GRAND PARADIS NATIONAL PARK

Donated to the Italian State by Victor Emmanuel II in 1922, the Gran Paradiso Park, formerly a royal hunting reserve, is Italy's oldest national park. It extends over 71,000 ha of mountainous territory, from 800 m to the 4,061 m summit of Gran Paradiso. In addition to its fir forests, vast meadows and glaciers, it is home to hundreds of protected animal species (ibex, chamois, deer, lynx, golden eagle...), rare flowers and plants.

Cogne Visitor Center. Here you can discover the protected area through a variety of themes: water, woods and pastures, wildlife and the role of man. In the same building, the Alpinart Center presents a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Cogne magnetite mine.

Valsavarenche Visitor Center. The Valsavarenche Visitor Center features a "Water and Biodiversity" trail designed to raise awareness of the need to protect ecosystems and make the tourist experience as eco-friendly as possible. The focus is on the otter, at the top of the mountain freshwater food chain. The visit takes place both indoors and outdoors to discover the otters housed in the Park with the aim of protecting them from environmental transformations.

Ascent of Grand-Paradis (4,061 m). This summit is considered the easiest "4000" in the Alps, making it particularly suitable for first-time mountaineers. However, it should not be underestimated: there are always risks associated with the extreme environment. Two routes ascend from Valsavarenche: the first starts from the hamlet of Pont, passes the Vittorio Emanuele hut, where an overnight stop is mandatory, then climbs the scree and the Grand-Paradis glacier to the glacial shoulder known as "Dos d'âne", where it meets the second route. This leaves the Pravieux mountain pastures below Pont, passes through the Chabod refuge and climbs the Lavachey or Laveciau glacier. The final part of the ascent, a little steeper, includes a few climbing steps and the crossing of a cornice overlooking the void. On a fine day, one of the most incredible panoramas in Europe opens up: on one side, the Piedmont plain with the Alpine arc as far as the Maritime Alps, via Mount Viso; on the other, Savoie with the Vanoise peaks below and the Écrins in the background; elsewhere, the Mont-Blanc, Grand-Combin, Arolla and Mont-Rose massifs and their glaciers.