Let me tell you today about one of the most famous French national parks, the Ecrins National Park. This natural park, located in the Alps, extends over 2 departments: Isère, in the North; and the Hautes-Alpes, to the south. It welcomes nearly 1 million visitors a year.
In this article I will present to you the treasures of the Écrins National Park, its natural heritage, of course, but also its cultural heritage.
We will also tour the countless activities to do in the Ecrins National Park. But above all, let's start with a small presentation of the park.
- Presentation of the park
- What are the main places of interest in the Ecrins National Park?
- Ecrins National Park, a natural area above all
- Visit the Ecrins National Park: Culture and heritage
- Unmissable activities in the Ecrins National Park
- Practical advice for visiting the Ecrins National Park
Presentation of the park
Created in 1973, the park is classified as a "category II protected area" by the World Commission on Protected Areas.
The park also has 5 areas classified as “Natura 2000”, which aim to promote the biodiversity of the places. There are, among others, the Fournel, the Valgaudemar or the Muzelle.
The park covers 7 geographic sectors which are :
- The Valbonnais
- Oisans
- The Briançonnais
- Vallouise
- L'Embunais
- The Champsaur
- The Valgaudemar
The Écrins National Park has 9 “Park Houses” where you can find all the information you need to discover it. These are located in the following towns and villages (see them on the map):
- Bourg d'Oisans
- Training
- La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar
- Pont-Du-Ditch
- Gap
- Chateauroux-les-Alpes
- L'Argentière-la-Bessée
- Vallouise
- Briançon
The park is divided into 2 territories, one represents themembership area in the park, it is the largest area. This area measures 1788 km2.
The second territory represents the heart of the park. Covering an area of 925km2, this area is a protected area and has different regulations from the membership area, which is more restrictive.
Location of the Ecrins National Park
Places of interest in the Ecrins National Park (click to enlarge)
What are the main places of interest in the Ecrins National Park?
After this short presentation of the Ecrins National Park and before detailing the different aspects of the park, namely nature and culture, let's quickly run through the main places of interest in the park.
Places of interest in the Ecrins National Park- Madame Carle's Meadow
- The white glacier
- The silver mine of L'Argentière-la Bessée
- Vallouise – Pelvoux
- La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar & Gioberney
- Champoleon Valley
- Serre Chevalier Valley
- Lake of Serre-Ponçon
Madame Carle's Meadow
Accessible from Vallouise-Pelvoux, the Pré de Madame Carle is undoubtedly one of the best-known sites to do in the Ecrins National Park. In the heart of the Vallouise valley, it is accessible by a road starting from the hamlet of Ailefroide.
Former fertile plain, it is at this location that the Black and White glaciers met. Nowadays, with the melting of the glaciers, it is rather a pile of stones in the heart of sublime mountain peaks.
The site is nonetheless exceptional, and many hikes and climbs start from the Pré de Madame Carle, in particular those towards the Glacier Blanc, the Barre des Ecrins, etc. If you are with the family, stop off at the Cézanne refuge, behind which a multitude of marmots have taken up residence.
A few hundred years ago, the white glacier and the black glacier joined at this place. Now they are miles apart.
The white glacier
It is one of the most visited sites in the Ecrins National Park. A sublime landscape that contributes to the reputation of the Parc des Écrins. The glacier originates at an altitude of more than 4m and ends at around 000m. A hike, starting from the meadow of Madame Carle will take you there without too much difficulty.
The white glacier is a privileged place for observing marmots.
The silver mine of L'Argentière-la Bessée
We will talk about it a little later in this article in our section devoted to the culture and heritage of the Ecrins National Park. However, let me quickly tell you about one of the most touristic places in the park, which welcomes nearly 11 visitors each year: the Argentière-La-Bessée silver mine.
Exploited at different times in history, between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries and then in the XNUMXth century, the mine was once the largest employer in the region.
Several kilos of silver were then extracted each day from the mine.
Invaded by the Fournel torrent, it took several years to finally be able to visit this mine in complete safety.
It is now possible to visit the mine via a guided tour of approximately 2h30 available every day, every 20 minutes in summer.
Vallouise – Pelvoux
Typical of the region, the villages of Vallouise – Pelvoux and Vigneaux are among the most authentic.
The activities around this small valley are numerous between hiking, mountaineering, via ferrata, horse riding and fishing, you will not be bored.
La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar & Gioberney
On the other side of the park, in the Valgaudemar valley, discover two places of interest, the small village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar and Gioberney.
The first is a popular place for hikers passing through the region. The small village offers a few accommodations and shops as well as the start of many hikes, including those leading to the Pétarel lakes or the Oulles du Diable.
The second place, Gioberney, is one of the most beautiful natural cirques in the Ecrins National Park. It houses a refuge – restaurant with a magnificent terrace. From this site you can go to the Voile de la Marie waterfall or the Lac du Lauzon.
To Read: Visit Champsaur-Valgaudemar
Champoleon Valley
Nestled in the depths of the Champsaur valley, the Champoléon valley is one of the wildest in the area. You will find small typical villages there as well as an astonishing museum: La maison du Berger. A visit that I can only recommend if you are interested in the pastoral history of the region.
From this place you can also reach the resort of Orcières-Merlette located not far away, which also offers very beautiful hikes and many activities, both in summer and in winter.
Serre Chevalier Valley
Let's move away from the heart of the Écrins National Park to go to the Serre-Chevalier valley. Even if it is not strictly speaking located in the park, it borders it.
This valley offers a multitude of activities of all kinds, such as thrilling activities such as paragliding or bungee jumping; but also aquatic and nautical activities such as canoeing, kayaking and of course many hikes, easily accessible thanks to the various ski lifts offered by the valley.
If you go to the surroundings, do not hesitate to visit the town of Briançon as well as its citadel which is worth the detour.
Lake of Serre-Ponçon
Here too, we are moving away a little from the heart of the Ecrins park, but the Serre-Ponçon lake and its many activities are among the places of interest in the surroundings of the Ecrins national park.
This huge mountain lake has some great surprises in store for you. From nautical activities, to exotic landscapes, there are many things to do. You can also learn more about its history thanks to the Muséoscope.
Écrins National Park, a unique natural heritage in the world
The first aspect of the park that we will be interested in is that of nature. Indeed, it is for its landscapes and its ecosystem that this park is known. Breathtaking alpine landscapes as well as omnipresent flora and fauna will be part of your visit to the Ecrins National Park.
Peaks, lakes and glaciers
Enjoying the landscapes, lakes, glaciers and peaks is one of the main activities of the Ecrins National Park. The territory is remarkable for the height of its summits. Most exceed 3 meters in altitude or even 000 meters.
What are the main lakes of the Ecrins National Park?
Thanks to the abundance of water sources in the massif, the Parc des Écrins has many lakes and glaciers, each as spectacular as the next. Here are a few of the most notable:
- Lauvitel Lake: With a depth of 68 meters and an area of 37 hectares, Lake Lauvitel is the largest in the territory; it is located near the resort of Les Deux Alpes and borders the Lauvitel Integral Reserve, an area with enhanced protection. Discovering the Lac du Lauvitel is one of the essential attractions of the Écrins National Park. A medium difficulty hike will take you there. Count about 6 km for 500 m of elevation gain – about 3 hours.
- Lauzon Lake: at just over 2 meters above sea level, Lake Lauzon can be the subject of a beautiful family walk. From this lake flows the sublime waterfall of the Veil of the Bride. Accessible from Giobernay, one of the places of interest in the Ecrins National Park which we will have the opportunity to talk about below.
- Pavé Lake: At 2 meters above sea level, Lac du Pavé is the highest and coldest water reservoir in the Écrins park: the water does not exceed a temperature of 820°C on the surface.
- Petarel Lakes: accessible via a hike of about 5h / 12km / 1000 D+ (round trip), starting from La Chapelle-En-Valgaudemar, the lakes of Pétarel offer an extraordinary landscape.
- Serre-Ponçon Lake: even if the lake of Serre-Ponçon is not part of the heart of the Écrins national park, it borders it. Impossible to visit the region without a small detour to one of the largest artificial lakes in France.
Lauzon Lake
What are the main glaciers in the Ecrins National Park?
- The White Glacier: undoubtedly one of the treasures of the Ecrins National Park. A real must, the white glacier is accessible via a rather easy hike of around 600m of elevation gain. The glacier ends at 2 m altitude to take its source at more than 300 m altitude.
- The Black Glacier: a nice hike of about 10km takes you to the black glacier. Located not far from the white glacier, after Mrs. Carle's meadow, the beginning of the hike, which begins at 1870m, reaches 2550m at the highest point.
- The Arsine Glacier: located between 3 m and 200 m above sea level, the Arsine glacier has the particularity of being partly underground. As it melts, it feeds a lake that is controlled and regulated because it is dangerous for the Guisane valley in the event of the moraine that supports it breaking.
- The glaciers of La Meije: much more difficult to access, the glaciers of La Meije are rather reserved for an informed and trained public.
What are the main peaks and passes of the Ecrins National Park?
- Mount Pelvoux: located not far from the Pré de Mme Carle, Mont Pelvoux is one of the most famous in the Parc des Écrins. It has 4 main peaks, the highest of which, Pointe Puiseux, culminates at 3 m.
- La Meije : located north of the Parc des Écrins, its summit rises to 3 m
- Ecrins Bar: The highest massif in the region, the Barre des Écrins culminates at an altitude of more than 4 m.
Fauna and flora of the Ecrins National Park
The seven houses of the Park contribute, in partnership with the head office of the Parc des Écrins, to preserve animal and plant species, but also to make discover this rich heritage through exhibitions accessible to all audiences.
What animals to see in the Ecrins National Park?
The wild and sparsely populated areas of the Parc des Écrins are a true haven of peace where remarkable species live. In addition, the Ecrins are part of the Natura 2000 network of European protected areas.
Here are some examples of animals visible in the park.
- Royal Eagle
- Griffon Vulture and Monk
- Chamois
- Wolf and Lynx
- Marmotte
- Ermine
What plants to see in the Ecrins National Park?
The Écrins National Park is home to more than 2 plant species including:
- European Larch
- Beech
- The Génépi
- The Queen of the Alps
- Dauphiné Potentilla
Visit the Ecrins National Park: Culture and heritage
Over the centuries, man has also shaped the place and left numerous testimonies to be seen in the Ecrins National Park.
The silver mines of Argentière-la-Bessée
The Fournel deposit, at Argentière-la-Bessée, was one of the main lead and silver veins in the Alps. Exploited from the XNUMXth century, the mine brought many jobs to the valley until the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
During your stay, visiting the mines of Argentière-la-Bessée is one of the essential things to do in the Ecrins park. If you are with your family, an escape game is even offered to you to discover this element of the industrial heritage of the Ecrins while having fun!
The villages to see in the Ecrins National Park
Severe is a small village recognized for its heritage, but also for mountain sports in all seasons. Its stone chalets, located on a sunny side of La Meije, will seduce you. For sports enthusiasts, the town offers a family ski resort as well as a huge off-piste skiing site.
In Briançon, Vallouise-Pelvoux is also a typical village of the Hautes-Alpes. On the territory of the commune, small hamlets with original architecture as well as high peaks surrounding them will allow you to admire magnificent landscapes. The Saint Etienne church and the pottery of Vallouise are also to be visited on site.
The small village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar is also worth seeing. A small, friendly village, starting point for a multitude of hikes.
Pastoral heritage
Pastoralism has always been an important part of the identity of the Ecrins National Park. More than a third of the park spaces are covered with pasture; For centuries, shepherds and breeders have taken their animals there.
During your walks in the park, you will most certainly discover mountain pasture houses and pastoral huts in which the shepherds live in the summer. Be careful though: be sure to observe them from afar so as not to disturb the tranquility of the shepherds and their flocks. Also watch out for the Patous, these big white dogs are there to guard the herd!
If you are interested in the pastoral history of the Ecrins National Park, don't hesitate to visit the "Maison du Berger et des cultures pastorales" in the Champoléon valley.
Unmissable activities in the Ecrins National Park
The Ecrins National Park and its surroundings are full of activities of all kinds. Particularly focused on sport and outdoor activities such as hiking, water sports or winter sports, there is no shortage of things to do in the Ecrins National Park.
If you are interested in activities in the area, I invite you to take a look at the Manawa.com site which lists many activities and allows you to book them easily and quickly.
- Hiking in the Ecrins National Park
- MTB & downhill bike
- Nautical and aquatic activities
- Activities in the air
- Winter sports and ski resorts in the Ecrins National Park
Hiking in the Ecrins National Park
To best discover the exceptional landscapes of the territory, more than 750 kilometers of hiking trails are to be done in the Ecrins National Park. With the family or for the more athletic, on foot or by bike, there are routes for all levels.
You will find more information on the countless hikes on the Ecrins National Park website.
GR
For the more seasoned, you can try the GR54 which is one of the most difficult GRs in Europe. On the program, the discovery of the most beautiful landscapes, peaks and glaciers of the Ecrins National Park.
THE GR 54 is practiced from June to September over 191 km and more than 13m of elevation gain. Count 000 days of walking.
GR
Larger than the GR 54, the GR 50 is not content to go around the heart of the park but also the whole of the national park.
Over 371 km and 19 m of elevation gain, you can enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the park and its surroundings.
MTB & downhill bike
Besides walking, mountain biking is a particularly popular activity around the heart of the Ecrins National Park. Note, first of all, that mountain biking (or other bicycles) are prohibited in the heart of the park. All the routes we will discuss here are located around the heart of the park.
In Champsaur-Valgaudemar
First of all, mountain bikers will find what they are looking for in the Champsaur-Valgaudemar valley. Two valleys labeled “Site VTT” by the French cycling federation.
The Champsaur-Valgaudemar offers more than 750 km of marked and maintained paths, divided into 38 circuits which allow mountain bikers to have fun.
The Tour de la Valgaude, a loop of approximately 90km, is one of the mountain bike routes popular with cyclists passing through the region.
You will also have the opportunity to rent electric bikes at different places in the region such as Pont du Fossé, Champoléon, Saint Bonnet or Saint Léger-les-Mélèzes.
In the land of the Ecrins
The Pays des Écrins region, including the Vallouise-Pelvoux valley, also offers very beautiful mountain biking with 220km of routes spread over 18 circuits.
Downhill Bikes
Many ski resorts now offer, in summer, downhill biking with bike rental but also initiations or private lessons.
This is the case in the resorts of Orcières-Merlette in Champsaur, Deux Alpes, Les Orres or the resort of Puy Saint Vincent which offer 5 downhill bike trails.
Nautical and aquatic activities
Are you a fan of whitewater activities? Many rivers find their source in the Écrins massif, along which you can practice rafting, canyoning, kayaking or even hydrospeed in the heart of sublime landscapes.
Argentière-la-Bessée even has one of the most famous whitewater pools on the bed of the Durance, where you can practice your favorite activities.
- Champsaur-Valgaudemar: descent of the Drac in rafting or canoeing
- Serre-Ponçon: in Embrun, or in Châteauroux-les-Alpes, descent of the Durance in rafting or canoeing
- La Salle-les-Alpes: in the Serre-Chevalier valley, descent of the Guisane by rafting or canoeing
Of course, there are also many water activities on the Serre-Ponçon lake, such as Stand Up Padel.
Activities in the air
The surroundings of the Ecrins National Park are full of places where you can indulge in aerial and jumping activities.
Paragliding is particularly widespread in the region, such as in Orcières-Merlette, in the Serre-Chevalier valley or in Les Orres.
It is also possible to opt for an overflight such as in a hot air balloon over the lake of Serre-Ponçon!
Winter sports and ski resorts in the Ecrins National Park
Thanks to its high peaks and exceptional snow cover, the Parc des Écrins has many ski resorts where you can practice downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding or even snowshoeing.
Among the best known:
- Reallon
- Orcieres-Merlette
- Puy-Saint-Vincent
- Pelvoux-Vallouise
- Monetier-les-Bains
- The two Alps
Practical advice for visiting the Ecrins National Park
How to get to the Ecrins National Park?
Ecrins National Park is about 1 hour drive from Grenoble, 2 hours from Lyon, 3 hours from Marseille and 30 hours from Nice.
These cities have the closest airports to the park.
You can also get to the park by train, via Gap and Briançon stations.
But the easiest way is probably to go to the Ecrins National Park by car. This will allow you to move as you wish from point to point.
When is the best time to visit Ecrins National Park?
The best time to take full advantage of the activities offered by the Écrins National Park is between the months of June and September. It is during this period that the weather will be the mildest and that you will be able to take advantage of the park's services, accommodations and activities.
If you want to take advantage of the ski resorts, then you should prefer a stay between January and March.
How long to visit the Ecrins National Park?
The park is relatively large. A week is the minimum to hope to see the main places of the park. Two weeks will allow you to enjoy the many assets of the park more serenely.
