Roccaforte Mondovì walks

This third and final stage will, of course, take you back to the starting point of this tour in the Marguareis Park.The proposed route will take you to Passo della Croce. You will recognise Passo del Pas, just 900m away. This route is the heart of the park. You will discover Cima Pian Ballaur and Cima Saline. During the day, you will pass through the hamlets of Carnino and cross a Tibetan-style suspension bridge.

The two main access points to the Marguareis Nature Park are quite a distance from our French Alpes-Maritimes. The northern entrance is at Chiusa di Pesio (a 2-hour drive), the southern entrance is at Carnino (a 3-hour drive). Choosing Morignole is an alternative way to enter this magnificent park, which is rarely visited by French people despite being on the border. Pointe Marguareis lies on the French-Italian border.Five days to climb Pointe Marguareis and circumnavigate it.

Discover one of the highest points in the village of Tende by climbing up to the Saint-Sauveur Chapel. This chapel, listed as a historic monument since 26 May 2000, was built on the orders of the first Count of Tende for his wife, who was Orthodox. It features 14th-century murals. The route is short but the climb is steep (250m elevation gain over less than 1km). Caution: tricky passage at the end.

The three easternmost peaks in France. This hike presents no technical difficulties; the paths are well-marked and there are plenty of signposts. I classify it as very difficult given its length and elevation gain. A similar hike was already described in 2019, but I am not including the description of the descent today.

Cime du Sabion is a Franco-Italian peak rising to 2,610 m. From the summit, with one foot in France and one in Italy, you can admire Mont Bégo and the main peaks of the Valmasque valley to the south-west. To the north, you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the Entracque valley. To the east, you’ll be impressed by the vast, rugged cirque carved out at the foot of the peaks of Sabion, Peïrefique and the Roche de l’Abysse.See restrictions in the practical information section

A pleasant, easy forest hike, ideal for getting back into walking in the spring. The descent offers beautiful views of La Brigue, the Chaberta massif and the terraces built over the centuries, evidence of an agricultural past.

This circular route, starting from La Brigue, allows you to explore the Lévensa Valley via a varied trail combining woodland, footbridges and ancient ruins. The route leads to the Notre-Dame-des-Fontaines Chapel, notable for its frescoes, before a gentler return via the road. Combining nature and heritage, this route offers a gradual immersion in a peaceful environment typical of the hinterland.

Hike to one of the largest lakes in the Mercantour National Park, surrounded by ibex and chamois.

This hike takes place in a very green valley, punctuated by a pretty little lake that takes on the colour of its surroundings. You can admire the pictograms of the Sacred Way (like those in the Vallée des Merveilles). The whole area is dominated by Mont Bégo.

Cime Viglino enjoys a privileged location. At an altitude of 2,910 metres, it cannot compete with the nearby Mont Clapier (3,051 metres), which offers its most beautiful façade and an impressive view of its glacier. The view to the west is obscured by this superb neighbour, but there is still a breathtaking panorama to the north as far as Mont Viso and to the south as far as the sea. From this promontory, you can dream and meditate on the hikes to be made in the valleys below.

This long one-way hike (two vehicles required) will take you up the pretty Valmasque Valley and its three beautiful lakes to the pass above the Vallée des Merveilles, before climbing to the summit of Mont Bégo via a sometimes steep and slightly vertiginous path, in an area where you may encounter magnificent ibex. Finally, there is a very long descent to the lakes around the Refuge des Merveilles, then through the Vallon de la Minière to Lac des Mesches.

A magnificent ridge offering sweeping views over the southern Mercantour. To the north, the view stretches from the Vallon de Valmasque to the Col de Tende. You will recognise the major peaks: Cime Chamineye, Cime de la Lusière, Mont Clapier rising behind the Pas de la Fous, Cime de l’Agnel, Cime de Sabion, Pointe de Peyrefique and Roche de l’Abysse. To the south and west, you can admire Mont Bégo and Mont Sainte Marie.Before setting off, please read the practical information section

Le Grand Capelet enjoys a privileged position, offering panoramic views over the Roya and Vésubie valleys.The hike is quite challenging, but once you reach your destination, you will be rewarded with a superb panorama.

This magnificent circular takes you through the Valmasque and Fontanalbe valleys, with no fewer than five lakes and picture-postcard landscapes. It is a long but gradual hike with very few difficult sections.

A beautiful circular hike that takes you from Lac de l'Agnel to the Lac Noir and Lac Vert de Valmasque. Caution: tricky sections at (4) and (5).

A very beautiful hike, especially the part where you leave the 4x4 track and arrive at the waterfalls.

Three villages,names and prestigious locations steeped in history on the natural border of the Mercantour National Park and the Vallée des Merveilles. Numerous sweeping views over these two valleys and the Alpine massif. A magnificent hike that lives up to our expectations.

A beautiful walk through the Levensa Valley. Breathtaking views of these two towns. Prestigious sites steeped in history, including a magnificent House of Brigasque Heritage and Traditions to visit – everything you need for a pleasant day combining physical activity with fun and cultural visits.

In the Roya Valley, above Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, enjoy a beautiful snowshoe hike in the setting of Mont Bégo in the middle of the Vallée des Merveilles.

A very pretty hike, offering beautiful views of the Alps, including Monts Bégo, Clapier and Grand Capelet, in the upper part. The return journey is along a very pleasant, unmarked, little-used wooded path. In total, there is a small elevation gain of 490 m, which will help you get back into shape.

This hike takes you through the Vallon de la Minière and then the exceptional site of the Vallée des Merveilles.

This summit, which rises just opposite the Refuge des Merveilles, lives up to its name. 360° panoramic view of a dozen lakes and the main peaks of the Vallée des Merveilles: Mont Bégo, Grand Capelet, Cime du Diable.

Long, fairly strenuous hike. The summit offers a 360° panorama from the sea to the highest peaks of the Mercantour and Argentera. You will look out over the many lakes you will have passed along the way.

The Refuge des Merveilles can be a destination in itself or the starting point for a guided tour of the petroglyphs or other hikes. The climb to the refuge via Lac des Mesches takes 3 hours and 15 minutes (excluding breaks) and has the advantage of being accessible by car or public transport (see "Practical Information").

Thissecond stage is the most alpine of the three. At the Refuge des Merveilles, you’ll admire the beauty of the landscapes, from the Cime du Diable to the Vallon des Merveilles. You’ll pass several lakes before descending into a more Mediterranean-style valley at the Pas du Diable. With the Redoute des Trois Communes in sight for much of the way, you’ll walk along the old border ridge, dotted with defensive structures. Near the Authion, numerous ruins will remind you of the end of the last war.