Rundwanderweg Fenestre

Club Alpin Français Capacity: 62 Possibility of eating and having a shower Warden: Mid-June to late-September + school holidays and weekends in winter Tel. 04 93 02 83 19 Out of season upon reservation: Patrick Miraillet: 04 93 03 91 02   Online reservations: chaletmadonedefenestre.ffcam.fr/   Useful numbers: St-Martin-Vésubie Tourism Office: 04 93 03 21 28 Park House: 04 93 03 23 15

In the 8th century, a modest refuge already, providing accommodation for travellers. This sanctuary with its imposing forms was built by the Benedictines of Borgo San Dalmasso and destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century. The Templars restored it in the 13th century shortly after the Virgin Mary appeared at the Grand Caire window. Subsequently, the sanctuary was devastated by fire several times and then rebuilt. Today it belongs to the diocese of Nice.

This track has been used for a thousand years and was regularly maintained to allow mules transporting salt to pass with ease. The technique used to make and maintain these tracks involved self-locking stones. Identically sized slabs were arranged vertically in close lines. Fine materials were then used to hold it all in place. Gutters provided a run-off area for rainwater.

When they converge, runoff streams of water leave the ground bare, breaking a fragile equilibrium. In addition, footfall due to tourism damages the ground and raises the question of preservation of natural environments. Plant cover has to be maintained as it protects the ground from erosion and guarantees its stability. Restoration work has been carried out to guide and direct the hundreds of hikers who love these wild areas.

The black rock marks one of the borders of the Terre de Cour, formerly a domain of the Count of Provence, before it was returned to the House of Savoy in the 14th century. Two inscriptions on the black rock provide a reminder of the past: “B” for Belvédère, “SM” for Saint-Martin-Vésubie. Terre de Cour was located exclusively in these two communes but they have to share the ancient rights to pasture and wood with Lantosque and Roquebillière.

A communication route within the House of Savoy, the col became part of Italian territory in 1860 and a border col in 1947, the date at which the border was moved to the watershed. When the weather is clear, the view extends beyond the plain of Pô to 200km to the north: Cervin (4478m) and Mont Rose (4634m) are visible in these conditions.

Der Pass stellt einen direkten Verbindungsweg zwischen Valle Gesso und Vésubie dar, der seit der Antike frequentiert und - zwischen Geschichte und Legende - von Heiligen, Kaisern und Armeen überquert wurde. Bevor die Savoyen einen direkten Zugang zum Meer hatten, war Colle di Finestra auch eine wichtige Salzhandelsroute.Der bereits 1041 erwähnte Ortsname ist bis heute fast unverändert geblieben: Colle di Finestra oder, wie die Militärkarten des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts berichten, Colle delle Finestre. Die Formulierung im Singular ist jedoch als korrekt zu betrachten, da sie sich auf ein natürliches Loch ("Window") bezieht, das sich entlang des nordwestlichen Kamms des Cayre de la Madone öffnet.

In Italian, “ladre” means thief. Indeed, the smugglers coming from Col de Fenestre came through here to reach Saint-Martin-Vésubie and avoiding the carabinieri outpost at La Madone. From Pas des Ladres, you can Lac de Trecolpas below. Keep your eyes open, chamois often come this way.