History of beekeeping and biodiversity - Day

The Roya Valley is characterized, like its neighbor the Argentina Valley in Liguria, by a beekeeping activity particularly developed during the last three centuries.

The inhabitants of the Roya Valley, probably to defend themselves from predators in ancient times, but also from men, have built very characteristic stone enclosures to house the beehives. Called "naijou" in Tende or "cà d'arbiné" in La Brigue, these structures are still used today to house modern hives.

The itinerary starts in Tende and runs along the left bank of the Roya. It leads, through the Col de la Loubaira, a place name that recalls the ancient presence of the wolf, to La Brigue, an important village in the valley that has based its development, for many centuries, on an agro-sylvo-pastoral system.

The itinerary allows to discover some "ca'd'arbiné" still in good state of conservation and to pass through various environments, either of Mediterranean character or more shady, where the insects are particularly present, as well as the birds, such as the shrike or the black woodpecker.

Period :
All year round, starting from Tende

Level :
Medium: outing accessible to a public in good physical condition

What to bring :
Picnic
Shoes and mountain clothes, binoculars