Ecrins National Park

History of the Ecrins National Park

The Ecrins National Park was the 5th national park to be classified in France following the creation of the Vanoise, Port-Cros, Pyrénées and Cévennes national parks. The need for a protected natural site was recognised in 1913 with the creation of La Bérarde National Park by the Water & Forest Commission; it came about due to the concerns of mountain climbers, the French Alpine Club and various nature associations. Archaeological excavations taking place The history of the area can be charted way back to before the 20th century though; in fact, there are artefacts found in the park that date back to the Bronze Age! In the centuries that followed generations of people strived to exist in the high mountains of the Ecrins and an agricultural-pastoral civilisation flourished. Communities created homes anywhere that was suitable; it had to be accessible, protected from the worst of the elements, free from flood/avalanche risk and suitable for small scale farming. A surge in population and development of the land took place in the mid-19th century when a new wave of mountaineers and guides began to explore the natural challenges of this dramatic landscape. The new activity of guiding and catering for visitors took its place alongside agricultural labour as one of the main ways to earn a living. As in many rural communities the impact of the 1st and 2nd World Wars had a marked effect on the population of the villages that make up the Ecrins region. The first half of the 20th century saw many people migrate from the countryside to the cities, leaving smaller villages bereft. It is only really within the last few decades that the population has stabilised due to the combination of increased agriculture and the advent of tourism. One of the objectives of the park is to preserve the heritage of the area and learn more about its history.

last updated 16-Jun-2008

Geography of the Ecrins

Map of the Ecrins Region Covering over 270 000 hectares (91 740 of which make up the central zone) the Ecrins National Park is the largest in France. Not just an enormous adventure playground made up of rocks, rivers and forests the park is also home to 61 towns and villages; one third of which are in the department of Isère and the remaining two thirds fall within Haute-Savoie. They are all in the peripheral zone of the park and can make a great base from which to explore the park; a few places worth a visit include Les Vigneaux, Vallouise, Ailefroide, Puy Aillaud and La Bérarde. Some of these are beautiful little hamlets where old cultures and traditions die hard. The Ecrins is contained by the Romanche River to the North, the Guisane River to the East, the Durance River to the South and the Drac River to the West. Into these rivers run the rain and melt waters that gather in the Ecrins, gently eroding gorges and gullies as the years pass by and helping to create the characteristic shapes of the landscape. The formation of such large valleys has been helped along by the sedimentary rocks (such as limestone, schist and clay) that cover the old predominating base in the south east of the park. The rocks in the north and the west of the park however are the much harder crystalline and metamorphic rocks (such as granite and gneiss), which offer up much more resistance to the constant cycle of glaciers and waterfalls that pass over their surface through time. The differences in the rocks and their reaction to the elements is what gives the park such extremities of high peaks and deep gullies, with all those steep ascents and descents that bring the adrenaline hunters flocking! Glacier de la Pilatte Of the many peaks of the Ecrins National Park more than 100 of them soar higher than 3000 meters above the valley floor; not bad when you consider that the valley itself is on average no lower than 1000m above sea level! The highest point is the Barre des Ecrins at 4102m, which is also the only 4000 metre plus peak in France south of Mont Blanc. The Ecrins National Park has over 10 000 hectares of glacier including the Glacier Blanc, Glacier Noir, Glacier de Mont-de-Lans amongst others; scattered across the landscape are some beautifully clear (and very cold!) mountain lakes.

last updated 16-Jun-2008

Flora of the Ecrins

Alpine Toadflax The unique geographical situation of the park means that an extremely wide array of plant life can be found – if you know where to look! The Northern part tends to be cold and wet and therefore is heavily populated with spruces. The West is prone to thick cloud cover and heavy rainfall, leading to a humid environment where beech and fir trees flourish. The Southern end tends to be the most picturesque part as exposure to the sun and warm breezes from the Mediterranean Sea mean that lavender and pine scent the air and colour the landscape. The cold, dry and often sunny aspects of the East are where you will find beautiful shady larch groves. Orange Lily The majority of the park is made up of meadows and moorlands and the array of flowers, especially in spring, can be quite a sight. There are over 1800 different species of flora within the park, representing over 50% of the varieties to be found in the whole of the rest of France! Edelweiss While most people associate the Alps with the notorious Edelweiss (cue Sound of Music...) there are a great number of other rare and beautiful plants to be seen including orchids, peonies, saxifrage, absinth and dwarf willow. To find edelweiss you need to be up high - it usually grows at between 2000 and 2900 meters and often in the most inaccessible rocky places. It blooms between July and September and the 'woolly' appearance of the petals is due to lots of tiny white hairs. Edelweiss is a rare and protected plant, so if you are lucky enough to see some just take a photo and leave them alone - do not pick them. Even in the places where flowers find it hard to flourish you will still find that lichen has taken hold and given the landscape a gentle tinge of colour.

last updated 16-Jun-2008

Fauna of the Ecrins

All of the creatures most commonly associated with the Alps are well represented in the Ecrins National Park – chamois, marmots, ibex (also known as bouquetin) and eagles can all be seen if you are lucky (and quiet!) enough. Other animals to keep an eye out for include ermine, pine martens, alpine newts, grass snakes, frogs, voles, squirrels and foxes. Of the feathered variety you may see eagles, falcons, owls, sandpipers, plovers, tetras lyres, ptarmigans, whippoorwills and other rare species. Ibex (Bouquetin) The parks wildlife stats are impressive to say the least: 210 different species of bird 320 species of vertebrates 64 species of mammal Around 12 000 chamois Around 200 ibex 37 pairs of golden eagles 200 species that are protected in France 80 of which are also protected in Europe A European Alpine Chamois One of the highlights for many visitors is spotting a chamois or a marmot – the two most symbolic animals of the Alps. Since the creation of the park as a protected the area the chamois population has rocketed from 3000 to 12 000! This does not guarantee a sighting by any means though, as the chamois is a shy creature and likes to keep a wary eye out for danger. They are most likely to be spotted early in the morning and at dusk, as this is when they tend to graze for food. They live high up and are good rock hoppers; so if you look to the crags above you, you might see a hairy little face gazing back down! A marmot enjoying the sunshine! Marmots are funny creatures that amble around between 1000 and 3000 meters. They look a little like oversized guinea pigs and live in underground burrows called ‘galleries’. They live in large family groups, so if you spot one the chances are there are more of them milling about somewhere nearby. They make a peculiar high pitched whistling noise and like to sunbathe! Species rehabilitation is one of the aims of the park and it is a haven for rare and protected creatures. The ibex was reintroduced to the area around Valbonnais and Champsaur and they now number about 200. The black grouse is another species that the park is trying hard to preserve as it is in real danger of extinction; the rangers monitor habitats and record numbers and are keen to inform and educate visitors to the park about their work. Their research into the wildlife of the park sometimes leads to a few surprises – the two-coloured serotine bat is another Ecrins resident and was only discovered in 1995! The isolated summits provide a perfect habitat for golden eagles; the park boasts the largest established population in the whole of France. Peregrine falcons and horned owls have been spotted, as have the occasional lynx and wolf. In fact, if you are a dedicated birdwatcher, a keen conservationist or just someone who likes to spot a bit of wildlife when they are rambling along the Ecrins park is definitely a good place to start.

last updated 16-Jun-2008