Mercantour accommodation

Mercantour holidays

The Transhumance - by Liz Lord
"The Transhumance is the natural movement of livestock, be that sheep, cattle, goats or horses from high to lower pastures. Shepherds move their beasts to take advantage of natural grazing. It is a practice that has taken place throughout the world, for many centuries. In the Mercantour visitors can enjoy the sight of animals during their periods of migration in the spring and the autumn, as well as joining in September festivities as the shepherds return to their villages. Actually taking part in the Transhumance has its own rewards, even though the mountains never fail to surprise. Denis Longfellow completes a bi-annual transhumance between Le Boréon near Saint Martin Vésubie and Sainte-Agnès near Menton on the Mediterranean. He drives his troupe of horses down to the coast in late September each year, and north to enjoy the lush summer pastures in the middle of June. To accompany the migration is a huge adventure.

As the date for the migration of autumn 2007 loomed large, the first serious weather front for months appeared to be approaching from the west. On the morning of the first day, it was cold at 1700m as preparations were finalised, but little could prepare the riders for the experience of driving the horses through the first snows of the year. The day culminated at a height of 2300m at the Bas de Prals at the end of the afternoon where a dramatic line of clouds seemed to hover above the clear blue water of the Mediterranean in the distance.

Day two dawned bright, clear and cold, the path taking us over the Granges du Colonel and eventually the gentler hills around Authion. Rain dampened our bodies but not our spirits as we approached Piera Cava and the warm welcome of Karine and Jean-Paul who spoilt riders and their steeds alike. The final day saw the return of an Indian summer and a great day was spent in the Luceram area, enjoying the sun on our backs and the pleasure of galloping through forestry paths before descending to Sainte-Agnès. As the highest coastal village in Europe, Sainte-Agnès is a fine place for the horses to enjoy their well deserved rest, and riders to plan their next trip! We offer this trip in June and September and tailor made rides throughout the year. The ride is strenuous and participants should be fit and confident that they can be in the saddle for up to 6-8 hours a day. The trail ride can last for either 3 or 5 days depending on demand. See Horse riding holiday in the Mercantour".

Want to know more about Mercantour before going on holiday?

Find out more about Mercantour by reading these Mercantour articles.

"Despite the bumpy and stony shoreline, the beach in Nice looked inviting. I had just landed that morning on the (too) early flight from a wet and windy Dublin, where summer seems to have decided to take a year out! I grabbed ‘une grande bouteille d’eau’ and hit the beach to catch up on some much needed sleep. Where was I going? Well, let me take you back to a dark and dreary day in the office in January. I was just clearing my desk when a curious e-mail arrived from Amelia at responsibletravel.com to say I had won a walking holiday in the Mercantour National Park. The park nestles on the French Alps, just an hour from Nice. Not only that, I was to have three days guided walking with Mel from this operator, a travel company run by Mel Jones and Liz Lord. Disregarding the e-mail as a hoax, I ignored it. A couple of days later another e-mail arrived wondering if I was actually going to claim my free holiday – yes, it was true, yes it was free, and I humbly accepted and arranged my voyage for the last week in June." Read more of Catherine Farrell's article about her holiday in this Mercantour holiday article.

"If you're stuck for something to do over Easter, not sure what to occupy the kids with over the summer holidays, or just fancy some time away from your hectic schedule I would urge you to do what I did, escape the hustle and bustle and take some time out in the Mercantour National Park, a delightfully secluded corner of France. Just one hour from the lively centre of Nice, Mercantour National Park lies in the north-east of the Côte d'Azur in the heart of the Alpes Maritimes alongside the Italian border. Frequently described as France's best kept secret Mercantour National Park is a magnificent example of a mountainous area, with lakes and streams overlooked with peaks exceeding 3,000m. Virtually uninhabited the park extends across seven valleys, covers over 170,000 acres of mountain land and protects rich flora composed of some 2,000 plant species, hundreds of animal species and majestic scenery. The park is well-known for its unique collection of 100,000 bronze age prehistoric rock engravings found in the Vallée des Merveilles, the result of a complex, and still unknown, ritual. However, the region has a lot more to offer and is well worth a visit for a relaxing break or active adventure." Read more of Jennifer's article about her Mercantour holiday in this Mercantour holiday article.