Refuge de Nice

Refuge de Nice is a mountain hut (refuge de montagne) in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, situated in the Mercantour-Argentera massif at an altitude of 2,232 metres. It is operated by the Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne (FFCAM), the French federation of alpine and mountain clubs, and forms part of the federation's network of staffed and unstaffed high-mountain shelters. The hut overlooks the Lac de la Fous and is surrounded by the highest summits and permanent snows of the Mercantour National Park. The refuge is a seasonal hospitality and accommodation business rather than a conventional retail brand. During the guarded season it offers dormitory accommodation with 54 beds in rooms of 4 to 18 places, blankets, showers (with a €2 supplement), and meals prepared by the guardian using organic, local, or farm products. The guardians have obtained the "Esprit Parc" label, reflecting an ecological commitment consistent with the surrounding national park. In winter, when the hut is unguarded, a winter room provides 20 beds, a wood stove, solar lighting, dishes, and mattresses with blankets, but no gas or water. The refuge is a stop on the GR52 long-distance hiking trail and a base for excursions to Lac Long and other nearby refuges. Access is typically from the parking at Le Countet, following a trail toward marker 414, up the Mur des Italiens, across the torrent to a broad plateau, and around Lac de la Fous on the left to reach the hut. The guardian during the documented period is Christophe Fournier, and the hut's staff speak English and Italian in addition to French. Reservations are made online during the main season (early June to late September) and by email during the winter period (February to April). The refuge also holds a school accreditation with 44 school places. As a brand-like commercial entity, Refuge de Nice is best understood as a service mark and destination within the FFCAM federation's portfolio of mountain accommodations. Its identity is tied to its location, its guardian-operated hospitality, and its environmental positioning within the Mercantour National Park.

Refuge de Nice is a mountain hut in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, located in the Mercantour-Argentera massif and overlooking Lac de la Fous. It sits at an altitude of 2,232 metres within the territory of the commune of Belvédère, in the Tinée-Vésubie sector of the Mercantour National Park. The hut is operated by the Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne (FFCAM), the national federation of alpine and mountain clubs, which manages a large network of refuges across the French Alps and other mountain ranges. The refuge serves hikers on the GR52 long-distance trail and provides a base for excursions toward Lac Long and other nearby refuges. Access is typically made from the parking area at Le Countet: hikers follow the trail toward marker 414, ascend the Mur des Italiens, cross to the other bank of the torrent at a broad plateau, and then skirt Lac de la Fous on the left to reach the hut. During the guarded season, the refuge offers 54 beds in dormitories of 4 to 18 places, with blankets provided. Showers are available for a €2 supplement but are not accessible in winter. The guardian prepares meals using organic, local, or farm products, and the hut has obtained the "Esprit Parc" label in recognition of its ecological approach. The refuge also holds a school accreditation with 44 school places. In the unguarded winter period, a winter room provides 20 beds, a wood stove, solar lighting, dishes, and mattresses with blankets; there is no gas and no water. The guardian during the documented period is Christophe Fournier, and the staff speak English and Italian in addition to French. Reservations are made online during the main season from early June to late September, and by email during the winter period from February to April. The hut's history is closely tied to the development of alpinism and hiking in the Mercantour region and to the FFCAM's role in maintaining mountain accommodations. As a brand-like entity, it represents a specific destination within the federation's network, distinguished by its location, its guardian-operated hospitality, and its environmental commitment.

A high-altitude, eco-conscious FFCAM mountain refuge in the Mercantour National Park, offering guardian-run hospitality and access to alpine hiking routes.

• Guarded-season dormitory accommodation

  54 beds in dormitories of 4 to 18 places, with blankets; showers available for a €2 supplement (not in winter).

• Winter room

  20 beds, wood stove, solar lighting, dishes, mattresses with blankets; no gas, no water.

• Guardian-prepared meals

  Cuisine based on organic, local, or farm products.

• School group accommodation

  School accreditation with 44 school places.

1. 1Accueil, Refuge de Nicerefugedenice.ffcam.fr
2. 2Refuge de Nicewikidata.org
3. 3Refuge de Nicefr.wikipedia.org