Maison d'hôtes Les Murès du Mercantour — Hotel in Nice

We stayed in the Auberge des Mures a couple of nights. It was a very pleasant stay!||||The location is on the road through the mountains between the different villages that comprise Valdeblore and the biggest town close by Saint-Martin-Vésubie. The closest village is St. Dalmas. We were very lucky as the annual town festival was going on while we were there and so we could walk there for great champaign and wines on the market square, live music, petanque tournaments and children’s games. We were travelling with our 1,5 years old daughter, so not too much hiking involved, but if you want to explore the country side, the location is perfect. We recommend excursions to Saint-Martin-Vésubie, the mountain village Roubion or the wolf animal park close to the lake in Le Boreon (have lunch at the L’Alpage restaurant). Just keep in mind that even short ways can take quite long as the roads are small and winding.||||What makes this the best place is the great food in the evenings! They will cook up a very hearty meal with regional products and we absolutely loved having the meal with a nice wine at the open windows while watching the sun go down over the mountains. In the mornings you can have the breakfast on the terrace, a great start into the day.||||If you want to have a meal outside, we can recommend the restaurants in La Colmiane (for example the Blanc Gourmand) for some change, however, the setting there at the ski lift is of course not too atmospheric. For lunch, there are many great options in Saint-Martin-Vésubie or have an ice cream in the beautiful garden of La Balma in St. Dalmas.||||By the way: Some people complained about the massive dogs (Bernese Mountain Dogs, I think), but we did not mind at all and our daughter is still talking...

We were traveling from New York with our three daughters (8, 11 and 15) and couldn't believe our luck to find this warm and welcoming inn, where we spent two nights.The suite familiale gave the girls their own room and bathroom, with a connected but private bedroom and bathroom for parents, with Alpine views all around. We requested a vegetarian dinner and were rewarded with a feast of curried lentils, handmade spinach-ricotta ravioli, fresh apple tart, and excellent local wines and cheeses. Our girls adored the two large but gentle Bernese Mountain dogs (Cesar and Quinoa) who help welcome guests. The innkeeper advised us on local hikes, restaurants, and more. The atmosphere was so warm, with a fireplace in the sitting room and other diners politely stopping by our dinner table to say good evening and to chat with the girls. We visited during the off-season (mid-April), and many restaurants and shops were closed. But the valley was in bloom and the mountains had some snow, and it was very beautiful. For our second night we found an excellent restaurant and much charm in the nearby town St. Martin Vesubie. We also tried to visit the nearby wolf preserve, but got there too late in the day! (It closes at 4 pm.) At only 2 hours from the beaches of Nice, this is an ideal spot for a mountain getaway. Only warning: probably not ideal if you are afraid of dogs. And if you plan on hiking in April, bring warm socks and shoes that can handle...

We arrived in St Dalmas with a two night stay in a gîte planned. Upon discovering that we wouldn't be able to access the private room we'd booked until 4:00 pm and have to be out of it between 10 and 4 the next day (a rest day on our traverse of the Alps and with a thunderstorm forecast) we decided to look elsewhere. We are so delighted to have found the charming and highly hospitable Auberges des Murés. We have had a lovely stay in a great room and enjoyed two terrific evening meals - simple but absolutely delicious fare - leaving us feeling renewed and ready to press on with the last five days of our hike. Basically, we couldn't be happier with our happenstance discovery and recommend the place...