MERCANTOUR NATIONAL PARK

Founded in 1979 in the Massif from which it draws its name, a public institution under the direction of the Ministry of Territory Planning and Environment, the Natural Park of Mercantour is naturally enclosed in a set of mountains that seem to have been placed there to protect it. With a total area of ​​68,500 ha, it extends over two departments: Alpes-Maritimes (53,100 ha) which occupies the entire northern part, and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (15,400 ha). It is accessed to the south through the valleys of the Var, Vésubie, Tinée, Roya and to the north by the valleys of Verdon and the Ubaye. The park is sparsely populated: it has only a few hamlets that are inhabited only during summer. It consists of two areas: a central area where the protection of nature is a priority and a peripheral area where the villages are located. In the surrounding area, all economic activities compatible with the respect of environment are encouraged. Being a vast nature reserve, the park is intended to protect the fauna, flora and landscapes, to create a space free from urbanization, highways, railways, pollution and nuisances, to respect the water system that supplies all the areas downstream with water. Since 1987, the National Park of Mercantour is paired with the Italian park Parco Naturale Alpi Maritime, allowing natural transhumance of certain protected species: ibex, bighorn sheep, chamois... which, depending on the season, go from one park to another. This unit gave birth to a first Parc Naturel Européen in competition to be listed in the World Heritage Site of the UNESCO. Many trails and GR have been built and prepared to allow the discovery of the Natural Park. The GR 5 and GR 52 pass through it from one end to the other. The GR 52 crosses the southern part of the park. The TOP25 maps to the 1/25 000 of the IGN, published in collaboration with the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes, allow a perfect knowledge of the field. The protection of this environment is accompanied by some simple but formal rules: do not hunt, do not pick, cut, tear or deteriorate anything. Dogs are not allowed in the central area of the park, not to disturb or disrupt the wild animals, the camping is prohibited. The camp is only allowed outside the park and at least one hour of walking limitations. Guided tours are organized and offered by all tourist offices of the localities located on the edge of the park. More than 600,000 visitors enter it each year.