©Lac Vert Alpesphotographies.com 6

The southern French Alps

Top 3 family hikes

The mountains are beautiful in winter; but in the summer months it paints a quite different lively scene flled with flowers, and you just want to set off on those trails! So swap your skis for good walking boots for a family hike where chamois, ibex and roe deer might make an appearance.

The Rochegrand hike from the Col d’Allos

Green and majestic, the Val d’Allos could create a certain alchemy between hikers and the Alpine landscapes. Starting from the col d’Allos, set out on the Rochegrande hiking trails which takes you to the top, at 2,409 metres and offers an incredible view of the village of Allos and the peaks of the Haut Verdon. This magnificent panorama leads to the most beautiful photos, so get our you cameras and capture this precious moment! On this rolling itinerary, the decor is made up of a lot of grasslands. Keep your eyes skinned, you may see a lynx in the distance, but you’re almost sure to meet a marmot. If you look up, you can see Mont Pelat, the Autapie or the huge rocky wall of the Grande Séolane. Surounded by these high peaks, you’ll feel very small but absolutely transformed by this revitalizing hike!

Practical information :

The trace: information at the Office de Tourisme de Val d’Allos / Sommet de Rochegrand
Medium level
10-km marked itinerary / time 3 hours out and back
340 m height difference
Altitude at start: Col d’Allos, 2249 m

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Menton Riviera & Merveilles (@mentonrivieramerveilles)

Natural history of the Forteresse de l’Authion

Set off on a historical trail to discover L’Authion, a natural impregnable fortress overlooking the Caïros, Roya and Bévéra valleys. On these lands where you can find remains of WW2, take the GR52 and imagine the fierceness of the combats in 1945, when the massif held by German troop was taken back by the allies. Between the larch forest, the torrent and stunning views over the surrounding slopes, the remains of forts and barracks remind us of the strategic aspect of the place. The Forca fort announces the end of the hike, so just a bit more effort but also an indispensable work of memory.

Practical information:

11.8 kilometres
Start: La Bollene-Vésubie
Height difference: 750 m
Easy level

The Le grand tour of the pretty Lac Vert in the Vallée Étroite

In the most Italian of the French valleys, there’s an enchanting place: The Lac Vert des Hautes Vallées. At 1,834 metres, from the left bank of the torrent of the Vallée Étroite, the transparent emerald green water is a real invitation to dive in! Walkers can enjoy this delightful hike in the middle of a larch forest, at the foot of the imposing Rois Mages peaks. The hike around the lake goes through the hamlet of Les Granges, with its typical houses, chalets and fountains which make it so charming! Further along the path, you can admire Mont Thabor at over 3000 metres, which rises up between the Massif de la Vanoise and the Massif des Ecrins! After the hike, open the door of one of the huts, Terzo Alpini or II Re Magi, to have a filling snack with your kids before leaving for new horizons.

Practical information :

Contact : 04 92 20 02 20
Start: Car park Les granges de la Vallée Étroite (loop)

Height difference 110 m
Time: 1½ hours
Distance: 4 km
Very easy level