Mercantour National Park, between the Southern Alps and the Mediterranean
Created in 1979, Mercantour National Park is one of the great protected natural areas of the Southern Alps. Popular with hikers, it offers more than 600 kilometres of marked trails through wildlife habitats, mountain flora, high-altitude lakes and varied landscapes, from deep forests to Alpine meadows and rocky summits.
A broad territory along the Italian border
The park covers about 68,500 hectares, mainly in the Alpes-Maritimes, with part of it in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It follows the Italian border and stretches across the high summits of the Southern Alps, reaching 3,143 metres at Mont Gélas. To the east, it extends towards the Ubaye Valley, now linked to the park’s mountain territory.
The Vallée des Merveilles, a major archaeological site
Among the park’s treasures, the Vallée des Merveilles has a special place. This prehistoric site contains tens of thousands of rock carvings, often associated with pastoral life, beliefs and ancient human presence in these high Alpine valleys. The site is discovered carefully, in a fragile mineral environment.
Contrasting Alpine valleys
Mercantour brings together several remarkable valleys. The Roya Valley offers spectacular landscapes around Tende and its mountain villages. The Vésubie, with Saint-Martin-Vésubie, is one of the classic gateways to park hikes. The Tinée combines forests, mountain pastures, high relief and altitude roads, while the Ubaye opens the park towards the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
Mountain villages and park gateways
Villages are central to the character of the area: Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Tende, Moulinet and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée give access to inhabited valleys, mountain traditions, chapels, old houses and high roads. They are practical starting points for a stay combining hiking, heritage and Alpine scenery.
Climate, wildlife and flora in Mercantour
The climate is Alpine at high altitude, while valleys close to the French Riviera also receive Mediterranean influences. This meeting of climates explains the rich biodiversity, with contrasting environments: forests, high meadows, lakes, torrents, scree slopes and sometimes snow-capped summits. Mercantour is a privileged place to experience the variety of the Southern Alps.
