Engravings and lakes of the Fontanalbe Valley
3 points of interest
Pin cembro ou arolle, (Pinus cembra) sur fond de ciel très bleu. - LE BOUTEILLER Eric 
FloraSwiss pine (Pinus cembra)
Held in place by its roots which have been petrified by freezing weather, whose colour has faded due to water and which allow it to grow on bare rock, the Swiss pine bends towards the waters of the lake
Coming from the Carpathians thanks to the glacial periods of the quaternary era, the Swiss pine reaches the southern and western limits of its domain in the Mercantour. It is stock and has adapted to the excesses of the Alpine climate, surviving its temperatures of under -40°C, while the acidic and cold ground is good for the Swiss pine’s seeds to germinate in. Its biological rhythm is slow: it flowers for the first time when it is 60/70 years old and then every 6/10 years. It can reach 1000 years of age.
Le mont Bégo, (2872 m), avec un des lacs jumeaux à Fontanalbe, en automne, après le saupoudrage d'une neige automnale - CEVASCO Jean-Marie 
GeologyThe writing tables
260 million years ago, in the depths of the Permian Sea, beds of very fine silt were being compressed, preparing the material which makes up certain mountains today. The huge pressure caused by the Alpine tectonic uplift and the internal heat of the mineral world metamorphosed the silt, forming “writing tables” upon which the glaciers of the quaternary era and then humans wrote their stories.
La "Voie sacrée" permettant d'admirer les gravures rupestres présentes sur les dalles rocheuses - emmanuel.gastaud 
ArcheologyThe Sacred Path of Fontanalbe
The Sacred Path is bordered by more than 280 engravings, the most well-known of which depict a pair of oxen pulling a scratch plough, guided by a peasant.
In the area reserved for guided visits, close to the green lake, you can see the “Roche des Peaux”, covered in full geometrical figures engraved in circular fashion. On the “rocher des Guerriers”, you will see a unique scene: there are two people bearing arms, one of whom is an archer firing an arrow.
Description
The hike begins on foot – at marker 391 – on a non-driveable track. Head towards “Lac Vert”. When you reach the halfway point, you will be in the heart of the National Parc (marker 390).
Take the path towards “Refuge de Fontanalbe”. If it takes your fancy, you can make a detour to the Lac des Grenouilles (Lake of Frogs). To do so, take the other path.
At the refuge, marker 389 indicates the direction of “Lac Vert”. Take the path that starts just below the refuge, over a footbridge and up in the larch forest. When the hiking trail reaches the military track again, meeting point for the guided tours, follow the sign for “Lacs Jumeaux” on your right. The path comes to a bridge, still heading towards “Lacs Jumeaux”. Continue along the paths until you reach the lakes.
This is also where you enter the archaeological zone: a discovery course provides free access to the protohistoric carvings of the Sacred Way and of the Cathedral. Just before the “Gias des Pasteurs”, a sign indicates two possible directions; one directly to Lacs Jumeaux and the other towards the Sacred Way (via a loop which ends with an orientation table followed by Lacs Jumeaux).
For the return journey, follow the path which runs alongside Lacs Jumeaux, with a peat bog down below, until you reach a sign showing two directions; one towards Lac Vert and the other towards the end of the discovery course. In either case, take the path you used for the upwards journey and head downhill to return to Castérino.
- Departure : Castérino, marker 391
- Arrival : The Green Lake of Fontanalbe
- Towns crossed : Tende
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
A guided visit with one of the National Park’s guides will allow you to view the most interesting engraved rocks and to obtain accurate information about their meaning. You will also receive a presentation of the Park’s exceptional fauna, flora and geology.
For more information about visits: http://www.vallee-merveilles.com/
Information desks
Maison du Parc national du Mercantour - Tende
103 av du 16 septembre 1947, 06430 Tende
La Maison du Parc se trouve dans les locaux de l'Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles - Bureau de Tende
Horaires
01/06, tous les jours de 8h30 à 17h.
Du 01/10 au 31/05.
Fermé le dimanche.
Fermetures exceptionnelles les 1er janvier, Lundi de Pâques, 1er mai, 1er novembre, 11 novembre et 25 décembre.
De 9h à 12h30 et de 14h à 17h.
Transport
From Nice or Italy, take the Train des Merveilles to St Dalmas de Tende, then a bus to Castérino (No. 923)
For more information: : http://www.tendemerveilles.com/component/content/article/2-non-categorise/111-acces.html
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 4 93 04 73 71
Access and parking
At Saint-Dalmas de Tende, take the fork (RD91) to the hamlet of Castérino.
Park your vehicle as you come into Castérino.Parking :
Report a problem or an error
If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here:
Close by3
- Mountain Hut
