Mercantour National Park, National park in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes, France.
The Mercantour National Park spans 68,500 hectares of alpine territory with peaks reaching over 3,000 meters in elevation between Mediterranean and Alpine influences.
Established on August 18, 1979, the area evolved from a Royal Hunting Reserve in 1859 to become one of France's eleven national parks.
The Valley of Wonders contains 40,000 Bronze Age rock engravings, representing one of the largest collections of prehistoric art in Europe.
The park offers marked hiking trails leading to high-altitude lakes, including Lake Allos at 2,200 meters, with options for both day trips and multi-day treks.
The territory hosts 2,400 plant species and various wildlife, including recently returned wolves from Italy, protected ibexes, and bearded vultures.
Location: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Location: Alpes-Maritimes
Inception: August 18, 1979
Address: 23 Rue d'Italie, 06000 Nice, France 06000 Nice
Phone: +33493167888
Website: http://mercantour-parcnational.fr
GPS coordinates: 44.16667,7.08333
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:36
The French Riviera offers numerous sites beyond the main tourist routes. Medieval hilltop villages such as Èze and Saint-Paul de Vence perch above the coast, while historic fortifications like Fort Carré in Antibes preserve the region's maritime past. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Château Grimaldi in Cagnes-sur-Mer display architectural styles from different eras. The region extends from the coastline to the backcountry. The Îles de Lérins off Cannes are accessible by ferry, Col de la Bonette reaches 9,193 feet (2,802 meters) elevation, and Vallée des Merveilles in the Mercantour preserves prehistoric rock carvings. Hiking trails cross Parc national du Mercantour and follow the coast at Cap d'Ail. The Gorges du Verdon to the north form one of Europe's deepest canyons. Museums in Nice focus on Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse and Asian art. The Musée de la Mer on Île Sainte-Marguerite documents the island fortress's history. Smaller towns like Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Le Cannet lie a few miles from the coastal cities. Lac de Saint-Cassien near Montauroux provides water sports in a rural setting.
France contains protected areas with diverse landscapes and ecosystems. The national parks include alpine regions with peaks exceeding 3000 meters, glaciers and mountain lakes, Mediterranean coastlines with limestone cliffs and marine reserves, and island zones with underwater trails. Regional nature parks feature volcanic areas with 80 extinct volcanoes, extensive wetlands with thousands of ponds hosting over 200 bird species, moorland landscapes in the Ardennes, and coastal zones with lagoons and salt marshes. These protected areas shelter ibex, chamois, marmots, lynx and birds of prey. Visitors find marked hiking trails, historic villages and traditional farming operations.
France maintains eleven national parks and dozens of regional nature parks that protect diverse landscapes from the Mediterranean coast to the Alps. The protected areas preserve mountains, coastlines, wetlands, volcanic formations and forests. They provide habitat for various wildlife and plant species while offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching and other outdoor activities. The Parc National des Écrins and Vanoise National Park lie in the French Alps, featuring alpine terrain with glaciers and mountain lakes. Mercantour National Park stretches from the Maritime Alps to the Mediterranean coast. Calanques National Park near Marseille protects limestone cliffs and inlets. Cévennes National Park in Occitanie encompasses forested mountains and plateaus. Coastal areas such as Port-Cros and Camargue preserve Mediterranean ecosystems and wetlands. The Volcans d'Auvergne in the Massif Central protects extinct volcanoes and lava fields, while parks like Morvan and Ballons des Vosges preserve forested mid-elevation ranges.
Vallée des Merveilles
30.1 km
Sant'Anna
7.5 km
Monte Argentera
17.8 km
Cime de la Bonette
28 km
Entracque Power Plant
19.9 km
Cime du Gélas
24.5 km
Shrine of St. Magnus
27 km
Pelat
32 km
Forte Albertino
17.2 km
Mont Bégo
31.1 km
Bridge of the Bride
21.7 km
Sanctuaire de la Madone d'Utelle
30.8 km
Rocca la Meja
25.8 km
Parco naturale delle Alpi Marittime
20.6 km
Mont Mounier
9 km
Château des Magnans
39 km
Ouvrage Restefond
28.5 km
Museo del Setificio Piemontese
39.7 km
Citadelle d'Entrevaux
32.2 km
Action Enchained
28.1 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Ménour
37.9 km
Ouvrage Rimplas
12.4 km
Santo Stefano Church
20.1 km
Corno Stella
17.6 km
Parc Alpha
18.1 km
Monte Matto
15.2 km
Rocca dell'Abisso
33.7 km
Blue Villa
41.9 kmReviews
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