Barcelonette is the main town of the Ubaye river valley but it’s more famous for being the starting point of many trecks in Mercantour National Park.
Before going on the mountain paths, take a little time to visit this oh-so colorful town. On l’Avenue de la Liberté, you should be puzzled by the authentic mexican haciendas. These haciendas and their parks were built between 1880 and 1930 by emigrants who returned from Mexico. This amazing story can be read in the Sapinière villa, which is a museum dedicated to the Ubaye valley.
The rest of the town is also attractive in a more classical way. The fountain on la Place Manuel (Manuel’s square) was created by David d’Angers. You’ll find Cardinalis tower, built in the XV century and many lovely house façades. Then you should definitely visit the house in Mercantour Park. You’ll learn everything about the preserved area (68 000 hectares, 3000 meters high) that was declared national park in 1979. The landscapes are various : forests, lakes, ice valleys, plateaux…the flora of the area counts 2000 species among which 20 can only be found there. The fauna is also rich : wolves, marmots, ibex and chamois. Hiker paths GR 52 crosses it, so enjoy and protect !
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