Refuge de Nice, Mountain hut in Belvédère, France
Refuge de Nice is a mountain hut in the Mercantour National Park, near the village of Belvédère, set at an elevation where many surrounding peaks hold snow for most of the year. The hut has several dormitories with blankets provided, and showers are available for a small extra charge outside of the winter months.
The Refuge de Nice was established as a waypoint for mountain travelers crossing what would become the Mercantour National Park, a protected area created in 1979. Over time, the hut took on a role linked to conservation, and today ecological practices are part of how it is run.
The Refuge de Nice sits along the GR52 trail, and hikers from many countries stop here to rest and share the dining table in the evening. The keeper Christophe cooks with organic and local ingredients, and his blueberry panna cotta has become a dish that returning visitors often mention.
The hut is open for most of the year, including winter for snowshoeing and ski touring, but advance reservations are required at all times. Summer bookings are handled online only, and credit cards are not accepted on site, so bringing cash is advisable.
The hut can host groups of schoolchildren, with space for around 44 young visitors at one time, making it an unusual mountain stop for educational trips into the park. In winter, it runs on a wood-burning stove and solar lighting, with no gas or additional heating system.
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