Lantosque – on the edge of the Mercantour

Lantosque lies on the edge of Mercantour National Park in the Vésubie Valley. With two districts, the village stretches across a rocky outcrop above the valley. Mercantour and the Vésubie Valley form Lantosque’s natural setting; the rocky outcrop and two districts describe the shape of the village itself. The natural environment and the village’s layout are therefore two distinct points of reference for your stay. There are also narrow lanes, old houses and historic buildings. If you are looking for a hotel in Lantosque, you can plan your stay around two different priorities: exploring the village on foot and discovering its history, or setting aside time for the Via ferrata de Lantosque.

Village character and religious history

You can explore Lantosque on foot via narrow lanes lined with old houses and carved doors. The doors draw attention to details on the houses; with its position on the hill, the church of Saint-Pons provides a different focal point in the village landscape. The church contains religious artworks from the 17th century as well as an 18th-century rosary altar. Saint-Pons thus combines its prominent position in the village with furnishings from different centuries. The Sainte Claire chapel dates from the 15th century, providing an earlier historical reference than the 17th-century artworks and the 18th-century rosary altar at Saint-Pons. The religious buildings and furnishings therefore span the period from the 15th to the 18th century.

Other historical landmarks

The church of Saint-Arnoux is in Loda; the remains of a 13th-century castle can also be found there. The church and castle remains offer different historical points of interest: a religious building and the remains of a medieval castle. The Martinet Bridge has shaped the landscape for several centuries. Fort de Gordolon is an example of military architecture at high altitude. The historical themes therefore extend beyond churches and castle remains: the bridge represents the landscape’s long history, while the fort represents military architecture at high altitude.

Via ferrata de Lantosque

The Via ferrata de Lantosque combines hiking, climbing and adventure. It includes a 100-metre-long Himalayan suspension bridge, and the route takes about three and a half hours. The approximate duration helps you plan how to fit the activity into your stay. The 100 metres refers to the bridge, while the time refers to the route as a whole. This activity is also clearly different from a stroll through the lanes: hiking, climbing and the bridge are the focus here, while the village landscape and historic buildings take centre stage on a walk. These two travel interests may determine your choice of hotel in Lantosque: a stay that includes time for the via ferrata has a different focus for the day than a visit devoted mainly to the details of the village.

Discover more destinations: Breil-Sur-Roya, Puget-Rostang, Saint-Vallier-De-Thiey, Andon, La Brigue, Gattiéres, Lucéram, Vallauris

For the broader travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.