The Saint-Dalmas de Tende, La Brigue, Tende triangle

Park along the railway station, an imposing disused building dating from Fascist Italy.
Preliminary note: outside built-up areas, follow the yellow markings.

(S/E) Head east, take Avenue des Martyrs de la Résistance to reach Avenue de France. At this point, turn right and go through the railway tunnel. Continue to the^first junction.

(1) Turn left towards the Sainte-Anne district, Chemin de Terris, La Brigue.^First marker 40. Follow signs for La Brigue. Continue along this tarmac road, then cross the River Roya via the new bridge. Turn right and continue along the valley path, known as Chemin de Terris. Pass marker 40, a wayside shrine, and continue straight on alongside the Roya until you reach marker 41.

(2) Turn left almost 180° onto the track towards La Brigue. Turn right at the^first house and continue to follow the signs for La Brigue. The track gives way to a path that climbs, offering views of Saint-Dalmas de Tende; follow the Italian defensive system built between 1931 and 1942 and the cliffs of Porcaresso. Reach the ruins of the Sainte-Anne Chapel.

(3) Start a short descent here, following marker 42. Reach the entrance to La Brigue at marker 43.

(4) Turn left, head downhill to reach the Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin. At marker 44, turn left towards Place Pachiaudi, the spiritual heart of La Brigue. Opposite the church, turn into Rue Filippi, where you’ll find a medieval atmosphere, with its narrow streets, old stone buildings and vaulted ceilings. Turn left onto Rue Rusca, then right towards the Saint-Michel Chapel and Place de Nice. Head towards the banks of the River Levensa. Follow Avenue du Général de Gaulle, cross the bridge, heading towards Morignole – Notre-Dame des Fontaines. Reachmarker 49.

(5) Turn left onto the road towards Col de Boselia. You will very quickly come to marker 50. Turn right at a 90° angle to climb up into the Vallon de Boselia. Walk here along a paved slanting street flanked by terraced walls. Then cross the Torrent de Boselia before reaching marker 284.

(6) Head left towards Col de Boselia, passing through a few old sheepfolds and chalets. Continue to marker 285 at Col de Boselia.

(7) Take the track on the right and leave it quickly to stay on the path on the left (yellow markings). Descend and cross the Loubaïra, Ciague and Madonette valleys in succession. Reach marker 60.

(8) Turn left onto the wooded path towards L'Aigle - Tende. At marker 61, turn right and head for marker 62. Pass under the railway bridge, walk past marker 63 and follow Rue Général Doyen. Cross the Roya river and thenhead back up towards the main road in Tende, known as Avenue Aimable Gastaud.

(9) Cross it carefully and take Rue de France opposite, which runs through the whole of Tende. Walk past the Chapelle de l'Annonciade and two beautiful fountains, including the Funtana dar Traou. At Place Section TB, turn left to reach the Collégiale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption.

(10) Leave the Collegiate Church, turn right twice to walk alongside the wall of the Catholic building and continue along the cobbled Rue Sainte-Catherine. Follow the signs for Saint-Dalmas de Tende. Walk past marker 64, then takea grassy track. You will reach marker 65 at a hairpin bend.

(11) Continue along the tarmac track known as Piste de Spieggi. Walk past the Source Sainte Catherine and its pools. Then continue uphill to the junction marked by signpost 342.

(12) Leave the road and turn left onto the path called Chemin des Bois. Before entering the woods, the path runs through an area of low vegetation. Reach the Riou de Coué stream.

(13) Cross it via the stone bridge. You will come to another stream; cross this and then complete the climb to the junction marked 347.

(14) Leave the yellow markings here and start the descent to the right. You will soon reach a cairn;turn left, a full 180°. Descend along this long, winding path through a chestnut grove. The clearly visible route is covered in leaves. Walk past some ruins and you will reach a pond.

(15) Continue straight ahead, passing between two houses. The path turns into a grassy track which you follow to the next junction. Turn right onto the road, then left onto Avenue des Martyrs de la Résistance. Follow this road with care to return to the railway station car park (S/E).

Sturdy shoes and walking sticks recommended.
Shops in the towns.

Shortly after (1): a new bridge over the Roya, rebuilt after Storm Alex.
(5) La Brigue: the Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin, a building from the early 16th century, bears witness to the importance of religion; a unique painting is on display, the altarpiece of the Adoration of Jesus or Nativity by Louis Bréa (1510).
Between (8) and (9) at marker 61: see the monument topped by an eagle; it was erected to honour the Italian Alpini soldiers who died in Libya during the war between 1911 and 1912. Also enjoy the exceptional panoramic views of the village and the surrounding mountains.
(10) Notre Dame de l'Assomption in Tende, with its colourful Baroque ornamentation, built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Its Renaissance-style portal, carved from green Roya stone, towers over visitors with its twelve apostles.
Between (14) and (15): the lower part of this forest is currently being replanted with new chestnut trees.