Punta Merciantaira

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

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:
 * 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
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 foothpath. The easiest route from the Italian side, starting from Grange di Thuras (Cesana Torinese), is longer and requires a good hiking experience.

Maps

 * Italian official cartography (Istituto Geografico Militare - IGM); on-line version: www.pcn.minambiente.it
 * French official cartography (Institut géographique national - IGN); on-line version:  www.geoportail.fr
 * Istituto Geografico Centrale - Carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi scala 1:50.000 n. 1 Valli di Susa Chisone e Germanasca ''

Related articles

 * France–Italy border