Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
D54
Bousiéyas » St-Etienne-de-Tinée
|
4h10 |
14.6 km
|
453 m
|
1313 m
On leaving Bousiéyas , Via Alpina leaves the core zone of the Mercantour national park and takes the GR® 5 to the Colombière pass, the highest point in this stage. It then heads down again to the old forester village of St-Dalmas-le-Selvage before climbing up to the Anelle pass to reach the stage destination of St-Etienne-de-Tinée.
Leave the hamlet to the west on the D 64. The stage follows the red and white markings of the GR® 5. Pass a hairpin bend and take a little dirt road to the right that crosses the Tinée valley and climbs on the hillside towards the south east. Cross a little ravine to continue as far as the ford of the Rio stream. Cross it and continue for about one hundred metres. Leave the road to cut across its sharp bends and rejoin it again at the “Le Lauzarouotte” site (shepherd’s hut). Leave this road shortly afterwards at the and climb to the Colombière pass (2,237m). Junction with the GR® 56 Tour de l’Ubaye. Descend to the valley line on the right bank (series of hairpin bends) and then walk along the left bank. The route passes close to the Coïmian hut (in ruins) and below the Rochepin barns. Still on a descent, cross the little monoclinal valley and head along the right bank to reach the village of St-Dalmas-le-Selvage. This listed village is very picturesque. (The church’s Roman bell-tower is worth seeing). Pass the church on the right and, left of the car park, take the track to the south that crosses the Gialorgues stream and head back uphill to the south-east and the Anelle pass (1,739m). Keep following the track (east then south-east) and just before the outskirts of the forest take the path on the right that descends and joins the track below marker 71. Follow the track to the right as far as the sixth bend, then take the path again and cross the track to reach the Demandols road (D39). Take this road to cross the Ardon (1,161m) and head in the direction of the hospital to enter Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée. (1,144m). (See the 15th century church with its Roman bell-tower and its frescos). (Paul Guglielmi, CDRP 06)
Natural and cultural heritage
This stage departs from the little abandoned hamlet of Bousiéyas and leaves the central zone of the Mercantour National Park to reach the Tinée valley and its picturesque villages. The hamlet of Bousiéyas belongs to the St Dalmas-le-Selvage community and until 1960 appeared to be the highest permanent settlement in the Nice hinterland (less than 100km from the sea). The trail starts the climb to the Colombière pass at the foot of the Vinaigre peak, a remarkable lookout point over the Tinée valley. The GR® 5 long-distance trail then arrives in the village of Saint Dalmas-le-Selvage, whose name comes from the luxuriance of its forests (silva in Latin). This hamlet surrounded by sheer grey cliffs is the site of the source of the Tinée river. The architecture there is still traditional. The houses are enormous and have 2 floors over the stable: the living area and the loft. They are set slightly apart from each other in order to avoid the overly rapid propagation of flames in the event of a fire, as the heavily sloping rooftops have larch wood shingles and the walls of the lofts are also wooden. There is also a listed Roman church with a Lombard bell tower erected in 1718 by the Count of Dalmas, and a great number of sundials on the facades of the houses. It was the monks who came from the Italian abbey of Borgo S. Dalmazzo who cleared the ground and created pasture areas, thus leading to the creation of this village. That is why its inhabitants were for a long time said to be défricheurs (“ground clearers”). Further along, as of the Anelle pass, the trail begins the descent to St Etienne-de-Tinée, a village of medieval architecture that was ravaged by fire in 1930. The perfectly structured walls in cut stone sometimes have sculpted door lintels and remarkable archways. Numerous XIIth and XIIIth century chapels or churches bear witness not only to the importance of religion but also to the prosperity of the region. (Sara Zeidler, Gilles Chappaz, Grande Traversée des Alpes)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
frankie9594 - 2017-10-13
Monaco- Trieste
Trail is easy to follow for this stage. the top of Col de la Colombière was windy and cold. Some snow on the other side of the Col towards Bousieyas.
"Gite d'étape communal de Bousieyas" is a great place to stay. Good beds and good food. Possible to sleep in the field right next to the gite. Ask permission first.
MICHEL - 2017-06-26
le gîte de Bouseyas a de nouveaux propriétaires. C'est l'une des meilleures tables de la Via Alpina
Automatic translation
[Google]
the Bouseyas cottage has new owners. This is one of the best restaurants in Via Alpina
Tof - 2015-07-15
Trieste-Monaco les 10&11 /10 /2014
Nuitée au gîte de St Dalmas ouvert en cette période: 15 euros, la nuit.
Ravitaillement aléatoire dans le village.
Croisés que des bergers et bergères.
Nuitée au "Lou Ben Manja"à St Etienne. Un bon endroit pour randonneur affamé. La demi-pension est vraiment bon marché pour ce département, aux alentours des 30 euros.
Dans le village , ravitaillement possible avant de partir pour la prochaine traversée du désert.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Trieste-Monaco the 10 & 11/10/2014 Night at the house of St Dalmas opened in this period: 15 euros night. Random refueling in the village. Crusaders as shepherds and shepherdesses. Overnight at "Lou Ben Manja" in St Etienne. A good place for hungry hikers. Half board is really cheap for this department, at around 30 euros. In the village, possible refueling before heading to the next through the desert.
Maya CG - 2014-07-23
Die Gite de Bousieyas ist nicht empfehlenswert. Sie ist zwar neu, hat aber für 18 Pers nur 1 Toilette, keine Aufenthaltsraum, aus Platzmangel wird das Essen in der privaten Gites nebenan serviert. Unfreundliches Personal.
Automatic translation
[Google]
The Gite de Bousieyas is not recommended. Although it is new, but has only one toilet for 18 people, no lounge, lack of space, the food is served in the private Gites next door. Unfriendly staff.
maya CG - 2014-07-23
In St. Etienne gibt es weitere Übernachtungsmöglichkeiten, zB Hotel des Amis. Einfach, aber sauber und familiär.
Automatic translation
[Google]
In St. Etienne, there are other accommodation options such as Hotel des Amis. Basic but clean and friendly.
Good camp ground @ Col D'anelle, water bathtub available
St Dalmas is 1hour away from Col d'Anelle.
The food served @ Gite Philippe Issautier to me was not good (frozen pork, fresh salad was appreciated tho)..the minimum is done (fill up the stomach of hungry hikers with carbohydrates)...had almost to beg to get an orange as dessert...paid 15euros for the below average dinner, 18euros for a bunk bed (expensive)...
The gite have a kitchen facility, there are bar/restaurants and grocery store (not always open) in St dalmas
Nice church in St Dalmas
Roya - St Dalmas 20km, 5h20 of walking
From St Dalmas to Col de la colombiere it took me 1h30 at the beginning a a nice sunny day in the early morning
From col de la Colombiere to the gite of Boussieyas...an hour down, water stream to cross by foot (depends on the season, 3m wide 40cm high mid June 2013)
On the way down to Boussieyas, possible to camp on flat, woods and water can be found on that side
Neko - 2011-01-23
die Gite in St-Dalmas-le-Selvage ist sehr zu empfehlen, gute Kochmöglichkeit, sehr freundlich (vorher anmelden!). (Stand Sommer 2010)
Automatic translation
[Google]
The Gite in St-Dalmas-le-Selvage is highly recommended, good cooking facilities, very friendly (sign before). (As of summer 2010)
|
4h10 |
14.6 km
|
453 m
|
1313 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.