Like many high altitude mountain huts, the refuge de Nice (stages 145-146 of the Via Alpina Red Trail) is ending this weekend its manned opening season until next June. But in an especially nice way, since on this Saturday, 3 October took place the official inauguration of the hut, which had reopened at the beginning of August after building works which started in 2006.
The hut is both the oldest in the Alpes-Maritimes department (France) and the first one conceived along the eco-responsibility norms of the Department and the Mercantour National Park.
Adaptation to the sanitary regulations, renewable energies, water savings, ecological materials: the emphasis was put on sustainable tourism so that the building is perfectly integrated in its environment.
The modernization took place without change in the overall capacity and its main objectives were the conformity to building regulations but also the quality improvement of both the accommodation services for hikers (including families) and the working conditions for the hut managers and their aides. An online booking service is available... and storytelling evenings are regularly organised at the hut!
Sources: Nice-Mercantour Alpine Club www.cafnice.org/cafbase/programme.php?activite=22&noSortie=30492&mode=programme
Mercantour National Park www.mercantour.eu/index.php/Inauguration-refuge-de-Nice.html
