The Ecrins: history, Exploring Park core zone rules A few key figures land and aims the high-altitude Park The core zone is an unspoiled area that is open Created 27 March 1973 to everyone and is governed by a code Core zone 91 800 ha The Park's history goes back a long way. It Situated between Gap, Grenoble and Briançon, of good practice. emerged briefly as the Bérarde National Park in the Ecrins National Park is bounded by the Optimum partnership perimeter 180 000 ha 1913, but only in 1973 was the Ecrins National watersheds of the Romanche to the north, the Number of communes 61, 43 in the Hautes-Alpes, Park officially established in response to pressure Guisane and Durance to the east and south, and and 18 in Isère The Ecrins from mountaineers, nature organisations the Drac to the west. The high mountain area is Altitude range 800 - 4,102 m (Barre des Ecrins) and the French Alpine Club. structured around the chain of major peaks, Paths 700 km of maintained paths, The Park is divided into sectors, each of which is and the complex massif culminates in the Barre 109 footbridges and bridges National Park managed by a team of field workers who are des Ecrins at 4,102 m. More than 150 peaks are Flora 1,800 plant species, including responsible for organising the day-to-day over 3,000 m high, and the valley floors are at 168 plants important in our heritage work within the huge area. around 1,000 m above sea level. The Park's core Fauna 75 mammals, 235 birds, 13 reptiles, 10 amphibians The permanent visitor centres are places zone can only be explored on foot. and 20 fish identified where the public can obtain information and The network of 700 km of paths is maintained meet local stakeholders. Glaciers 11 300 ha regularly to satisfy the demands of professionals The sectors are located within two • No dogs, not even on a lead, so as not to disturb the (Summer) alpine meadows 68 800 ha (shepherds, guides, hut wardens) and the public départements – the Hautes Alpes and Isère wildlife and livestock. Forest 41 422 ha (day trippers, walkers, mountaineers, etc.). – and two regions: Provence-Alpes-Côte • No picking flowers or taking samples: animals, plants, Mountain guides can take you into the world of What is a national park ? d'Azur and Rhône-Alpes. minerals and fossils are all part of the scenery. For more information, please contact: glaciers and high peaks. You can also opt for a The sectoral teams work closely with the • No firearms: all animals in the core zone are protected. Head office of the Ecrins National Park range of guided thematic walks around the Park. management and the head office in Gap • Do not leave litter. Keep the natural world unsoiled. Domaine de Charance - 05000 Gap The schedule of visitor activities and field trips It is usually a large area in which the wealth of (scientific, land management, visitors & • No fires: they can cause forest fires and damage the soil. Tel: +33 (0)4 92 40 20 10 - Fax: +33 (0)4 92 52 38 34 can be obtained from the Park visitor centres, biological resources, the nature of the landscapes, communication, and administration services). • Avoid making too much noise. Let everyone enjoy the Email: [email protected] as can information designed to help all the cultural value and continuation of past The Ecrins National Park is one of nine French zone in peace. Website: www.ecrins-parcnational.fr traditions require protection and management in national parks; the others are La Vanoise, visitors explore the renowned park. • No camping: this preserves the beautiful scenery and order to preserve a unique heritage. Port-Cros, the Pyrenees, the Cevennes, Watching wildlife unobtrusively, looking prevents pollution. around sites and floral trails will be even more Design: Visitor & Communication Service (layout: Anne-Lise Macle); Desktop Publishing: Flashmen; The French law of the 14 April 2006 stipulates Mercantour, Guadeloupe, La Réunion • Wild camping is only permitted between 7 p.m. and 9 Diagrams: Indigène STUDIO; Maps: Jean-François Dutilh and Julien Guilloux for the Ecrins National Park; productive if you come well prepared (pack a Text: Sandrine Balaicourt, Yves Baret, Emmanuelle Brancaz, Claude Dautrey, Gilles Farny, Anne-Lise Macle, that parks are made up of a core and partnership and French Guiana. a.m. and at least one hour's walk from the park limits Pierre Salomez; Illustrations: Greg Poole, Tour de l’Oisans GR 54; Photos courtesy of: Bertrand Bodin, Robert Chevalier, Marc Corail, Claude Dautrey, Stèphane D'houwt, Denis Fiat, François Labande, Marie-Geneviève Nicolas, sketchbook, binoculars, etc.). or nearest road. Daniel Roche, Pascal Saulay, Jean-Philippe Tavaud, Jean-Philippe Telmon, Dominique Vincent. zone. The core zone is a protected and unspoiled Printed by : Louis-Jean / Gap - 2009. area which is subject to special rules, whilst the Every part the natural world is inhabited. • No motorised vehicles: the area can only be Translation : Robyn Hackett explored on foot; cars are only permitted on partnership zone is governed by a charter adopted If you respect the code of good practice, you designated roads. by the relevant communes. will always be welcome in the Ecrins. • No mountain bikes: the area can With the financial participation of : The park's status is reviewed every 15 years, and only be explored on foot, and the each park represents an ecological partnership paths are only designed for use by between the core zone and surrounding areas walkers. whereby the economic value of the natural • Flying at less than 1,000 m resources is promoted in tandem with sustainable above the ground is forbidden. development in the communes. Each national park is managed by a public body affiliated to the Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development. The Lauvitel Nature Reserve Wildlife Flowers and plant life Architectural heritage Different landscapes The only strict reserve in France was created in The wealth of animal life in the Ecrins (over 350 Over 1,800 different plants have been identified The valleys of the Ecrins are remarkable for the Within the Ecrins, humans are increasingly trying 1995 and is managed by the Ecrins National Park. species of vertebrates) is the result of the extremely in the National Park. The diversity is the result of range of natural resources, but the cultural to blend in, leaving the scale and wild nature of All human activities are banned. varied environmental conditions: the the different vegetation levels (800 to 4,102 m). heritage of architecture and farmed landscapes the features and sites untouched. The strict nature reserve is used to study nature in Mediterranean pine vole and ocellated lizard, both Around 400 species have shaped the scenery. are equally diverse. Despite this variety, all The Park is structured around a network of its natural state. The only activities that are species from southern climes, live alongside the Larches have made their mark in the east of the architecture in the region applies the same basic central high peaks which are the foundation of permitted are scientific cataloguing, taking snow vole and ptarmigan, which are survivors park. Above the tree line, Alpine juniper principles: living in the mountains entails building its history and reputation. The large glaciers have measurements, surveys, reports and monitoring. from the last Ice Age. Only a fraction of the dominates the southern slopes, whilst on a slope using materials found nearby. carved deep and distinctive valleys in the huge invertebrate population has been discovered. rhododendrons populate the north-facing The use of local resources makes for originality rocky massif, which in turn provide access to the The aim is to create a reference site for When the Park was created, there were only hillsides. Around 168 plant species are of and strength. The approach supplies added value high peaks. comparison with similar locations where farming, 3,000 chamois in the area. particular value, from protected species (potentilla in the form of the traditional skills and techniques Cols, landscapes and the position of the hillsides forestry and tourist activities are present. There are now nearly 15,000 of the iconic influence the distribution of different species, delphinensis, Alpine sea holly) to species classified required to construct buildings. animals, Reintroduction programmes have wildlife movements, where humans settle and in the French red list of rare and endangered Although the architecture applies the same basic brought the ibex back, and almost 600 species (cotoneaster atlanticus, Briançon apricot). farm, and tourist activities within the mountain principles, the results in each valley are unique animals can now be seen on the rocky Lichens are found everywhere, and are often the community. and individual, being even more strongly mountainsides. Although some species are only last outposts of the plant world, tinting the screes From each point of entry to the Ecrins, visitors influenced by the traditional local culture and the present in summer, others have successfully and giving every site its own personalised colour travel through man-made farmed, forested and particularities of geography and geology. adapted to cope with the harsh winter climate. scheme. The plant life is evolving as the climate grazing land to reach the untamed high In some parts, tuff is used in the design and The marmot settles into a long deep sleep, the changes. We are seeing a dramatic decline in mountains. mountain hare and ptarmigan adopt white species dating back to the Ice Ages construction of windows and quoins; in other Each valley is unique in terms of geography, camouflage, and the black grouse builds protective (downy birch, two-colour sedge) places, blue limestone features mark out the culture and human presence.