St. Martin-Vésubie Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Alpes-Maritimes (06450) Population: 1050 Altitude: 960 m Nearby: [ Boréon | Madone de Fenestre | Mercantour | St. Sauveur-sur-Tinée ] Photos: 1 A view of the village, beneath forested hills and sky (32k) 2 A village shop and mounteneering guide shop (27k) 3 Playing ball on a shaded square, with the hills behind (39k) 4 The mountain-village houses and stone church tower (32k) Below: [ History | Dates | Sports | Camping | Swimming | Hiking ] 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. 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 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. Dates, Numbers Marché: daily Féte patronale: St. Roche, 15-16 aug Fête locale: "soupe au pistou", end aug Beer festival, Lac de Boréon, july Office de Tourisme - tel/fax: (33) 493 03 21 28 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 Transportation Le Tram bus company in Nice has a bus that runs on Sat, Sun and holidays to St Martin-Vésubie, and further on to at least St Dalmas/Valdeblore. Tel: (33) 493 89 47 14 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 Camping Le Champouns - tel: (33) 493 03 23 72; permanent La Mério - tel: (33) 493 03 30 38; 29 may - 30 sep La Ferme St-Joseph - tel: (33) 493 03 20 14; permanent Le Touron - tel: (33) 493 03 21 32; permanent Swimming Pools (Piscines) Piscine Municipale allée Verdun Tel: (33) 493 03 22 76 Hiking Maps: Michelin "green" #115 (1/100,000) - "French Riviera - Alpes-Maritimes" IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3741 ouest "St-Martin-Vésubie, Col de Turini" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #9 "Mercantour"   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]