The best mountain hikes around La Bollène-Vésubie

This hiking route runs through the Vallée des Merveilles, in the heart of the Mercantour National Park. A little further south of Lake Basto, hikers pass through Valmasque Bay (2,459 m) before descending into the valley of wonders, a chaotic mineral landscape. Here you will find archaeological treasures such as rock carvings, most of which date back to around 3,300 BC.

The Pas de l'Arpette (2511 m) is the gateway to the Merveilles Valley, from Vésubie. Effort and beautiful emotions guaranteed. From the Gordolasque car park, cross the Countet bridge (1692 m) and turn right at milestone 412, in the direction of Pas de l'Arpette (2511 m), which you reach after crossing the Empuonrame valley. Then we can move to the Merveilles Valley, which can be visited in the company of a guide approved by the Mercantour National Park to observe the more than 40,000 rock carvings, the oldest dating back to the Copper Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age. . Age. The return is made by the same route.

Located west of Mont Bego and at more than 2,000 m above sea level, the Vallée des Merveilles offers the austere beauty of a mineral and chaotic landscape, at the foot of imposing peaks reflected in multiple lakes with evocative names. There are particularly emblematic engravings, depicting themes that combine everyday life and beliefs. On the eastern slope of Mount Bego, the Fontanalba valley shows its engraved rocks in an open and welcoming place where the flora reveals all its richness. The engravings illustrate the pastoral life of the first shepherds of the Neolithic and Bronze Age, as demonstrated by the famous “sacred path”. Classified as a Historical Monument since 1989, the archaeological area of the Mont Bego rock engravings, straddling the two valleys, offers numerous discoveries, both historical and landscape, natural and cultural: welcome to one of the largest rock engraving sites in Europe . !

Located west of Mont Bego and at more than 2,000 m above sea level, the Vallée des Merveilles offers the austere beauty of a mineral and chaotic landscape, at the foot of imposing peaks reflected in multiple lakes with evocative names. There are particularly emblematic engravings, depicting themes that combine everyday life and beliefs. On the eastern slope of Mount Bego, the Fontanalba valley shows its engraved rocks in an open and welcoming place where the flora reveals all its richness. The engravings illustrate the pastoral life of the first shepherds of the Neolithic and Bronze Age, as demonstrated by the famous “sacred path”. Classified as a Historical Monument since 1989, the archaeological area of the Mont Bego rock engravings, straddling the two valleys, offers numerous discoveries, both historical and landscape, natural and cultural: welcome to one of the largest rock engraving sites in Europe . !

The refuge is located on the banks of the upper Long lake, in the heart of the rock engravings of the Vallée des Merveilles, surrounded by numerous lakes and peaks: Bégo, Grand Capelet, Cime du Diable... The refuge is located in an open-air museum. This exceptional archaeological site, classified as a historical monument, extends between two valleys around Mont Bégo. There are 40,000 rock engravings dating from -4000 to -2000 BC, which are marks of pastoral occupation. When you cross the Vallée des Merveilles on the GR, you feel an almost mystical and very unusual side.

The Nice refuge is located at 2,232 meters above sea level, in the town of Bélvédère, Alpes-Maritimes, in the Mercantour National Park.

This car park is located at the entrance to the Vallée des Merveilles in Mercantour. To get there, simply follow the signs indicating the hike. It is one of the most beautiful sites in the region!

First time visitors should be warned this is a refuge, not a hotel. As such don’t go expecting anything more than basic facilities. If you want a shower then it will be with cold water taken and filtered directly from the nearby lake. Without exception, we found the staff to be very friendly, as were all the hikers we spoke to. No matter if you arrive alone or with a group, everyone is staying at the refuge for the same reason as you, and this makes starting a conversation with someone you don’t know very easy. The advantages you get from staying in such a refuge is knowing you’ll be given somewhere dry and warm to sleep, plus something hot to eat. When it came close to having dinner everyone helped move all the rectangle tables into one long one, where we all then sat and enjoyed an amazing hot stew with bread. After dinner it was a quick cold shower. After which we relaxed outside for a while before kipping down for the night. Breakfast here was available, as was a packed lunch to take on our onward journey. All of course at extra cost. Like all refuges around the world, there is a limit to the amount of hikers each can accommodate at any one time. Because of this you’ll need to book a place well in advance of your trip. Arriving on the day looking for a place is unlikely to be successful unless a booking goes unfilled, which wouldn’t be noticeable until well after sunset. You can camp outside near the refuge but you’ll need to get permission first.