Cime de la Bonette

The walk only lasts ten minutes, but the drive and the views more than make up for this.

START: Col de la Bonette
FINISH: Col de la Bonette

The Col de la Bonette: the highest road in Europe. Whether you've come via the U'baye vally to the north or from Nice to the south, the views are definitely worth the drive. With views of the ecrin and mercantour national parks, Italy and, on a clear day, the Mediterranean, the views from the Col and the little hill which perchs on top - the Cime de la Bonette - are unrivalled from almost any other road in the alps.

The Cime de la Bonette from the Col de la Bonette

In order to access the Cime de la Bonnette and bask in the full 360 degree view which this mound offers, park on the highest point of the road, near the commemorative monument. From here, head up the path opposite onto the little round-topped hill; the walk should take ten minutes at the very most.

The monument at the Col

It is not the walk which you ascend the Cime for, however, but the views. Ascend to the top platform where the viewing table is stationed, and you are treated to a tremendous panorama.

The viewing table at the top of the Cime

To the west lie the Mercantour mountains: rocky, often treacherous peaks which form the national park, the most famous being Mont Pella. Beyond these, on a clear day, it is possible to see the Mediterranean Sea.



The view from the Cime towards the Mercantour National Park

To the north lies the U'baye valley and, beyond, the snowy peaks of the Ecrins national park. Look out particularly for the massifs of Pelvoux, Barre des Ecrins and Ailefroid, which tower above the others and are the largest mountains visible from this point.



View from the Cime towards the Ecrins National Park

Moving round to the east, you will be able to see the pointed spikes of the Queyras regional park, which borders Italy. Chief among the Italian mountains (which begin in the east ad stretch down into the south) is Monte Viso, the huge pyramidal peak which sits on the Fance-Italy border and dominates the eastern skyline from la Bonette. The jagged peaks which lie to the south of the Nice road also lie on the Italian side of the border.

View from the Cime towards the Queyras Regional Park and the Italian border. Monte Viso can be seen in the very distance.

This is one of the best views in the Alps, and although the walk only takes ten minutes, on a clear day you can easily spend half an hour just picking out the many intricacies in the landscape laid out before you. Well worth the drive.



A marmot scurries up the hill at the Col de la Bonette

Here's a video of the whole view from the top, in one big panorama: