Entraunes: Mountain Trails, Winter Routes and Historic Chapels

The options described offer different highlights: from trails through high-altitude pastures and larch forests to chapels with frescoes and a long history of construction.

Landscape and protected nature

The Roche Grande integral nature reserve has been within the municipality of Entraunes and the Mercantour National Park since 4 September 2021. Its 481 hectares consist mainly of meadows, cliffs and scree slopes, as well as a few stands of Swiss stone pine and larch. The access restrictions are important when planning your outing: public access to the integral reserve is strictly prohibited without prior permission from the director of the Mercantour National Park. Exceptions apply to scientific work and to educational and communication activities provided for in the management plan. Therefore, do not plan to visit the reserve as a freely accessible destination.

Hikes around Estenc

The Tour du plateau d’Estenc leads to the source of the Var, passing a small artificial lake and the Sanguinière stream, and goes through a larch forest. The Vallon de l’Estrop hike offers a different landscape: it starts and ends in the hamlet of Estenc in Entraunes and crosses a large, grassy high-altitude valley shaped by erosion. Comparing these two options, each offers a distinct landscape: the plateau circuit features a source, lake, stream and forest, while the Vallon de l’Estrop takes you through an open high-altitude pasture valley.

For a hike with published distance and elevation gain, consider the moderately difficult Petit circuit du vallon de Gorgias. The loop starts at the Sanguinière car park, is 4.98 km long and has an elevation gain of 275 m. Along the way, it passes through a forest of larch, Swiss stone pine and mountain pine. Rhododendrons and bilberries grow in the undergrowth, and their berries are enjoyed by the black grouse. The distance and moderate difficulty rating give you a concrete basis for weighing this hike against the other landscape routes described.

Gorge and winter routes

The Clue du Chaudan is a short, water-filled gorge with jumps, slides and usually deep pools. It ends at a 30 m waterfall, which can be descended using two consecutive abseils. To reach the gorge from the car park below the village, walk a few metres further down the road to the GR52a.

The Estenc Nordic Centre is located on the Estenc plateau at an altitude of 1,780 to 1,850 m. It has three regularly groomed routes for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Pra-long Nordic loop is 1.8 km long, marked green and intended for beginners. This clearly distinguishes the short, marked loop from hikes with a stated difficulty rating and elevation gain. If grooming conditions are important to your winter plans, check the latest route updates before setting off.

Churches and chapels

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité has an asymmetrical fortified bell tower and preserves an apse originally dating from the 13th century. It also houses several works by Jean André de Castellane, including four officially authenticated works. The Chapelle Saint Sébastien et Saint Roch offers a different historical perspective: it stands at the foot of the road to the Col de la Cayolle, was built around 1500–1515 and features original frescoes by Andréa de Cella. It has been protected as a historic monument since 1947.

The chapels in and around Estenc also differ in their construction and renovation histories. The Chapelle de la Sainte-Trinité in Estenc was built in 1555, demolished in 1947 and rebuilt at its present location. The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Grâces in Entraunes-Estenc dates from 1722–1723. It preserves murals, religious objects and numerous fine examples of woodwork. Their construction dates and features give you different points of interest if you would like to plan your stay around art and architectural history as well.

Getting there in winter

The Refuge de la Cantonnière near Estenc is accessible by car all year round. In winter, the D2202 is not cleared beyond this point. Keep this endpoint in mind when planning a winter drive to Estenc.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: L'escarène, Coaraze, Saint-Dalmas-Le-Selvage, Sainte-Agnès, Aiglun, Valderoure, Bendejun, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Go to the main travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.