Tête de Bresse and Cime de Fremamorte via the Vallon de Salèse

Head up the Var valley to the village of Plan du Var, then turn right and follow the Vésubie valley to the fork after Parc Alpha. Turn left at the bridge and follow the road to its terminus: the Salèse car park and marker 434.

(S/E) Follow the path towards Col de Salèse. Walk through the entire Vallon de Salèse in a forest of pine, larch and spruce trees to reach marker 435.

(1) Head towards Col de Salèse, then climb the road to the pass, marker 436.

(2) Take the Lac Nègre route and descend the road to reach marker 268.

(3) Continue towards Lac Nègre: cross the Vallon de Mollières to reach marker 269 (incorrectly positioned on the map).

(4) Turn right towards Pas de Préfouns: the trail climbs into the Boréon Forest. At the edge of the forest, you will find marker 270.

(5) Turn left, head towards Lac Nègre, and reach the lake.

(6) Enjoy an exceptional panorama of the peaks overlooking the lake from west to east: Pointe du Giegn, Caïre de Préfouns and Tête des Tablasses. Walk along the right side of the lake, then follow the trail, heading north, through a landscape that becomes rocky (part of the trail is not marked on the IGN map, but is shown on OSMRando). Reach Pas du Préfouns, marker 272.

(7) On the French side, observe the Cirque du Lac Nègre and, on the Italian side, the Vallon de Préfouns. Head off-trail to the right and pass under the Tête des Tablasses to reach the Pas des Tablasses.

(8) Continue along the path for 200 m, heading south-south-east, until you reach a fork.

(9) Look for blue markings on the left and climb up the scree to reach the Tête Sud des Bresses.

(10) Enjoy the view of the Argentera massif and the Mediano and Soprano di Fremamorte lakes to the east, the Frémamorte peak to the south and the Rocca di Valmiana to the north. Return to the fork.

(9) Head south, following the path on the left. Continue through this rocky environment to reach Small Pass des Bresse.

(11) Descend the path on the left, heading due east, towards Lake Soprano di Fremamorte. Walk along the right side of the lake to reach a crossroads.

(12) Follow the sign for Colle di Fremamorta on the right and climb the path to an intersection near the last lake of Frémamorte on the Italian side.

(13) Continue on the path on the right, towards Colle di Fremamorta, until you reach another crossroads.

(14) Follow the path on the right that runs along the ridge on the Italian side: the slope becomes steeper on this section, which reaches the second summit of the day: Cime de Frémamorte.

(15) Take in the panoramic view of the peaks of Naucettes and Mercantour to the south-east, the Boréon Forest to the west, the Italian lakes of Frémamorte, the southern peak of Bresse to the north and Cime de l'Argentera to the east. Retrace your steps.

(14) Take the path that climbs to the right towards the Col de Frémamorte.

(16) At the pass, descend towards the south-west via numerous hairpin bends. Pass several lakes, the French Lacs de Frémamorte, before reaching marker 270.

(5) Follow the same route as on the way up, in the opposite direction, to return to the Salèse car park (S/E).

There is a shelter at the foot of Lake Soprano de Frémamorte (12).

For supplies, there are water sources near the Salèse cattle farm and north of Lac Nègre.

Other hikes in the area include the hamlet of Mollières, Mont Archas and Cime des Naucettes.