Enhancing the tourist appeal of the mid and high regions of the department is a priority for the Departmental Council.
Yes, but how? Numerous actions are underway to continually highlight a significant heritage.
The proof? The recent nomination of the Mercantour National Park for UNESCO World Heritage status, alongside the Promenade des Anglais and Niçoise Cuisine nominations for cultural and intangible heritage.
Natural Heritage:
15 departmental nature parks open to the public, covering approximately 4,300 hectares of preserved nature. They welcomed 1.6 million visitors in 2014.
Historical and Architectural Heritage:
Nearly 7 million euros provided to municipalities since 2009 for the restoration of their remarkable buildings, particularly their churches.
6 “Passeurs de mémoire” brochures (basse-Vésubie, haute-Vésubie, basse-Tinée, haute Tinée, Val de Blore, between Var and Paillon), available in print or online.
Establishment of tourist discovery routes: Riviera Gardens Route, Sacred Routes, Napoléon Route, and more.
The Summer Evenings, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, with 413 performances in 155 municipalities.
The Festival of Words, featuring this year’s readings from Francis Huster, Richard Bohringer, Daniel Mesguich, Stéphane Freiss, Richard Berry, Marie-Christine Barrault, Fanny Cottençon.
The development of “nature” sports and activities:
Winter sports: 15 ski resorts, continuously modernized with over 200 million euros invested by joint unions since 2004.
Trail running: the first Trail Running Station of the Southern Alps opened in Saint-Martin-Vésubie in 2012 (13 circuits covering over 270 km), with the annual 06 Nature Trail Challenge organized since 2008 (14 events this year), and the organization this year of the 1st Ultra-Trail of the Alpes-Maritimes, from the Bay of Angels to St-Martin-Vésubie.
Cycling tourism: 27 cycling tourism itineraries (over 1,800 km of loops) designed within the 06 Cycling Tourism Plan launched in 2011.
Hiking: 6,500 km of hiking routes registered in the Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes, with 180 marked and highlighted pedestrian paths, notably through new digital tools.
The opening of the Mountain Sports Center in Saint-Martin-Vésubie in July 2016, will give a decisive boost to nature sports in the department.
The promotion of wildlife tourism around the Alpha Park in Boréon and the Monts d’Azur reserve in Thorenc.
The revival of thermal tourism, with the new thermal station in Berthemont in Roquebillière, scheduled for delivery in March 2016 and capable of accommodating up to 2,500 spa-goers per year.
Supported Tourism Professionals:
Since 2009, 150 establishments in the mountain area (hotels, lodges, guest houses, campsites, etc.) have benefited from CD06 subsidies, amounting to 3.6 million euros.
