The Vanoise National Park
Protected fauna and flora
Enchantment and excitement—that’s the Vanoise National Park !
Enjoy this peaceful haven, far from pollution, and savor the tranquility, silence, and fresh air. Explore this remarkable environment with a park ranger or mountain guide, and expand your knowledge of the local flora and fauna.
Spice up your mountain vacation journal with photos of marmots, ibex, lakes, snow-capped peaks, and… the blueberry pie you enjoyed on the terrace of a mountain hut!
1st French 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 region’s 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—true moments of wonder in the mountains to share.
The park is home to some 20 glaciers, more than 100 peaks over 3,000 meters, 600 km of trails, and about 40 mountain huts… and, together with Italy’s 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 with the app rando.vanoise.com app, available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
