Grand Tour of the Merveilles - In the heart of the Mercantour National Park - Stage 2
Randonnée Vallée des Merveilles. Gravures rupestres, la roche de l'Arbre de Vie à Fontanalbe
Randonnée Vallée des Merveilles. Gravures rupestres, la roche de l'Arbre de Vie à Fontanalbe - Laurent Malthieux - PNM
Tende

2. Grand Tour of the Merveilles - In the heart of the Mercantour National Park - Stage 2

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5 points of interest

  • Le refuge des Merveilles
    Le refuge des Merveilles - MALTHIEUX L.
    Refuge

    Les Merveilles refuge

    Club Alpin Français

     

    Capacity: 75 in refuge – Possibility of eating and having a shower

    Warden: 15th June to 15th September: Hugo PUTELAT

    (Refuge telephone): 04.93.04.64.64

    Winter: October to June (upon reservation): Mouloud CADDUR refugedesmerveilles@ffcam.fr

     

    The refuge is therefore OPEN for self-catering and with a warden when a reservation is made for 8 people or more, 19 places available for hikers who have covers (2 per person) and pillow.

     

    If you wish to have a warden at the refuge, contact: refugedesmerveilles@ffcam.fr

    Useful numbers: 

    Tende Tourism Office/Park House: 04 93 04 73 71
  • Le lac et le refuge de Valmasque le 16 octobre 2006, la cime de chamineye, (2921 m)
    Le lac et le refuge de Valmasque le 16 octobre 2006, la cime de chamineye, (2921 m) - Franck GUIGO
    Refuge

    La Valmasque refuge

    CAF Refuge

    Commune: Tende

    IGN Map: 3841 OT

    Departure: Castérino (entrance Park National du Mercantour)

    Elevation: 540 m

    Capacity: summer (54), winter (12)

    Possibility of eating and having a shower

    Warden: Mid-June – end September

    Information CAF: 04 93 62 59 99

    Out of season upon reservation: 04 92 31 91 20

    CAF website: http://refugedevalmasque.ffcam.fr/reservation.html

     

    Useful numbers:

    Tende Tourism Office: 04 93 04 73 71

    Park House: 04 93 04 67 00
  • Un bouquetin mâle, (Capra ibex), couché sur du rocher en début d'automne
    Un bouquetin mâle, (Capra ibex), couché sur du rocher en début d'automne - BRETON François
    Fauna

    Alpine ibex (Capra ibex)

    From 1920 to 1930, 25 ibexes from Gran Paradiso were released in the royal reserve of Valdieri. Since 1987, reintroduction operations have been jointly undertaken by the Mercantour National Park and the Parco naturale Alpi Marittime. Today, the herds live around Col de Fenestre. The males do not live with the females. The latter remain with the kids and juveniles until they are two years old.
  • Les couleurs éclatantes des baies du sorbier des oiseleurs ou sorbier des petits oiseaux, (Sorbus aucuparia).
    Les couleurs éclatantes des baies du sorbier des oiseleurs ou sorbier des petits oiseaux, (Sorbus aucuparia). - GUIGO Franck
    Flora

    Mountain ash (sorbus aucuparia)

    A species of light, the mountain ash attempts, along with the larch and laburnum, to conquer the high pastures which have been abandoned by the flocks. Birds, particularly thrushes, love eating its seeds, which means that this elegant tree has spread far and wide. Its leaves provide light shade while its clusters of fruit are amusingly capped by the first snows. While the wood can be carved, the berries are rich in vitamin C and are used to make jam and, most of all, brandy.
  • Epilobe à feuilles étroites, (Epilobium augustifolium).
    Epilobe à feuilles étroites, (Epilobium augustifolium). - CEVASCO Jean-Marie
    Flora

    Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustfolium)

    A companion of the fir and the spruce, assisting their reproduction, rosebay willowherb lights up the clearings with its purple flowers from June to August. Its flowers develop in bunches at the end of a long stalk which can reach 1.2m in length, giving rise to light seeds with silky hairs, allowing them to be easily carried off by the wind which distributes them onto the northern faces of mountains and beside mountain streams up to 2000m in altitude.

Description

Go around Lac Long and head along GR52, towards the Vallée des Merveilles and then the Baisse de Valmasque (2549m - m94) which you will reach after a fair climb. You can take a break here and enjoy the magnificent scenery. Down below, the wild La Valmasque valley opens up. Have a good look at the lake of Basto which you will shortly be heading to.

At m95, leave GR52 and continue towards the lake m96. Keep heading due north alongside lake Basto; the way is relatively flat. The path heads down alongside the spillway from lake Basto, passing close to a small EDF refuge and soon reaching the black lake. The itinerary continues now along a small path above the green lake. At m97, follow directions for Castérino. You can make a short detour via the Valmasque refuge should you wish to. A small path featuring hairpin bends leads you first to the foot of a magnificent waterfall and then you will join the track. Follow it until it comes to an end; then entrance to the National Park. The itinerary subsequently continues until Castérino along the small tarmacked r1oad. Shortcuts are available at various stages along the road.
  • Departure : Les Merveilles refuge
  • Arrival : Castérino
  • Towns crossed : Tende

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Is in the midst of the park
The national park is an unrestricted natural area but subjected to regulations which must be known by all visitors.

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