Terre d'alpinisme label
Mountaineering
Intangible Cultural Heritage of HumanityIt is based on these elements in particular that mountaineering was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the end of 2019; a project led and supported by the City of Chamonix, Courmayeur (Italy) and Orsières (Switzerland).
In order to defend and promote the values adopted by UNESCO for Alpinism, the Alpinism UNESCO France Committee created the label "Land of Alpinism for territories that commit to defend, promote and animate the values adopted by UNESCO for Alpinism.
To be eligible for the "Land of Alpinism" label, villages, resorts or territories must demonstrate a strong history and connection with alpinism, and also promote these values. The territory of Bessans-Bonneval sur Arc ticked all these boxes and was awarded the label in June 2021, then renewed in September 2024.
« Mountaineering is the art of climbing mountains, by one's own physical, technical and mental means, each evolving at their own level in the face of natural obstacles, with full responsibility, and in respect for the environment in which they practice »
« It is a traditional physical practice that is also characterized by a shared culture, an art made of knowledge, know-how and the indispensable acquisition of varied knowledge about the environment and its surroundings ».
The advantages of a region
A strong and local history with mountaineering
Local guides contributed to the birth and development of mountaineering in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable among them was Jean Joseph Blanc (1842 - 1914), known as "Le Greffier". His son Pierre Blanc (1881 - 1966), known as "Le Pape", not only contributed to a better understanding of the peaks of the upper valley, but also led expeditions to the Himalayas. Great names in mountaineering have also traversed the peaks of Haute Maurienne Vanoise, such as William Auguste Coolidge and Lionel Terray, helping to raise the profile of mountaineering in the valley.
Natural assets
- A territory surrounded by more than 50 peaks over 3000 meters and numerous glaciers.
- An excellent area for discovery, initiation and improvement for "soft" and family mountaineering. In the land of the ski-mountaineering world champion Thibault Anselmet, Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc also offer an exceptional area for ski touring and ski mountaineering from beginner to expert. In particular, the Avérole valley is "one of the most beautiful spots for ski touring" according to the French explorer and mountaineer Jean Louis Bernezat.
- Villages that have preserved their authenticity and protected their natural environment.
- Guaranteed snow cover for the next 50 years according to the latest Météo France models, which allows for winter mountaineering, alpine skiing and ski touring.
- Guides and instructors: professionals available year-round in the area. Take advantage of this exceptional area, certified by the French Alpine Committee of UNESCO and the French Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs, to discover mountaineering, both in summer and winter, with the high mountain guides of Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc.
Year-round activities
Ski touring. Discover ski touring with the ski schools of Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc
Ice climbing. Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc offer many icefalls in winter. Initiations accessible to all are possible on the La Barmette site in Bessans, right next to the Biathlon stadium. In Bonneval sur Arc, icefalls remain formed until March on the Ecot side. Professionals offer introductions or supervision for long routes.
Mountaineering and climbing. In Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc, climbing is second nature. There are many climbing routes offering a choice for all levels, from beginner to experienced. Qualified climbing guides and instructors invite you to discover this practice in complete safety, offering a different approach to the mountains.
Land of Alpinism Bessans Bonneval-sur-Arc
To find out more about events, races and mountaineering offers in Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc, visit:
5 good reasons to practice mountaineering
- Contemplate, surpass yourself
The peaks attract your gaze, why not go there? Mountaineering calls on your mental and physical abilities to progress and contemplate landscapes that you thought were inaccessible, and to discover new sensations. Mountaineering is the school of self-improvement and commitment. - Show humility
In the high mountains, nothing is easy or guaranteed. In winter, the immaculate expanses call for contemplation. The mountain is queen and mountaineering also teaches you to listen to it. When safety conditions are not met, you must know how to renounce the summit or the initial objective out of humility. - Relive the thrills of the great mountaineers
First in line, Alpes magazine... stories that make you dream of the peaks. You dream of ascents: alongside the Bessans or Bonneval sur Arc guides, set off for the Pointe des Fours, the Albaron, the Charbonnel or the Aiguille Rousse. - Meet a high mountain guide
A lover of his "Territory", with a weathered face, a graduate of the National School of Skiing and Mountaineering (ENSA), he inspires confidence: he is the high-mountain guide. Starting mountaineering with a guide is the best approach to becoming an "adept" of mountaineering. He teaches you the different techniques (roping, cramponing, ice axe handling, etc.) and also teaches you to approach the high mountains with respect. - Share a human adventure
Nature, sharing, sensations and human adventure: mountaineering, which is above all a story of solidarity and human relationships, meets these expectations. The expression "rope mate" carries within it all the weight of the importance of the other in the practice.
The hidden gem village resort
The hamlet of l’Ecot
Thibault Anselmet, world ski mountaineering champion
Le bleu de Bonneval
The Iseran Pass
The Cirque des Evettes
