Punta Merciantaira

The Punta Merciantaira (in Italian^[3] ) or Grand Glaiza (in French^[1]) is a 3,293 metres high mountain of the Cottian Alps.^[4]

Punta Merciantaira
Grand Glaiza
The French side of the mountain
Highest point
Elevation	3,293 m (10,804 ft)[1]
Prominence	479 m (1,572 ft)[2]
Isolation	4.23 km (2.63 mi)
Listing	Alpine mountains above 3000 m
Coordinates	44°50′57″N 6°52′57″E
Geography
Punta Merciantaira Location in the Alps
Location	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France Piemonte, Italy
Parent range	Cottian Alps
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Geography

The peak is located on the French-Italian border between the Metropolitan City of Turin (Piedmont) and the French department of Hautes-Alpes (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur). It belongs to the Main chain of the Alps. Administratively the mountain is part of the Italian comune of Cesana Torinese (north face) and the French commune of Cervières.

SOIUSA classification

According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain can be classified in the following way:^[5]

• main part = Western Alps
• major sector = South Western Alps
• section = Cottian Alps
• subsection = Central Cottian Alps
• supergroup = Catena Bric Froid-Rochebrune-Beal Traversier
• group = Gruppo Ramière-Merciantaira
• subgroup = Sottogruppo del Merciantaira
• code = I/A-4.II-B.4.b

Access to the summit

Mountain top.

The summit of the Grand Glaiza can be easily accessed starting from Les Fonts (commune of Cervières) in less than 4 hours' walk following a waymarked footpath.^[6] The easiest route from the Italian side, starting from Grange di Thuras (Cesana Torinese), is longer and requires a good hiking experience.^[7]