★ 4 · last edited May 1, 2020
Mercantour National Park
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Mercantour National Park
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Spanning the 04 and 06 departments, this stunning mountain and valley park (Ubaye, Vésubie, Verdon) is one of France’s most visited. It draws visitors with its breathtaking landscapes and activities like hiking, mountaineering, and skiing. The park is home to wolves, birds of prey, chamois, and ibex.
Overview of the park
Spanning the 04 and 06 departments, this stunning mountain and valley park (Ubaye, Vésubie, Verdon) is one of France’s most visited. It attracts visitors with its breathtaking landscapes and activities like hiking, mountaineering, and skiing. The park is home to wolves, birds of prey, chamois, and ibex.
Key facts
- Tourist interest: (must-see or highly recommended).
- Features:
- Location: near the Côte d'Azur and backed by the Italy.
- Opening period: open year-round.
- Area: 1,801 km² spread across around twenty municipalities.
- Altitude: maximum 3,143 m.
- Website: http://www.mercantour.eu
Environment
Landscape of the park
Wildlife and flora
Precautions
What to see in Mercantour
What to do in Mercantour
Hiking
The park has over 600 kilometres of maintained and marked trails, including the GR5, GR56, and GR52A, which form the Mercantour’s panoramic trail and cross the Vallée des Merveilles. As always, you can hike for a day or several days, including routes that combine the French and Italian sides of the region. Two major routes to note are the "Grande Traversée du Mercantour" and the "Grande Traversée Alpi Marittime" (see details).
Beyond classic hiking, the park offers (or organises) other types of walks, such as "hiking with your dog", "on horseback", "with a donkey", "with a guide", and in winter, "snowshoeing" or "ski touring".
Cycling
White-water sports
Rafting and canyoning are possible in Mercantour.
Climbing and mountaineering
Aerial sports
Winter sports
Climate and weather in Mercantour
Transport
Getting there
Getting around
Accommodation
Food
Useful addresses
Nearby
Some interesting places to visit around the park:
Annot
A charming village with narrow medieval streets and houses, nestled between the Verdon and the Mercantour.
A charming village with narrow medieval streets and houses, nestled between the Verdon and the Mercantour.
Coaraze
This small hilltop village, part of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France," is located in the hinterland of Nice. Within a medieval setting, you can discover old stone houses lining steep narrow streets.
This small hilltop village, part of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France," is located in the hinterland of Nice. Within a medieval setting, you can discover old stone houses lining steep narrow streets.
Entrevaux
This stunning fortified medieval village, built on high ground, is one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France".
This stunning fortified medieval village, built on high ground, is one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France".
Menton
On the Italian border, Menton offers a port and a charming, colourful old town, as well as being a seaside resort.
On the Italian border, Menton offers a port and a charming, colourful old town, as well as being a seaside resort.
Monaco
Between Nice and Italy, the tiny principality draws hundreds of thousands of “visitors” every year, whether for luxury stays, day trips, or—more and more—cruises.
Between Nice and Italy, the tiny principality draws hundreds of thousands of “visitors” every year, whether for luxury stays, day trips, or—more and more—cruises.
Écrins National Park
Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Isère departments, this stunning park boasts numerous high peaks and glaciers. It is home to populations of chamois, ibex, and occasionally wolves. Naturally, skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Isère departments, this stunning park boasts numerous high peaks and glaciers. It is home to populations of chamois, ibex, and occasionally wolves. Naturally, skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Queyras Regional Nature Park
Backed by the Italian border, this is a mountainous area with many peaks over 3,000 metres, passes, lakes, and stunning landscapes. Skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Backed by the Italian border, this is a mountainous area with many peaks over 3,000 metres, passes, lakes, and stunning landscapes. Skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Valley of Wonders
This pretty Mercantour valley is famous for housing several thousand prehistoric rock carvings.
This pretty Mercantour valley is famous for housing several thousand prehistoric rock carvings.