Chalet de la Madone de Fenestre

The place

Capacity: 63 The half-hearted name (Gîte-refuge) comes from the particular situation of this building, tucked among other structures making up the Madone de Fenestre sanctuary, a pilgrimage site... You can get there by car and coach in the warm season. I was lucky enough to escape an "assault wave" during my visit. So, "refuge" yes, but in winter when the road is closed, where 20 spots remain available. Details can be found on the CAF Nice-Mercantour website. A classic starting point for routes such as the St Robert or, of course, the Gélas. For the latter, I think it's worth noting that the normal route (VN) is surely much more pleasant very early in the season. My own experience of it (early July...2003), with the final gully completely free of snow (rockfall!), makes this route a very long walk with no technical difficulty but a monotonous one, all the way above the Lac Blanc. It would be better to go via the Balcon du Gélas and follow the NE ridge (PD, apparently good rock). I only have film photos... thanks to modern photographers! The simplest way: a paved road climbs from St-Martin-Vésubie...for 9 km (road closed from November to April), which is what I did, having arrived in St Martin by coach (scheduled line, departing from the Nice bus station). Elevation gain 1000 m. It seems the nicest option would be to climb up to Le Boréon, then follow the GR52 eastward past the Pas (col) des Ladres to descend to the Madone de Fenestre... Access by public transport: TAM bus line 730 from Nice to St Martin de Vésubie CAF, Alpes-Maritimes section Refuge phone: 04 93 02 83 19 Official site: http://chaletmadonedefenestre.ffcam.fr