The Vanoise national was created in 1963. It was the first of the nine French national parks.
Its initial purpose was to provid a territory to protect the alpine ibexes (Capra ibex)
It follows this way, 40 years later, the Grand paradis national park in Italie, whith whom it shares a 14 kms common border.
With 1 250 km2, the two parks, twinned since 1972 is now one of the largest protected area in western Europe.
The heart of the park is 528 km2 in size. The heart, formely known as Central Zone, is the real park. It’s an area protected by a specific regulation. Located between the high valleys of Maurienne and Tarentaise, the park includes high summits.
The highest peak of the heart is “la Grande Casse” (3 855 m) , the second is “le Mont Pourri”(3 779 m), belonging to the Peisey-Nancroix municipality.
Its initial purpose was to provid a territory to protect the alpine ibexes (Capra ibex)
It follows this way, 40 years later, the Grand paradis national park in Italie, whith whom it shares a 14 kms common border.
With 1 250 km2, the two parks, twinned since 1972 is now one of the largest protected area in western Europe.
The heart of the park is 528 km2 in size. The heart, formely known as Central Zone, is the real park. It’s an area protected by a specific regulation. Located between the high valleys of Maurienne and Tarentaise, the park includes high summits.
The highest peak of the heart is “la Grande Casse” (3 855 m) , the second is “le Mont Pourri”(3 779 m), belonging to the Peisey-Nancroix municipality.
