Lac vert de la Valmasque
4 points of interest
FloraRosebay 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.- 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. 
FaunaAlpine 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.
RefugeLa 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
Description
At the end of the carpark, which is the starting point for the hike, you will find signpost 394 pointing towards “Lac Vert et refuge de Valmasque”. The itinerary begins on a track which crosses the gorges, before leading to a widening of the Valmasque Valley.
At marker 374, leave the track and take the path for Vastière des Dragons (follow the signposts for “Refuge de Valmasque”). At the Cabane Julie waterfall, the path zigzags upwards and goes over an old glacier cliff face. Subsequently, the pleasant refuge of Valmasque (meals, drinks and accommodation available, subject to reservation). it is located on a rocky outcrop rendered smooth by glaciers, between two lakes.
Chamois and ibex are often present, except during the hottest periods of the day when they disappear... could it be due to spell by the witch?
Follow the same route for the return journey.
- Departure : Castérino (Pautamoun carpark)
- Arrival : Castérino (Pautamoun carpark)
- Towns crossed : Tende
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
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 Le Train des Merveilles to St Dalmas de Tende, then the bus to Castérino (bus 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
Parking :
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