★ 4 · last edited Apr 30, 2020
Vanoise National Park
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Vanoise National Park
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Bordering Italy, this park offers stunning landscapes, hiking opportunities, and several ski resorts.
Overview of the park
Bordering Italy, this park offers stunning landscapes, hiking opportunities, and several ski resorts.
Key facts
- Tourist interest: (must-see or highly recommended).
- Features:
- Location: in the Vanoise massif between Maurienne and Tarentaise.
- Area: 528 km² spread across around thirty municipalities.
- Altitude:
- Website: http://www.vanoise-parcnational.fr
Environment
Landscape of the park
Wildlife and flora
Precautions
What to see in Vanoise National Park
What to do in Vanoise National Park
Hiking
With 400 kilometres of marked trails (with a mobile app) and mountain huts, the park offers great opportunities for day hikes as well as multi-day treks, including by mountain bike. Among the routes, the Via Alpina and the GR5 remain the most comprehensive, crossing the massif lengthwise. (see details).
Winter sports
Other activities
Climate and weather
Transport
Getting there
Getting around
Accommodation
Food
Useful addresses
Nearby
Among the (extensive) selection of interesting sites to see around the park:
Briançon
The highest town in the E.U. at 1,326 m above sea level. It boasts significant military heritage, notably due to Vauban, part of whose French works are UNESCO-listed. The Serre Chevalier ski resort is partly within the town.
The highest town in the E.U. at 1,326 m above sea level. It boasts significant military heritage, notably due to Vauban, part of whose French works are UNESCO-listed. The Serre Chevalier ski resort is partly within the town.
The Three Valleys
One of the largest ski areas in the world (600 km of pistes). The site is actually a grouping of several resorts, including the very chic Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, and Les Menuires.
One of the largest ski areas in the world (600 km of pistes). The site is actually a grouping of several resorts, including the very chic Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, and Les Menuires.
Mont Blanc Massif
This massif towering over Chamonix is a major tourist destination and hub for outdoor sports (hiking, mountaineering, skiing). Notable sites include the Aiguille du Midi (accessible by cable car), the Vallée Blanche, the Argentière Glacier, and the Mer de Glace, not to mention Mont Blanc itself, standing at 4,809 metres.
This massif towering over Chamonix is a major tourist destination and hub for outdoor sports (hiking, mountaineering, skiing). Notable sites include the Aiguille du Midi (accessible by cable car), the Vallée Blanche, the Argentière Glacier, and the Mer de Glace, not to mention Mont Blanc itself, standing at 4,809 metres.
Paradiski
One of the largest winter sports resorts in the Alps, created by merging around ten ski areas.
One of the largest winter sports resorts in the Alps, created by merging around ten ski areas.
Écrins National Park
Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Isère departments, this stunning park boasts numerous high peaks and glaciers. It is home to populations of chamois, ibex, and occasionally wolves. Naturally, skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
Straddling the Hautes-Alpes and Isère departments, this stunning park boasts numerous high peaks and glaciers. It is home to populations of chamois, ibex, and occasionally wolves. Naturally, skiing, mountaineering, and hiking are popular activities here.
plus on the Italian side...
Gran Paradiso National Park
Located in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, this is Italy's oldest national park. Amid stunning mountain landscapes, you can enjoy hiking, mountaineering, or skiing.
Located in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, this is Italy's oldest national park. Amid stunning mountain landscapes, you can enjoy hiking, mountaineering, or skiing.
Aosta Valley
This valley gives the region its name. Beyond the mountain, lake, and glacier landscapes that surround it and offer hiking opportunities, the area boasts many charming villages and, above all, around a hundred medieval castles, including the most famous ones: Fénis, Verrès, and Saint-Pierre.
This valley gives the region its name. Beyond the mountain, lake, and glacier landscapes that surround it and offer hiking opportunities, the area boasts many charming villages and, above all, around a hundred medieval castles, including the most famous ones: Fénis, Verrès, and Saint-Pierre.