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This once-fortified medieval mountain village, guarding the Col de Fenestre, sits in a magnificant location in the crook of the Parc National du Mercantour. To the north, the French-Italian border is marked by a ring of high mountains: Cime du Mercantour (2772 m), Cime Guilié (2999 m), Cime de l'Agnel (2927 m) and Cime de Gélas (3143 m). To the east the many mountains include Mont Neiller (2786 m) and the Vallon de la Madone de Fenestre.
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Also: |
Mercantour National Park |
Nearby: |
Bollène-Vésubie 16 km |
Boréon 10 km |
Lantosque 5 km |
Lantosque 15 km |
Madone de Fenestre 13 km |
Mercantour National Park(Mercantour) |
Nice 60 km (airport) |
Plan-du-Var 34 km |
Rimplas 20 km |
Roquebillière 10 km |
Saint Sauveur-sur-Tinee 29 km |
Sospel 52 km |
Venanson 4 km |
Hotels near Saint Martin-Vésubie: |
16 km Bollene-Vesubie |
52 km Sospel |
60 km (airport) Nice |
The Boréon ( lake, waterfall, forests, rushing mountain rivers) is a beautiful region to the north, just one of many sitting amidst forests, alpine lakes, and around 30 mountain peaks (cimes) from 2500 to 3000 m high.
St. Martin-Vésubie is an excellent starting point for hiking and mountaineering. There is a Gendarmarie Mountain Rescue center in the village, and you can get the latest information on local conditions. In the small village shops you can get your supplies, including fresh fruits and vegatables; a great, locally-baked country bread has a hard (delicious) crust and is perfect for back-packing. There are also shops with hiking, camping and climbing gear, so you don't have to come here prepared. When your shopping is done, there are outdoor terrace cafes where you can wake up over a "grand crème", have some breakfast, and go over your maps, while surrounded by the high mountain peaks.
A small mountain stream actually runs down the center of the main walking street of the village. Called a gargouille, you'll have to step across it constantly as you check out the shops of the village. St. Martin and Briançon are the only villages with a gargouille.
History
Name
First record, 12th century, dedicated to the patron-saint of St-Martin-de-Lantosque.
Medieval:
originally a priory founded by the Benedictine Abbey of St-Dalmas-de-Pedona at Piémont. The Templiers who managed the sanctuary of Fenestre were arrested in 1307, an "evil" act that gave rise to several legends over the years.
Office de Tourisme
Tel : 0493 03 21 28; Fax: 04 93 03 60 01
Web: www.saintmartinvesubie.fr
Email: o-t-hautevesubie@wanadoo.fr
Dates
Marché: daily
Féte patronale: St. Roche, 15-16 aug
Fête locale: "soupe au pistou", end aug
Beer festival, Lac de Boréon, july
Transportation Saint Martin-Vésubie
Bus
Nice - St Martin-Vésubie Bus
Bus #730. Nice to St-Martin buses: Two Mon-Sat (morning, evening); one bus Sunday mornings. St-Martin to Nice buses: three Mon-Sat (early morning, morning, mid-day); one bus Sunday evening. Trip time 1h40. Route: Nice Gare routière, Airport Terminal 1, Colomars Gare, Plan du Var, St Jean-la-Rivière, Lantosque, Roquebillière, Berthemont, St Martin-Vésubie.
Sports
- Fishing
- Guide, Daniel Blanc - tel: (33) 493 03 28 90; 93 03 24 09
- Le Chalet des Pêcheurs - tel: (33) 493 03 24 09; from may
- Hang Gliding; Paragliding
- Hiking (magnificant; endless number of trails)
- Bureau des Guides de la Haute Vésubie
- tel: (33) 493 03 26 60; 93 03 51 60; 93 03 44 30
- Bureau des Guides du Mercantour - tel: (33) 493 03 31 32
- Mountain Guide Michel Bousquet - tel: (33) 493 56 13 56
- Horseback Riding
- Denis Longfellow - tel: (33) 493 03 03 00
- Rock Climbing (mountaineering); climbing school
- Paragliding
- Ecole Professionnelle de Parapente - tel: (33) 493 02 83 88
- Skiing Cross-country - dec-apr (30 km of marked trails)
- Le Boréon - tel: (33) 493 0333 7;7; 93 03 21 28
- Bureau des Guides de la Haute Vésubie - tel: (33) 493 03 26 60
- Skiing Downhill
- Ski Alpin, La Colmiane - tel: (33) 493 02 88 59; 93 02 84 59
- Swimming Pools (Piscines)
- Piscine Municipale
- allée Verdun
- Tel: (33) 493 03 22 76
- The municipal pool is located at the town center, very handy, and was recently renovated (2004).
Fishing
River Fishing
Fishing in the Boréon, and many other nearby mountain lakes and streams.
Swim
Piscine Municipale
Location:
allée Verdun
Tel: 0493 032 276
Hiking
Maps:
IGN (1/25,000) #3741 OT "Vallée de la Vésubie"
Didier Richard (1/50,000) #9 "Mercantour"
- Refuge de la Madone
- (C.A.F.) - tel: (33) 493 03 20 73; 93 02 83 19
- Club Alpin de Nice
- tel: (33) 493 62 59 99
- Maison du Parc du Mercantour
- Located just a few steps down from the Office de Tourisme. A friendly information service, and a library of maps and books about nature and the Parc for on-site reading, as well as maps for sale.
Several outstanding hiking and climbing areas are accessible from St. Martin-Vésubie.
Boréon. Go north about 5 km up to the Boréon, park, and hike in to the Mercantour National Park. If you don't have the time or inclination for hiking, the Boréon has picnic tables dispersed through a large area of pine trees, a 40-m high waterfall dropping into a narrow gorge, a crystal clear lake full of fish, and a café-resturant.
GR52A St Martin--Sospel.
The GR52A goes southeast past Belvédère and La-Bollène-Vésube, then east over the Col de Turini (1607 m) (about 40 km). From Col de Turini, the GR52A goes over Cime de Calmette (1786 m) to Moulinet and then south to Sospel (another 40 km). [total 80 km]
GR52A Sospel--Col de Tende.
From Sospel, the GR52A goes north over the Col de Brouis (879 m) to Breil-sur-Roya (30 km). From Breil, the trail goes north on the west side of the Roya to Saorge (20 km). From Saorge, the GR52A loops through the mountains to the east, and north past La Brigue and on to Tende (about 35 km). Tende to the Col de Tende (1871 m) is an additional 20 km. [total 105 km]
St Martin--St Dalmas-de-Tende.
From St Martin, the GR52A goes southeast to Belvédère (20 km). A non-GR trail goes east-northeast from Belvédère to the Col de Raus (1999 m; 20 km). The GR52 goes northeast from Col de Raus to the Refuge des Merveilles (2111 m; 12 km). From the Refuge des Merveilles, a trail goes down the Vallon de la Minière to the Lac des Mesches (14 km) and on to St Dalmas-de-Tende (a final 13 km). The Lac des Mesches is on the little St Dalmas--Casterino road. [total 80 km]
Lodging - Hotels
Lodging
La Bonne Auberge
We stayed here, June 2010, and were very satisfied.
Tel: 0493 032 069; Fax: 0493 032 069
Logis de France.
Free WiFi. Excellent Restaurant. Street parking just in front (if available).
Prop: Jacques ROBERI
Part of a 3-hotel family group (La Bonne Auberge, Relais Saint Louis, Le Chalet).
Motel Le Chalet
Location:
Allée de Verdun
Tel: 0493 033 121
No internet. Off-street parking (shared for Relais Saint Louis and Le Chalet).
Prop: Mr Mme MOLITOR
Part of a 3-hotel family group (La Bonne Auberge, Relais Saint Louis, Le Chalet).
La Chataigneraie
Edward's Parc Hotel
Location:
Allées de Verdun
Open: End May to end September.
Tel: 0493 032 122
Email: hotel-lachataigneraie@raiberti.com
Web: www.raiberti.com
WiFi. Large "field" parking area. Pool. Restaurant (by reservation).
Le Gelas
Location:
27 rue du Docteur Cagnoli; Inside the old village, lower part.
Tel: 0493 032 181
Email: contact@hotel-gelas.com
Web: www.hotel-gelas.com
Free WiFi and wired ADSL; Satellite TV; online reservation.
Parking could be a problem; this appears to be fairly far from the road.
Logis de France
Hotel Relais Saint Louis
Location:
168 Allée de Verdun
Tel: 0493 032 217, or 0618 180 532
Email: relais.stlouis@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.saintlouis-mercantour.com
Off-street parking (shared for Relais Saint Louis and Le Chalet).
Part of a 3-hotel family group (La Bonne Auberge, Relais Saint Louis, Le Chalet).
Hotels in Towns Nearby to Saint Martin-Vésubie
• 16 km — Bollene-Vesubie hotels
• 52 km — Sospel hotels
• 60 km (airport) — Nice hotels
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Photo gallery of 15 photos for Saint Martin-Vésubie