Parc national du Mercantour (cœur)

Best of Parc national du Mercantour

Parc national du Mercantour (cœur) Absolute Essentials

Mercantour National Park encompasses a rugged alpine landscape spanning the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes. This protected core area is home to Lac d’Allos, Europe’s largest high-altitude natural lake, and the Vallée des Merveilles, which contains over 36,000 Bronze Age petroglyphs. The terrain features dramatic peaks like Cime du Gélas, reaching 3,143 meters, and historic mountain passes including the Col de la Bonette. The park's diverse ecosystem supports a network of glacial lakes and traditional stone alpine refuges across the Maritime Alps.

Parc national du Mercantour (cœur) Absolute Essentials — Map

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Mercantour National Park

Mercantour National Park a French national park located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes departments.

PAYAN / Public domain

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Col de la Cayolle

Col de la Cayolle is a high mountain pass in the French Alps at the border between the departments of Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute…

Sébastien HOSY / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Valley of Marvels

This part of Mercantour National Park boasts an unforgettable sight - about 36,000 prehistoric rock carvings from the Bronze Age.

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Lac d'Allos

The largest natural high-altitude lake in Europe, situated at 2,230 meters in the Pelat massif and formed by glacial erosion.

Cristian.dutto / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Cime du Gélas

Cime du Gélas is a 3,143 m high mountain on the boundary between France and Italy. It is part of the Maritime Alps.

Patrick Rouzet / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Col de la Bonette

Col de la Bonette is a high mountain pass in the French Alps, near the border with Italy.

Jpchevreau / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Église Saint-Dalmas

A historic parish church in Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage featuring traditional alpine religious architecture typical of the high Tinée valley.

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Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite

A small historic chapel located in the village of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, representing the local heritage of the high-altitude commune.

Iros / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Lac de Fenestre

Alpine lake at 2,266 meters elevation, located beneath the Col de Fenestre on a historic transit route between France and Italy.

Iros / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Lacs de Prals

A group of five glacial lakes situated at 2,269 meters in the Gordolasque valley, surrounded by high alpine meadows.

Goéland / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Lac Long

High-altitude glacial lake at 2,566 meters in the Gordolasque valley, situated at the foot of the Cime du Gélas.

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Rifugio Pagarì

High-altitude alpine hut at 2,650 meters managed by the Italian Alpine Club, providing access to the Argentera-Mercantour peaks.

//www.rifugioquesta.it/autorizzazione-pe… / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Rifugio Emilio Questa

Mountain shelter overlooking the Portette Lake at 2,388 meters, serving hikers and climbers in the Maritime Alps.

Iros / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Mont Neiglier

A 2,786-meter peak in the Mercantour-Argentera massif, located on the ridge between the Vésubie and Gordolasque valleys.

Iros / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Cime de la Malédie

Cime de la Malédie is a mountain in the Maritime Alps, on the France–Italy border.

Orobicon / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Rocca dei Tre Vescovi

Rocca dei Tre Vescovi is a mountain in the Maritime Alps, on the boundary between the province of Cuneo and the French region of Provence…

Iros / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Cime de Baissette

Alpine summit reaching 2,822 meters, situated within the central zone of the national park near the Valmasque valley.

André Payan-Passeron / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Fort Carra

Distinctive 2,880-meter peak in the high Tinée valley, known for its blocky limestone silhouette that resembles a military fortress.

André Payan-Passeron / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Pointe Côte de l'Âne

The highest point of the Monier massif at 2,916 meters, offering views over the high-altitude terrain of the Maritime Alps.

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Refuge de Cougourde

Stone mountain hut at 2,100 meters in the upper Boréon valley, serving as a primary base for climbing the Cime de la Cougourde.