France · national park
Mercantour National Park
Mercantour National Park is a national park in France, established in 1979, covering 685 km² (264 sq mi). It is the #5 largest of France's 13 national parks.
- Area
- 685 km²
- Established
- 1979
- IUCN
- II: National Park
- Nearest airport
- NCE · 58 km
Nearest airports to Mercantour National Park
- 1 NCE58 kmstraight line
- 2 CUF60 kmstraight line
- 3 TRN123 kmstraight line
Levaldigi (CN), ItalyMore about Mercantour National Park
Mercantour National Park is one of 13 national parks in France. It covers 685 km² (68,500 ha) — about the size of New York City, making it the #5 largest national park in France (2.6% of the country's national park area).
History and protection
The park was established in 1979, 47 years ago — the first national parks in France date back to 1963. It is listed in IUCN category II: National Park — protecting whole ecosystems while welcoming visitors for recreation and education.
Visiting Mercantour National Park
The closest airport is Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), about 58 km away — around 1 h 15 min by car; alternatively Cuneo International Airport (CUF, 60 km). Other national parks within reach include Écrins National Park (918 km²), Vanoise National Park (528 km²), Port-Cros National Park (46 km²) and Gran Paradiso National Park (710 km²) — easy to combine on one trip.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Mercantour National Park?
When was Mercantour National Park established?
What is the nearest airport to Mercantour National Park?
What protection category is Mercantour National Park?
Data: Wikidata (CC0), English Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.