Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If You Like...
The Great Outdoors
Enjoyed the scenery in Annecy? Then how about exploring one of the Alps'
spectacular national parks, where you'll find huge tracts of untouched wilderness
and some of France's rarest wildlife.
1 PARC NATIONAL DE LA VANOISE
www.bonneval-sur-arc.com
)
Rugged peaks, mirror-like lakes and vast glaciers are
just the tip of the superlative iceberg in the 530-sq-km
Parc National de la
Vanoise
, designated France's first national park in 1963. Marmots, chamois and
Alpine ibexes graze the slopes, and if you're lucky you might even spy a bearded
vulture or a golden eagle. Walking trails are accessible June to September.
five days or more around the upper reaches of the valley, takes in national park
highlights. The
GR5
and
GR55
cross it, and other trails snake south to the Parc
National des Écrins and east into Italy's Grand Paradiso National Park.
2 PARC NATUREL RÉGIONAL DU VERCORS
(http://
parc-du-vercors.fr ; Villard de Lans tourist office
04 76 95 10 38;
www.villarddelans.com
;
place Mure Ravaud)
The gentle pastures and chiselled
peaks of this 1750-sq-km nature park, southwest of Grenoble, are great for soft
adventure. This wildlife-rich park is also a magnet for family-friendly activities
such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, caving and hiking. Nature walks and
guided treks can be arranged with
Les Accompagnateurs Nature et Pat-
rimoine
(
04 76 95 08 38;
www.accompagnateur-vercors.com
)
.
3 PARC NATIONAL DES ÉCRINS
( Bourg d'Oisans tourist office 04 76 80 00 51;
www.les-ecrins-parc-national.fr
;
rue Gambetta)
Created in 1973, this is France's second-largest national park
(918 sq km). 700km of footpaths provide prime hiking, while the lofty passes are
ideal for mountain biking, rock-climbing, paragliding and other activities.
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