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Alps to the MediterraneanDescend from the mountains to the Riviera
Nights: 6
Starting point: Hotel Mirval (2*), La Brigue. Owned by the Dellepiane family, this fine old building enjoys a lovely riverside location. Bedrooms are pleasantly decorated, while the restaurant offers a good choice of tasty dishes. Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains, La Brigue is a small village with a charming medieval atmosphere and vaulted streets. Day 1: we suggest two possible routes for your day here. The first (12km, 4hrs) is a rewarding walk that rises steadily to the Boselia Pass and continues to the picturesque village of Tende before returning along woodland tracks and mountain paths via the Loubaira Pass. The second (8km, 3hrs) is gentler, leading along a botanical path across peaceful wooded slopes to Notre Dame des Fontaines, a beautifully sited chapel boasting some well-preserved 15th and 16th-century frescoes. If you are travelling after June 15, however, we thoroughly recommend you join an excursion into the Vallée des Merveilles (pre-book through Inntravel but pay locally - approximately 65 euros per person depending on the exact itinerary, which may vary according to weather conditions). Your host, Monsieur Dellepiane, who often acts as a guide during the day, will take you by jeep into the wild and mysterious Mercantour National Park. The valley's dramatic rock formations are astonishing, but even more intriguing are the Bronze Age rock carvings, thought to be linked to bull worship. You will be able to see a variety of these as part of the 5-hour guided walk, after which Monsieur Dellepiane will drive you back to the hotel. Accommodation: Hotel Mirval, as above. Day 2: from La Brigue, you follow paths and tracks through a series of attractive valleys to Fontan. You then ascend steeply (or take the road, which rises more gently) to ancient Saorge, considered one of France's most beautiful villages. Stroll through the streets and admire the vista from the viewpoint above Saorge before returning to Fontan from where you catch the scenic train to Sospel - pay locally. (13.5km, 5hrs) Accommodation: Auberge Provençale (2*), Sospel. Set just outside Sospel, the hotel, complete with Baroque-style restaurant, enjoys lovely views over this pretty village and to the mountains beyond. Day 3: our suggested circular walk reveals a variety of scenery. From Sospel, you rise along a botanical path through a peaceful valley to the Italian border, from where you continue through silver olive groves to hill-top Piène Haute, a picturesque hamlet in which you will hear French and Italian spoken in equal amounts. Your route then leads over the panoramic Paula Pass into the Bassera Valley and returns to Sospel via the Perus Pass. You can shorten the route by returning by train (pay locally). (17.5km, 6hrs) Accommodation: Auberge Provençale, as above. Day 4: the day starts with a transfer to the start of the walk, the Baisse du Scuvion, just under Mount Razet. Before setting off, take time to admire the breathtaking views - to the north is Piène Haute, to the south is Monaco and in good weather you can also look along the gorges towards La Brigue. From the viewpoint, you descend to the Razet Pass, from where a mule track leads down through a magical valley filled with flowers and oak trees to the panoramic chapel of St Bernard, an excellent picnic spot. You continue the long descent, which is steep at times, passing the hanging village of Castellar as you approach Menton. (15km, 5.5hrs) Accommodation: Hotel Paris-Rôme (3*), Menton. Attractive and with comfortable bedrooms, the Paris-Rôme faces the sea from its location just 500 metres from the Italian border. The courtyard, with its wicker chairs and tables, is the perfect place to unwind with a drink in the evening. Choose to dine at the hotel's excellent Michelin-star restaurant or take your pick of places to eat in the town centre, a 15-minute stroll away (pay locally in both cases). Day 5: your last day is free to explore Menton. A charming Riviera town set against a backdrop of mountains, Menton boasts several museums and art galleries, as well as some pleasant parks and gardens. We recommend that you stroll across the border to see the exotic plants in the botanical gardens in Mortola, a 40-minute walk. Alternatively, make the most of the famously sunny climate and simply laze on the beach. Accommodation: Hotel Paris-Rôme, as above. Walking chart: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.
Recommendations for extra nights: Le Mirval (La Brigue) is a good choice for extra walking, or choose the Hotel Paris-Rôme (Menton) if you want a day of relaxation. Extensions: If you are flying via Nice, relax in large gardens and visit Provence's famous Verdon Gorge by adding 3 nights at the high-quality 3-star Le Calalou in Moissac-Bellevue. 2008 prices start from £196pp, including 1 dinner, rail to depot and hire car. Take the Train and break your journey for a night in Paris on the way, staying at one of our favourite Parisian hotels. Read what one traveller has to say in her personal travel diary. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. Similar holidays: Pyrenees to the Sea (grade 2), The Amalfi Coast & Villages (grade 2), From the Tuscan Hills to the Sea (grade 1-2), Mountains & Coast (grade 2-3), From the Picos to the Sea (grade 2-3) Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: Nice Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):
> Notes on prices > Any queries? Let us call you back  |
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The
final, southernmost Alps plunge dramatically into the sea at the Italian
border near Menton. In the bright, warm light of the Mediterranean, pretty
villages cling to wooded hillsides. Delightful footpaths link the Italianate settlements,
offering wonderful views of mountains, gorges and valleys. One of the
real joys of this walk is to experience the transition from mountain to
coastal landscapes; by its very nature, this is a very varied walk. Starting
in the mountains in enchanting La Brigue, you discover mixed woodland,
gorges, dramatic peaks and even the mysterious Vallée des Merveilles ('Valley of Marvels').
By contrast, the walk finishes on the Riviera, in cosmopolitan Menton,
a popular resort since the late 19th century and inspiration to many artists, who were drawn by the clarity of the light. This whole border region
is an intriguing blend of French and Italian cultures. Indeed, the Upper
Roya Valley – which the first part of the holiday explores – remained
part of Italy long after surrounding parts were ceded to France – the
Italian government persuaded Napoleon that it should remain Italian so
that the king could continue to hunt there, and this remained the case
until after the Second World War. In the villages through which the walk
passes, you are just as likely to hear Italian spoken as French, and the
local cuisine is a wonderful mix of Provençal and Italian influences,
with delicious fish and seafood from the Mediterranean.
Sospel
