Vanoise National Park: unspoilt nature at your fingertips Val Cenis
This protected area, most of which lies within the territory of Haute Maurienne Vanoise, was founded in 1963, thanks in particular to Gilbert André, then mayor of Bonneval sur Arc. The central zone, known as the "heart", is a protected area with regulations that promote the biodiversity of landscapes, environments and species, and preserve the cultural and mountain heritage.
In just a few steps, you're 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 never mind the big words. The important thing is to open up a territory of rare experiences. A breathtaking landscape of peaks, lakes and deep valleys. Incredibly diverse flora and animals in their natural habitat that you can get close to: marmots, ibex, chamois, bearded vultures...
Mountaineering, hiking, fishing at altitude: real moments of mountain wonder to share.
... Val Cenis is made up of numerous protected areas.
More than 57% of its territory is preserved and only 4% is developed (3% for the inhabited part and 1% for the ski area).
Turn your smartphone into a hiking GPS with the rando.vanoise.com app, available free on the App Store and Google Play.
The park is home to some twenty glaciers, over 100 peaks above 3,000 meters, 600 km of trails, some forty refuges... and forms, with the Italian Grand Paradiso National Park (14 km shared border), the largest protected area in Europe.
In winter, all nature seems to be asleep. The marmot hibernates, the black grouse uses the igloo method to spend the night, and the birds that stay here put on a real down jacket and puff out their plumage.
For the others, it's off to the South of France or Africa... to await more favorable weather to come and meet us.
All the energy used to overcome the cold and find something to put under the beak or the tooth is colossal, so it's important to disturb our courageous friends as little as possible during your outings: any extra movement in the snow can be fatal to them.
The park rangers, who carry out a wide range of tasks in the National Parks, also organize meetings throughout the winter to introduce you to their profession and help you discover the secrets of the environment that surrounds us.
And don't hesitate to get in touch with mountain guides with the "Esprit Parc" label. As well as guiding you safely along snow-covered itineraries, they'll attract your attention, arouse your curiosity and inspire you to find out more about the mountain environment.
This is a good time, for example, to observe male ibex, which have come down from the summits to take advantage of more accessible food.
Adopt the "Parc attitude
- 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 ParkIn 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.
-
- Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis (1)
- 1