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France

Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur

Provence

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Nice

La Brigue

Monte Grai Hut – Allavena Mountain Hut loop from La Brigue

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

France

Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur

Provence

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Nice

La Brigue

Monte Grai Hut – Allavena Mountain Hut loop from La Brigue

Hard

riders

Monte Grai Hut – Allavena Mountain Hut loop from La Brigue

06:27

61.8km

1,900m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 27, 2026

Tips

Includes a very steep uphill segment

You may need to push your bike.

After 42.8 km for 753 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

5.26 km

Tende

Highlight • Settlement

Tende is a French municipality in the heart of the Maritime Alps. It belonged to Italy until 1947, when it passed to France following the Treaty of Paris. The road leading to the Tenda Pass starts here and connects Cuneo and Piedmont. A curiosity, in this area the Brigasco dialect is spoken, a variant of Ligurian.

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15.0 km

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Fountains

Highlight • Religious Site

The Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines chapel, or the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Fountains, is located very close to the Italian border and welcomes around 12,000 people a year. The name comes from seven local springs that flow from the rock.

The sanctuary is famous for a huge 15th-century fresco, the "Last Judgment" by Giovanni Canavesio, which gives it the nickname of the "little Sistine Chapel of the Alps". The church itself dates back to the 12th century. As is the case with other local river springs, this was a sacred place long before Christianity established itself in the region; Roman coins and other votive offerings have been found nearby. It is not always open and, if you wish to visit it, I recommend obtaining information from the tourist office in La Brigue.

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22.5 km

Ruins

23.2 km

Col Linaire

Mountain Pass

26.5 km

Water Stop

Highlight • Other

One of the few points to refill your Bottles in this area. TNR Route

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27.3 km

Baisse de Sanson

Highlight • Mountain Pass

For gravel bikes this is the best place to understand how to continue your via del sale. From here you have 3 choices:
1. continue straight with a nice climb towards Balcone di Marta (and up to here it is possible), but then the descent to the Allavena refuge is not very suitable for gravel due to the road conditions
2. go down to Realdo, initially a dirt road then becomes asphalted and is easy to do. Then from there you go down to Triora via the provincial road
3. go down into France via La Brigue (another easy dirt road) to connect to the Valle Roja state road and eventually arrive in Ventimiglia (or take the train to Ventimiglia at Saint Dalmas de Tende). In that case you pass by the very famous church of Notre Dame with a fabulous cycle of frescoes.

Translated by Google •

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28.2 km

The 18th-century Barracks

Highlight • Historical Site

The remains of this military barracks are located at the beginning of the road that leads from Bassa di Sanson to Cima Marta, where many other fortifications are found. The buildings of this defensive system were used during World War II, but some scholars claim they were built during the French Revolution, so much so that they are often called “Le Caserme Settecentesche”.

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33.1 km

Monte Grai Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The Grai refuge is located just below the summit on the southeast slope of the homonymous mountain. It occupies a part of the east wing on the ground floor and the whole east wing of the first floor of a former military barracks. On the ground floor there is the woodshed and two service rooms, on the first floor there is the entrance, the kitchen with a gas stove and dining room, the toilets and two large bedrooms with bunk beds, mattresses, pillows and blankets for a capacity of 54 seats; it is equipped with 24 volt lighting powered by photovoltaic cells. Heating is with a wood stove. From the refuge you can enjoy panoramic views over the upper Val Nervia and the upper Valle Argentina up to the Apuan Alps and Corsica.

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