Refuge des Merveilles - Baisse de Camp

(S) From the Refuge des Merveilles on the shores of Lac Long Supérieur, rejoin the^GR®52through the Vallée des Merveilles towards the Pas du Diable. Pass by several lakes, including the Lac Fourca reservoir.

(1) Stay on the^GR® to reach Lac Trem and the large Lac de la Muta.

(2). Continue westwards to reach the Lacs du Diable.

(3) Turn left and climb Pas du Diable.

(4) Begin the difficult descent due south then south-south-west ((5) source of the Caïros), down to the Baisse Cavaline.

(6) Continue south-west, passing directly below the Cime de Raus and reaching the pass of the same name; note the blockhouses on the Tuo slope.

(7) From the Col de Raus, continue the descent towards the Baisse de Saint-Véran along the Ortiguier ridge. Note the Vacherie de Pampriasque down below on the left.

(8) Continue along the^GR® south-east towards the Pointe des Trois Communes. On a clear day, look out for the fort at the summit of the Authion, which remains in view all along the path on the Ortiguier ridge.

(9) Climb briefly up to the left to the Pointe des Trois Communes (history of the fort and the battle). Retrace your steps.

(9) Head west-south-west, pass in front of the military barracks and begin the descent to Baisse de Camp. Join the D68 at marker 244.

(10) Follow the road opposite (still heading west-south-west) until you reach the ski lift.

(11) Leave the road and continue on the^GR® to the right. Turn left as you descend the ski run to reach Baisse de Camp and the stopover lodge l’Estive (E).

There are no water sources on this section, so please make sure you take enough water with you (especially in summer).

(9) Around L’Authion, numerous military remains—forts, barracks and blockhouses—bear witness to history.
At Authion, one of the last battles in France took place in April 1945, in which 273 French soldiers were killed, just a few weeks before the end of the war. Here, a route offers visitors the chance to explore this historic site from the end of the Second World War.
Two websites on the history of the Authion massif:
Authion
Vesubie
The Authion route is a 10km circular route, freely accessible to vehicles between May and November, depending on snow conditions. It offers the chance to explore this exceptional fortified complex.
The Authion massif is a range of peaks situated opposite the Italian border in the central part of the Mercantour National Park. A true natural fortress, it overlooks the Vésubie and Roya valleys and, for this reason, was considered a strategic location.

During the 1880s, following the deterioration of relations between France and Italy, extensive fortification works began. In 1943, the Authion was occupied by the German army.

Cabanes Vieilles Barracks
Built in 1890 to house troops on manoeuvres in L’Authion, the camp underwent numerous extensions. In 1939, nearly 1,500 men were stationed there.

Plan Caval
Of the six blocks under construction, only the three infantry blocks were cast and reinforced.
- Block 4 is equipped with a embrasure for a twin machine-gun mount, two embrasures for light machine guns and a turret for a twin machine-gun mount.
- Block 5 is equipped with a turret for a lookout and a light machine gun.
- Block 6 is equipped with two embrasures for twin machine guns.

The Redoubt of the Three Communes
Built between 1897 and 1899 on the site of a former Sardinian battery, the Redoute des Trois Communes is the first fort in the Alpes-Maritimes to be built of reinforced concrete. Only the gorge-facing façade is built of cut stone. Pentagonal in shape, it is surrounded by a moat. Perched on the highest point of the Authion massif at an altitude of 2,080 metres, it overlooks the Ortiguié ridge leading to the Col de Raus and the former border. Its role was to protect the forts of La Forca and Mille Fourches. Occupied by the Germans in 1943, the front of the fort suffered damage during the French attack on 12 April 1945.

Tête de L'Authion Barracks
Barracks built at the foot of the Redoute des Trois Communes at an altitude of 2,074 metres

Fort de la Forca
Built between 1889 and 1891 at an altitude of 2,078 m, the fort has a façade flanked by two double concrete caponiers. Occupied by the Germans, on 10 April 1945 fighter-bombers attacked the fort, which was subsequently occupied by the French on 12 April.

Fort de Mille Fourche
Situated at an altitude of 2,048 metres, the fort was built between 1889 and 1891 on the site of a former Austro-Sardinian redoubt. It operated in tandem with Fort de la Forca, of which it is a replica. Occupied by the Germans, it sustained serious damage during the French attack on 11 April 1945.