Just an hour from Nice await 685km² of Alpine terrain, sandstone gorges, turquoise lakes, ancient shepherds’ trails and a handful of hamlets. Bordering Italy, Mercantour National Park protects vast swathes of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes de Haute-Provence regions. The highest peak is Cime du Gélas at 3,143m, with plenty of cols to conquer, vertiginous valleys to explore, gushing glacial rivers to paddle in and lakes to lull by. All accessible on 600km of waymarked footpaths including some of the famous long distance ‘Grande Randonees’ routes that traverse Europe.
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Yes, Nice is chic. But just an hour by train takes you into the Mercantour National Park, an unknown gem within the Southern Alps. Lose your money in Nice. But lose yourself in the Mercantour.
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Indeed this is a region to traverse in tranquility, in all four seasons, as it is still virtually unknown by travellers, even though it has been, rightly, earmarked for UNESCO World Heritage status. So, take this tiny trek away from the coast because Nice is nice. But the Mercantour is spectacular.
Our Mercantour travel guide reveals why...
