Madone de Fenestre Refuge walks

A beautiful loop around the Fenestre valley with Lake Fenestre as its centre point.

Four-day route in the Mercantour Massif. Passing through the unmissable Vallée des Merveilles, continuing on to the Refuges de Nice and Madone de Fenestre, then ending the circular at Pont du Countet, the terminus of the Gordolasque valley road.

From the summit of La Valette, there is a breathtaking view of all the peaks of the Mercantour, La Colmiane and, on a clear day, Cap d'Antibes. You will pass by the five lakes of Le Prals.

This hike in the Vallon de la Madone de Fenestre will take you to the wild lakes of Balaour, a little-visited spot at the foot of the Cime du Gélas, the highest point in the Mercantour. These lakes are fed by the famous Vésubie river, which rises some 300 metres higher up at Lac Blanc.

This route, which is closer to simple mountaineering than standard hiking, provides access to the highest peak in the Mercantour. From the summit, there is an exceptional panorama of the surrounding mountains and a view of the sea, stretching as far as Corsica on a clear day. The proposed ascent is via the small pass Saint-Robert and the west-southwest ridge, descending via the northeast ridge and the Balcon du Gélas.

This route, which runs parallel to the border, is dominated throughout by the large peak of Gélas, the highest summit in the area.

Route linking the Vésubie and Gordolasque valleys.