Vanoise National Park: unspoilt nature at your fingertips Val Cenis

The Vanoise National Park, the first national park created in 1963, is located mainly in the commune of Val Cenis. This protected natural area is one of the resort's key assets.

France's first national park

This protected area, located largely within the Haute Maurienne Vanoise region, was established in 1963, largely thanks to Gilbert André, then mayor of Bonneval-sur-Arc. The central zone, known as the “heart,” is a protected area governed by regulations designed to promote biodiversity in landscapes, habitats, and species, while preserving the cultural and mountain heritage.

In just a few steps, you’ll find yourself in the heart of France’s first national park. Together with Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park, they form one of the largest protected areas in the Western Alps.

But forget all the fancy talk. What matters is opening up a world of unique experiences for you:

A breathtaking landscape of mountain peaks, lakes, and deep valleys.
An incredibly diverse array of flora and wildlife in their natural habitat that you can get up close to—marmots, ibex, chamois, bearded vultures…
Mountaineering, hiking, high-altitude fishing—truly magical moments in the mountains to share.

The second largest commune in mainland France...

... Val Cenis is made up of numerous protected areas.

More than 57% of its territory is located in a protected area, and only 4% is developed (3% for residential areas and 1% for the ski area).

The park is home to about 20 glaciers and more than 100 peaks over 3,000 meters, 600 km of trails, about 40 mountain huts… and, together with the Italian Gran Paradiso National Park (with which it shares a 14-km border), forms the largest protected area in Europe.

► Turn your smartphone into a hiking GPS withthe rando.vanoise.com app, available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

In winter, the whole natural world seems to be asleep. But wildlife is very much present, employing various strategies to survive our harsh winters: the marmot hibernates, the black grouse uses the “igloo” method to spend the night, and the birds that stay here put on a veritable down jacket by fluffing up their feathers. For the others, it’s off to the south of France or Africa… waiting for more favorable temperatures before returning to us.

All their energy goes into fighting the cold and finding food, which is a massive undertaking. So it’s important, when you’re out skiing or hiking, to disturb our brave friends as little as possible: any extra movement in the snow could be fatal for them.

A privileged encounter with nature

Park rangers, whose duties within the national parks are wide-ranging, also offer guided tours throughout the winter to introduce you to their work and help you uncover the secrets of the natural world around us.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to mountain guides certified under the “Esprit Parc” program. While ensuring your safety on snow-covered trails, they’ll capture your attention, spark your curiosity, and inspire you to learn more about the mountain environment.

This is a good time, for example, to spot male ibex that have come down from the peaks to feed on more accessible food.

Vanoise National Park website

Indispensable for protecting an exceptional and fragile natural environment

Adopt the "Parc attitude

Walking, running, photographing, smelling, listening, breathing, contemplating, observing, learning, passing on, respecting...

- Come onfoot, without your dog (even on a leash), and leave your mountain bike and paraglider at home.
- Admirethe beauty of the flowers without picking them - they won't grow back on your property.
- Feed yourselfwith tasty local produce, but don't feed the marmots.
- Optimizeyour water and electricity consumption in the refuges
- Initiate yourselfto the calm of the mountains, to tranquillity... disconnect
- Followthe trails and don't cut the laces on the way down
- Takethe shuttle bus instead of your car

Open this extraordinary picture book with your children, awaken their curiosity and teach them about the environment and respect for it... That's what a real mountain vacation is all about!

Activities and entertainment

proposed by the Vanoise National Park

In summer and winter alike, the Vanoise National Park offers workshops, stands and events to help you find out more about the exceptional flora and fauna that can be observed at Val Cenis and Haute Maurienne Vanoise.

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