Nature reserves and ecotourism in the Southern French Alpes

This first day of your tour takes you to Sospel, in Bévéra valley, at the southern gateway to Mercantour National Park. The village boasts a rich ancient heritage, including the Baroque Cathedral of Saint-Michel, standing over the central square. The Pont-Vieux bridge, a former passageway on the Salt Route, recalls the town’s legacy as a prominent trading hub over the centuries. Around the town, several forts forming part of the Maginot Line bear witness to a more recent military past. Today, they blend into a landscape that has rediscovered its original peaceful vocation. The narrow lanes, colourful houses and surrounding mountains set the tone, making Sospel an ideal first stop on your voyage into the alpine world, between Mediterranean scenery and the dizzy peaks of Mercantour.

The aptly-named Vallée des Merveilles, or Valley of Wonders, is one of Mercantour National Park’s most iconic sites. This high-altitude valley is home to several thousand rock carvings dating back to the Bronze Age – you can access them on foot or opt for a guided tour. The Mercantour’s mineral landscape, adorned with lakes and peaks, forms an ideal setting for walking and observing the local flora and fauna. The foray continues at the Parc Alpha wolf park in Saint-Martin-Vésubie, where educational trails help visitors gain a better insight into this predator’s role in the alpine ecosystem. The Vésubia Mountain Park offers a great choice of mountain-related activities in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere. Often nicknamed the “Switzerland of Nice”, the village offers a pleasant base for exploring the valley and its walking trails.

As you head up towards Guillaumes, the road winds through the gorges of Cians and Daluis, renowned for their flamboyant red cliffs. The river has carved out spectacular scenery in the Gorges de Dalius nature reserve, home to many protected geological and biological treasures. Various viewpoints allow visitors to appreciate the dizzy depth of the canyons and striking colour contrasts that have earned the site its nickname as the “Colorado of Nice”. Guillaumes, a character-packed mountain village, offers a refreshing stop-off along the way. Panning out around the ruins of an old castle and crossed by the Var river, the village harbours ancient houses with sober façades and a central square, a regular venue for markets and fairs. Surrounded by peaks and forests, Guillaumes still boasts a simple atmosphere and profoundly alpine way of life.

Perched at an altitude of 1,400 metres, Allos is a lively alpine village set at the foot of the mountains, lined with traditional houses and picturesque lanes, and swathed in a typical mountain atmosphere. It is located at the gateway to Lac d’Allos, Europe’s largest high-altitude natural lake, and the spectacular trails of Mercantour National Park – an invitation to explore varied environments spanning wetlands, mountain pastures and panoramic summits. Enjoy a meander to Colmars-les-Alpes, a well-preserved fortified village. From there, you can reach the nearby Cascade de la Lance on foot along a pretty trail leading to this impressive waterfall, a protected natural site nestled in refreshing woodland scenery. A deliciously immersive day alternating heritage discoveries and preserved alpine landscapes…

The fifth stage of your tour starts in Barcelonnette, with its astonishing, colourful Mexican-style villas testifying to the historic ties between Ubaye valley and Mexico. These unique heritage constructions offer striking contrasts with the surrounding alpine decor. The scenery becomes more powerful as you enter the Queyras Regional Nature Reserve. In Château-Vieille-Ville, the Fort Queyras via ferrata is a great way to get a fresh angle on the Queyras environment: the secure route winds along the river Guil and rocky cliff faces. After the thrills and spills, it’s time to visit Fort Queyras, an impressive castle perched atop a rocky spur, standing guard over the valleys below. The Arche des Cimes in Abriès-Ristolas is home to an interpretation centre dedicated to Queyras’ natural beauty, with various learning tools promoting a deeper understanding of the flora, fauna and fragile natural balance of this mountainous area.

Your sixth day is dedicated to exploring the astonishing Écrins National Park, swathed in vast landscapes of high summits, steep glaciers and deep valleys. The various signposted trails offer a great introduction to this varied environment, where biodiversity has pride of place: the Pays des Écrins area is committed to preserving a balance between tourism and protection of its natural areas. Every Thursday morning, the village of Vallouise-Pelvoux invites you to discover its delightful market, particularly lively in summer, where you’ll be able to chat with a host of local producers and artisans while filling your basket with the finest mountain produce – a truly heartwarming experience. In the evening, you’ll be heading to Puy-Saint-Vincent, a pretty village clinging to the slopes, lined with houses made of wood and stone.

With its distinctive limestone formations and vast open spaces, the Dévoluy massif is a real feast for the eyes. Bure plateau, a protected area, offers up a unique landscape of cliffs, mountain pastures and arid zones. This sensitive environment is home to exceptional plant and wildlife that have adapted to its unique conditions. Committed to sustainable tourism, Dévoluy is also a proud holder of the Station Verte label, France’s first ecotourism label. A family-friendly resort with a welcoming atmosphere and focus on outdoor activities, La Joue du Loup is a great place to hike, lap up the scenery or simply enjoy a walk in the fresh mountain air. A delightful day in an accessible mountain environment, where nature’s delicate balance comes first.

As you head back down to Aix-en-Provence, the alpine relief fades gradually into the distance, making way for the radiant landscapes of Provence Verte. And of course, the striking limestone silhouette of Mont Sainte-Victoire, Cezanne’s muse rising up at the heart of the Pays d’Aix, accompanies your arrival! Various signposted hiking trails allow you to explore its protected natural environment of garrigue, pine woods and rocky ridges. Around the mountain you’ll find several villages steeped in a Provençal atmosphere, complete with farmers’ markets, sun-soaked façades and shaded little squares. The deep dive into preserved scenery continues on this final leg of your tour, offering a seamless transition from the vertical alpine world to the gentle hills and dales of Provence.