Vanoise National Park

Vanoise National Park is a protected area in the French Alps, located in Savoie within the Graian Alps, established in 1963 to conserve mountain wildlife and landscapes. It was created to protect high-Alpine ecosystems and species such as the Alpine ibex.

Visitors use the park for alpine hiking, mountaineering and wildlife observation; terrain includes glaciated valleys, rocky ridges and high mountain pastures. The park contains marked trails and a system of mountain huts used for multi-day routes and summit approaches.

The park was created in the mid-20th century as part of wider efforts in France to conserve Alpine environments and to manage mountaineering access. It forms a contiguous conservation area with protected terrain on the Italian side of the border in the Gran Paradiso region.

Vanoise National Park occupies a mountainous area in Savoie in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France, along the French-Italian border in the heart of the Western Alps.

• Foundation and conservation purpose: Established in 1963 to protect Alpine flora and fauna and to safeguard populations of the Alpine ibex.
• Alpine terrain and trails: Contains high mountain terrain with glaciers, cirques and peaks, and a network of mountain huts and marked trails for multi-day hikes.

What to See #

• Grande Casse: The Grande Casse massif, the highest summit within the park at 3,855 metres and a focal point for mountaineering and long alpine routes.
• Pralognan-la-Vanoise: Pralognan-la-Vanoise, a village that functions as a common access point and base for hikes and climbs into the central park areas.