Mercantour National Park in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Located in the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes, the Mercantour National Park covers 685 km².

Since its creation in 1979, it has been made up of forests and snow-capped peaks whose peaks reach more than 3,000 m.

Visitors to the park can walk the 600 km of marked trails while enjoying the great diversity of fauna, flora and mixed landscapes, with seven valleys to explore, as well as numerous lakes, including Allos Lake, Lake Lauzanier and Lake Vens.

Enjoy canyoning, caving, waterfalls, rock climbing and hiking in the Maglia canyon in the Vésubie valley.

This territory of 68,500 hectares is divided between the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes de Haute Provence including the Upper Valleys of Ubaye and Verdon is almost uninhabited by man.

The villages of Mercantour

Regarding the Alpes de Haute Provence, two valleys are the Mercantour park: Ubaye and Haut-Verdon. The villages of the Ubaye valley are Barcelonnette, Uvernet-Fours and Val d'Oronaye going towards the Col de Larche and towards Italy. The villages of the Haut-Verdon Valley are Allos and Colmars-les-Alpes.

Val d'Oronaye

You can enjoy the patronal feast of August 15, in July the annual feast of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Maison-Méane. The quality rural lodgings are the starting point for beautiful hikes towards the Lauzanier valley, the Roburent lake nestled on the Italian side or the Viraysse fortress, the highest in the Alps (2,772m). In winter, you will find the practice of Nordic skiing and hiking leads to the heart of the sumptuous landscapes of Ubayette.

Barcelonette

In addition to the mountain film festival, the Mexican days, the jazz festival and its agricultural fair which will enliven the summer. It is the starting point for many hikes. Its historical and natural heritage, its diversity of landscapes, its rich forestry which is home to a large number of animal and plant species make it a privileged destination and a major gateway to the Mercantour National Park.

Website : www.barcelonnette.com

Do not miss:

• Lauzanier valley and lake

• Fort of Tournoux

• Bachelard Valley