Visiting Vanoise National Park
In the heart of the Savoie region, right along the border with Italy, sits the magnificent Vanoise National Park. Paired with the neighboring Italian Grand Paradis park, they create a protected natural area spanning over 1000 km².
History
Established in 1963, the first French national park was created right here in Vanoise. Originally, it was set up to tackle an alarming situation: the near-total disappearance of ibex in the Vanoise mountain range. This area became a nature reserve in 1943, but it took the persistence of Gilbert André, the mayor of Bonneval-sur-Arc, for the Conseil général de Savoie (General Council of Savoie) to unanimously vote for the creation of Vanoise National Park. Support from several politicians followed, and the final decision was made.
Ultimately, architect Denys Pradelle took on the project. He mapped out a strictly protected core zone off-limits to any human interference, alongside a peripheral zone designated for development, particularly tourism.
A major real estate project tore local communities apart between 1968 and 1970 when certain ski resorts wanted to expand into the park core, which was supposed to be untouchable. The controversy grew so intense it prompted a speech from President Pompidou in 1970. An extension was eventually approved, but it left the strictly protected zone untouched.
Vanoise National Park
The park peaks at 3855 meters atop the Grande Casse summit. With another 107 peaks exceeding 3000 meters, it is a premier destination for mountaineering and hiking.
The park also shelters several sites featuring exceptionally well-preserved rock carvings and paintings that visitors can explore year-round.
The local flora and fauna are remarkable, offering sightings of red foxes, chamois, ibex, brown bears, lynx, stoats, and wolves. Look up, and you might even spot a golden eagle.
A wild and preserved natural sanctuary.
Opening hours
Open 24/7
One of the oldest French natural parks, created to preserve this region of the Alps where high and mid-mountain terrain, forests and meadows, small mountain villages, and wild, even rare, flora and fauna all coexist.
I have such great memories of a hike I did in late spring, during the month of May. Flowers of every color, birds, ibex (or were they mouflons?), and mini waterfalls.
A bit of a workout, lots of ups and downs.