The Parc of Azur Prealpes
The territory
The Prealpes of Azur park covers 47 municipalities and is located in the department of Alpes-Maritimes and the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It starts at an altitude of 300 m until its highest point at 1800 m.
Covering 90,000 hectares, it is the 48th Natural park of France and the 6thPACA Regional Natural Park. This park is considered the “water tower” of the Côte-d’Azur. And it’s one of the largest pastoral areas in the Maritime Alps.
It brings together forty municipalities and extends from the high mountains of the Alpes-Maritimes, to the valleys of Loup, Gagne, Estéron, Siagne and Var to the Mediterranean coast.
This park alone brings together 2000 plant species so a third of the national flora. We will find a wide variety of landscapes and historical sites, dolmens, the Napoleon road, castles and magnificent hilltop villages with their typical architectural heritage (fountains, washhouses, chapel …)
Activities of the Prealps Park
Being rich and diverse in landscapes, this park allows you to practice a multitude of activities in addition to strolling in the small villages. Passing from the mountains, to the forests and to the gorges, you can indulge in any type of sport, with or without a guide. Like for example, hiking, mountain biking (or Deval’Bike), on courses of different levels, from the family course to the sportsman.
There is also the possibility of practicing water sports as rafting, canoe or canyoning as in the Gorges du Loup for example. And in winter, you can go and recharge your batteries in ski station as in Gréolières les neiges.
For an even more natural activity, try a guided outing on an all-terrain electric scooter in the village of Trigance.
From June to October the PNR des Préalpes d’Azur offers a program called “the Rendez-vous du Parc”, with visits, workshops, participatory projects .
It is therefore a Park that attracts both for itsbeauty and for the multitude of activities it offers.
The development of the Park
The Préalpes d’Azur, from 1962 to 2014, experienced a growth of population which has almost tripled in 50 years. Most of the inhabitants are located near the South and the East .
This increase is due to the accessibility of the building land and the price much more affordable than on the coast. Moreover, the improvement of the road network has made it possible to repopulate the mountains.
However, the population density remains low throughout the Park! It is 31 inhabitants per km2 compared to 253 inhabitants per km2 in the Alpes-Maritimes.
The Préalpes d’Azur Natural Park was created by elected officials to energize economical activities and protect nature, while enhancing it. This project can be found in an essential document: The Park Charter .