Mont Ponset

Mont Ponset is a rocky summit in the Mercantour-Argentera range on the French-Italian border within a national park. The peak features steep slopes with exposed rock formations and alpine meadows in the lower approaches.

The name comes from the Provençal word 'pounchu' meaning pointed, which was later given the French diminutive suffix -et. The peak has long served as a landmark for people crossing this mountain border region.

The mountain territory serves as a natural habitat for Alpine ibex, with approximately 1,100 specimens residing in the surrounding protected areas.

Several hiking routes reach the summit, many starting from Madone de Fenestre and crossing rocky terrain. The western approach requires scrambling experience over stones and is best suited for experienced mountain walkers.

The peak was used as a filming location for the television series La Cloche Tibétaine in 1974, becoming part of that production's mountain heritage. This connection to filmed entertainment remains largely unknown among hikers exploring the area today.