Refuge de Boules

Refuge de Boules sits at 1698m in the Alpes-Maritimes, on the eastern flank of the Mercantour massif. The hut sits above the Vallée de la Vésubie, roughly 4.5 hours' walk from the hamlet of Roquebillière via the GR5 trail. The approach climbs steadily through mixed forest and opens onto alpine meadow in the final hour. You can also approach from the north via Belvédère (5 hours), a longer route that feels less travelled.
The refuge is tiny: 3 beds across two small rooms. Meals are basic—expect soup, pasta or polenta, cheese, and fruit. The guardian (when present) provides water and cooking facilities; you'll cook your own main course or eat packed food if the hut is unstaffed. No shower. The hut sits on a key mountaineering access point for routes into the Mercantour and toward Mont Bégo (2872m). Winter access is unreliable; the hut operates roughly May to September depending on snow conditions and the guardian's schedule.
Contact the FFCAM section for the Vallée de la Vésubie before planning—the hut's staffing is irregular and advance notice improves your chances of finding the door unlocked. Numbers can change; check locally in Roquebillière or Belvédère. This is a working mountaineer's shelter, not a tourism destination. Bring a sleeping bag and expect self-sufficiency.