Écrins Park

Introduction

The Écrins National Park, officially established in 1973, is one of France's main Alpine protected areas and covers an area of 918 km² between the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Isère, right in the heart of the Dauphiné Alps. Its territory encompasses the entire Écrins massif, which is characterised by a wide morphological variety: deep valleys, imposing glacial cirques, rocky ridges and a succession of more than 150 peaks exceeding 3,000 metres, dominating the landscape with the Barre des Écrins, the highest peak at 4101 metres.

Description

Since its foundation, the park has been structured in a 'core zone' of strict protection where nature evolves freely, flanked by an extensive membership area where the 61 municipalities involved actively participate in the sustainable management and conservation of local heritage. The historical direction dates back to the 'Parc national de la Bérarde' of 1913, so much so that the history of the institution is intertwined with the defence of the alpine pastures, the fight against erosion and the cohesion of the alpine communities motivated by environmental and scientific intentions.
The park environment is an extraordinary natural laboratory: it hosts the Lauvitel integral reserve, specifically established for the scientific monitoring of ecosystem dynamics without human intervention, and ensures the protection of high-altitude habitats and wetlands. The numerous botanical and animal species testify to a rare biodiversity: marmots, Alpine hares, chamois, ibexes and predators such as the golden eagle and bearded vulture hide in the larch forests. The flora includes more than 2500 recorded species, with unique specimens such as the 'Queen of the Alps', genepi, rhododendrons and artemisia, some of which have adapted to live in the snowiest and most hostile places in the area.
Human activity is limited and aimed at enhancing the area: the network of trails, which includes more than 700 km of itineraries, including the famous that circumnavigates the Oisans, connects high mountain refuges and allows routes from spring to autumn, while snow can last until July. Numerous reception services - the 'Maisons du Parc' - located in the major centres offer information, exhibitions and reference points for safety and hiking logistics. Access to the park is mainly through municipalities such as Argentiere-la-Bessée, which is connected by trains from Grenoble, Gap and Paris, and in summer is facilitated by shuttles to the main villages and mountain resorts such as La Vallouise, Puy-Saint-Vincent or Ailefroide.
The park performs functions of environmental protection, scientific research, nature education and public reception, preserving a model of coexistence between man and nature and promoting ecological awareness. A heritage enriched by legendary valleys, spectacular waterfalls, Alpine lakes such as Lauvitel and Vallonpierre, and a web of environments that tell stories of migration, adaptation and resilience, set in a lively and varied Alpine cultural context.

Information

Year established: 1973
Area: 918 km²
Minimum altitude: about 800 m above sea level.
Maximum elevation: Barre des Écrins (4101 m)
Municipalities concerned: Ancelle, Aspres-lès-Corps, Bénévent-et-Charbillac, Besse-en-Oisans, Buissard, Chabottes, Champcella, Champoléon, Chantelouve, Châteauroux-les-Alpes, Chauffayer, Clavans-en-Haut-Oisans, Crots, Embrun, Entraigues, Freissinières, L'Argentière-la-Bessée, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar, La Grave, La Motte-en-Champsaur, Lavaldens, Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, Le Périer, Les Costes, Les Infournas, Les Vigneaux, Mizoën, Mont-de-Lans, Orcières, Oris-en-Rattier, Ornon, Oulles, Pelvoux, Prunières, Puy-Saint-Vincent, Puy-Saint-Eusèbe, Puy-Sanières, Réallon, Réotier, Saint-Apollinaire, Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur, Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans, Saint-Clément-sur-Durance, Saint-Eusèbe-en-Champsaur, Saint-Firmin, Saint-Jacques-en-Valgodemard, Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Julien-en-Champsaur, Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, Saint-Maurice-en-Valgodemard, Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol, Savines-le-Lac, Valbonnais, Valjouffrey, Vallouise, Vénosc, Villar-d'Arêne, Villard-Notre-Dame, Villard-Reymond, Villar-Loubière
Managing body Ente Parc National des Écrins
Official website: www.ecrins-parcnational.fr