Valberg, gateway to the Mercantour

Valberg, an authentic mountain resort between mythical passes and protected natural areas, at the gateway to the Mercantour National Park.

cycliste Valberg
OT Valberg

Location

One of the main gateways to the Mercantour National Park, just 1hr 15mins from Nice or 2hrs from the Durance Valley, the resort of Valberg is an unmissable stopover along the Route des Grandes Alpes. You’ll fall for the traditional charm of this friendly family resort located at the confluence of the spectacular Cians and Daluis Gorges with their distinctive sides formed of red pelite sedimentary rock. Perched at 1700m in altitude, Valberg lies close to a network of impressive passes, notably the Col de la Cayolle (2326m), the Col des Champs (2087m) and the Col de la Couillole (1678m). It also boasts stunning views over the Argentera, Saint Honorat and Mont Mounier ranges. 

VTT Valberg
Rémi Bienvenu

A land made for sports and leisure

All types of cycling are possible in Valberg, be it on road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes or electric bikes. The area can satisfy any cyclist’s wishes. Across the year, the resort of Valberg offers a wide variety of options for tourists, including a full range of activities and festivities through the seasons. Winter sports, hiking, horse-riding and golf are on the cards, along with facilities such as an indoor pool, a skate park and a beach volley-ball ground, not forgetting festivals dedicated to comedy or astronomy, plus many sporting competitions. You’ll find so much to enjoy during a stay here. 

Randonnée famille Valberg
Rémi Bienvenu

A family- and environmentally-oriented resort

Geared to offering a high-quality welcome, Valberg has been awarded ‘‘Famille Plus’’ accreditation since 2006, for putting to the fore a warm welcome for families and different generations of holiday-makers. The resort has a fine array of accommodation and eateries open throughout the year. The resort has also been awarded ‘‘Flocon Vert’’ accreditation since 2018 (the only resort in France’s Southern Alps to have received this green accolade to date) as well as recognition as a ‘‘Réserve Internationale de Ciel Etoilé’’ since 2019, in view of the quality of the night skies here. For over a decade, Valberg has been fully focused on environmentally sustainable development across both the area and the activities offered within it. It can boast of being a leader in terms of environmentally friendly mountain resorts. Here, you can come and recharge your batteries in the midst of unspoilt nature. 

Cyclisme Valberg
Remi Bienvenu

A major historic magnet for cyclists

Thanks to the fact that Valberg is located in the midst of such an exceptional network of mountain passes, it has much broader attractions than simply as a ski resort. It’s known as a paradise for all manner of cyclists and fans of professional cycling. The resort regularly hosts major competitions, such as the Enduro World Series (the Enduro Mountain Biking World Championship) in 2016, or then the French cycling championships and downhill mountain-biking championships in 2021, to name just a few. The resort’s location is open and sunny and its trails exceptionally varied. Its tourist attractions across the four seasons make it an irresistible stopover for cyclists in the French county of Alpes-Maritimes. In short, Valberg is highly rated both by professional and amateur riders from France and far beyond.

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Barcelonnette / Valberg

22 Barcelonnette / Valberg

76 km
5 h 00 min
A lovely 77km-long stage that includes taking on the Col de la Cayolle pass (2326m), one of the wildest along the Route des Grandes Alpes®, on the border between the counties of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes Maritimes. If cycling south, there’s also the Col de Valberg pass (1671m) to climb, leading to Valberg itself, set in the Haut-Pays Niçois (part of Nice Métropole’s soaring hinterland), a mountain resort that has kept its village feel and been awarded Flocon Vert status for its commitment to sustainable tourism. The landscapes are vast and unspoilt as you cross a portion of the Mercantour National Park; cyclists may be surprised by their austere openness and be tempted to dismount for a little walk. Going down the Val d’Entraunes following the Var River to Guillaumes is a pure delight.
Valberg / Saint-Martin Vésubie

25 Valberg / Saint-Martin Vésubie

59 km
3 h 47 min
Difficult
A superb stage on the Route des Grandes Alpes®, with grandiose landscapes, views to the Mercantour’s summits, vast red cliffs, villages either nestling down in the valleys or perched on cliffs. Among them, Roubion, a medieval eagle’s eyrie with narrow lanes, is well worth a detour, as is Saint-Martin-Vésubie, a wonderfully colourful village located either at the start or end of this sporty outing, requiring almost 1600m in shift in altitude. There are two passes to conquer: the Col de la Couillole (1678m), between Valberg and the Tinée Valley; and the Col Saint Martin (1503m), which, with the little mountain resort of La Colmiane beside it, links Tinée and Vésubie Valleys.

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