Travel Guide Chapelle-En-Valgaudémar

Located in the Alps, the Ecrins National Park covers 270 000 ha of land, including 91 800 ha of protected area, including a large part of the Ecrins massif and 61 communes. Between Gap, Grenoble and Briançon, Ecrins National Park is bounded by Romansh to the north, Guisane and Durance to the east and south, the Drac to the west. Created in March 1973, this park is the fifth French national park. Since 1995, the park also covers the first full reserve of France: the total reserve of Lauvitel with an area of 700 ha.The park is on an altitude between 800 and 4 102 m, with the Ecrins Bar culminating. The landscapes consist of a succession of valleys and mountain peaks, and there are many glaciers covering 17 000 ha. The fauna of the park, characteristic of the Alpine fauna, is rich with 320 species of vertebrates identified, including 210 species of birds and many mammals: bouquetin, marmot, squirrels…A population of 12 000 chamois people the landforms of the park. This park serves as a refuge for 200 protected animal species in France, including 80 species protected at European level. Over the flora, over 1 800 plant species have been identified in the park, of which 800 species are protected at regional, national or European level and 35 endemic species. A figure made possible by the mosaic of natural habitats that constitute the park: from the forest of mélézin to the oak trees, through the pine forest, meadows and pastures. 740 km of trails have been marked and 7 houses in the park welcome tourists all year round. The park has developed an environment and sustainable development charter in partnership with local actors of the municipalities included in the park and distributed over the departments of Isère and Hautes-Alpes.www.les-ecrins-parcnational.fr