Massif des Bauges, Regional Nature Park, Savoie
Alpine Plants & Wildlife, Soft Adventure & Skiing, Mountain Crafts
Nov 12, 2009
Covering 90 000 ha, the Massif des Bauges stretches from Annecy to the Chignin vineyards and from Lac du Bourget to the Isère valley. Alpine plants and wildlife abound, mountain crafts survive in traditional villages and come summer or winter, tourism favours soft adventure and eco-friendly activities.
Ranging from 270m to over 2000 m across Savoie and Upper Savoie, the Bauges alpine park boasts a rich biodiversity with pastures and forests, lush valleys and mountain slopes topped with limestone cliffs. The Maison du Parc in Ecole provides a great introduction to the park.
Massif des Bauges, Alpine Plants and Wildlife
Over 90% of the Massif des Bauges agricultural land consists of pastures and meadows. Altogether, the mountain range claims 1600 species of alpine plants. It’s a fabulous display of colour and fragrance, varying according to altitude and season. There are wild carnations, thyme and sage, rare martagon lilies, golden Carline and blue thistles, gentians, orchids and myriad others flavouring the grass and imparting a special quality to Savoie cheese.
Alpine wildlife includes 2000 chamois in the upper reaches of the Bauges. Beavers build their nests by Annecy lake, wild boars share the slopes with stoats and hares, lynxes, deer and marmots frolicking on the rocks. Among the 117 species of birds are rock partridges, black grouse, wall creepers and the spectacular golden eagle with a powerful hooked bill and wingspan up to 2.4 metres.
Soft Adventure and Skiing in Alpine Park, Savoie
The alpine park offers all sorts of activities but top of the list is soft adventure. Summers are for hiking across valleys and mountains, looking out for alpine plants and wildlife and enjoying bird’s eye views of lakes, villages and farms. Favourite treks include the Revard plateau, Bellevaux valley and the area around La Féclaz, especially the climb to the scenic Nivolet Cross high above Chambéry.
In winter, the plateau of Savoie Grand Revard turns into the top French resort for Nordic skiing, boasting 140 kms of trails which can be combined to suit ability and fitness. Those who make it to l’Olette may enjoy views of Mont Blanc. Dog sledging, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, skijoering and alpine skiing are also available.
Mountain Crafts in Savoie
Savoie nurtures a variety of mountain crafts, most importantly traditional cheese making. The alpine park produces its own Tome des Bauges, a mild creamy cheese with a relatively low fat content. Some farms, such as the Fruitière in Val d’Aillon, are open to visitors, offering the chance to discover ancient trade secrets and even lend a hand.
Pottery, often decorated with dots, and woodcraft are widespread. This includes the so-called ‘Bauges silverware’, the wooden dishes and bowls once made for the poor now turned into prized souvenirs.
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