To the north is the mighty national park, le Parc National du Mercantour, stretching all the way to the Italian border – the very limit of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Well-known for its wild nature, le Mercantour is considered the most untouched corner in Europe. Even in the summer the climate can be tough. The weather is very changeable and can be different from valley to valley.
The tour possibilities are innumerable and so are the outdoor activities in this area: water sport, cycling, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, tennis and kiteing.
With its many golf courses the Riviera is also an ideal holiday spot for golfers. Within half an hour’s drive from wherever on the coast you can find good golf courses, open most of the year. Skiing has become the big hit in the south of France and in less than two hours it is possible to reach the highest summits of the Alps from the palm-shaded coast.
The Alpes Maritimes has a sub-tropical climate with mild, sunny winters and hot, dry summers.
On the Côte d’Azur you can expect 2,700 sun hours a year; the heat is usually quite bearable due to the fresh breeze from the Mediterranean. In the high season the temperatures rise to between 25°C and 30°C. It is hotter inland but then the humidity is lower. The temperature is normally around 13°C-15 °C in the winter, somewhat colder, though, inland. The rainy season falls in the autumn and spring. During these periods there can be a strong wind, the Tramontane, but it is far less frequent here than the Mistral further west.