French national park in Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mercantour National Park (French: Parc national du Mercantour) is a French national park in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the departments of Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This exceptional natural setting is a good place for lovers of outdoor sports activities such as hiking and skiing.
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A museum that documents stone age and other historic artefacts from the Mercantour National Park, most notably, a large collection of real and reproduced petroglyphs from the surroundings of the nearby Bégo Mountain.
A prehistoric site where you can see rock engravings. The ideal is to do the circuit in two days, you will then have to sleep at the refuge des Merveilles, managed by the French Alpine Club. Reservations needed.
This hike has more than 600 metres of elevation gain and leads you first through the undergrowth before reaching more open areas offering superb views of the surrounding mountains and very cool streams. Finally you will arrive at a superb glacial lake, a good place to picnic and soak your legs (or your whole body for the less cautious). The route continues north beyond the Italian border. However, if you come by bus, you probably won't have time to venture on the other routes in the allotted time, unless you choose to run as the shuttle arrives at 10:00 and departs at 16:00.
An alpine hike with an elevation change 1,200 metres and takes 9-12 km one way.
Accommodation in a traditional style building with some mountain views behind.
By bus
The Lignes d'Azur network offers seasonal buses that allow you to get there for a small price.
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Nice, Alpes-Maritimes · International · NCE
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