Museum of Wonders

A place of conservation, research and exhibition of the archaeological and ethnological heritage of the high valley of the Roya, the Musée départemental des Merveilles is a "Museum of France". It highlights research on cross-border alpine populations from the Protohistory. The museum is in Tende. It is open all year round (closed one week in November), except Tuesday.

10. Vesúbia Mountain Park

Is the time maussade, your kids trip? Don't panic, head to Vesubia Mountain Park! This park indoor offers a mine of activities, including climbing, play climbing, speleology or canyoning. There is also an aquatic space, all installed in a building with contemporary architecture. Here’s a good way to learn about outdoor sports, waiting for the sun to come back to visit the Mercantour National Park!

Practical information

The park is located in Saint-Martin-Vésubie. It is open daily during school holidays. Rates vary depending on the desired activity, 3,60€ for free entry to the aquatic space, to 50€ for a package of four activities to choose from.

You now know how to visit the Mercantour National Park in a thousand and a way!