Petit Mont-Blanc and the Merlets Lakes


Summer mountain pasture cheese dairy
Local produce on sale at the Fromagerie du Plan, in Pralognan village centre.

Les Prioux

Les Prioux hamlet
At the edge of Vanoise National Park, Chavière Valley unveils its natural wonders along a refreshingly varied path: the Savoyard discovery tour around Les Prioux.
Life in this hamlet, perched at an altitude of 1,700m, is still very much in step with nature and the winter and summer seasons, and residents have had to adapt accordingly. As they are cut off from the world through the long winter months, they have so much to share with you about life in the past: the mountain pastures, making Beaufort cheese, the growth of tourism and mountain crafts and trades...
This refreshingly varied path unveils the wonders of Chavière Valley to you, with its awe-inspiring peaks and more relaxing hamlets.
The route is accessible to everyone, including families with pushchairs, the elderly and wheelchair users with helpers.
• Round trip takes: 40 minutes
• Elevation gain: 10 metres
• Distance: 1km 100
People with reduced mobility can reach Les Prioux via an adapted shuttle bus.
Open from 15 May to 30 September, except if snow closes the road to Les Prioux.
On-site you’ll find a cheese dairy, restaurants and accommodation options, to make a proper holiday out of your trip!

The Ecological Land Reserve of Petit Mont-Blanc

Col du Mône

The etymology of Courchevel

Alpage des Avals: the secret of an earthworm

The Alpage des Avals: Beaufort cheese

Alternative round trip towards Col des Saulces

Biol cellar
Nearby is the cellar and the chalet de la Grande Val, still used nowadays to make the beaufort "chalet d'alpage"; with a tool renovated in the years 2010

Dents de la Portetta, Petit Mont-Blanc and the Aiguille du Fruit

The Lacs Merlets: “Chaloin” type refuge

Lacs Merlets

Lac du Pêtre: wetland

The marmot

Chamois and ibex

The Col Rouge, a “lunar” mountain pass

Arbé

Ritort

The Alpage de Ritort

The common rock thrush

Lo tsa pentu

Drink in moderation or not at all!

On the clods

"Passerelle des anciens" footbridge
Description
- Departure : Car park, les Prioux, Pralognan-la-Vanoise
- Arrival : Car park, les Prioux, Pralognan-la-Vanoise
- Towns crossed : PRALOGNAN-LA-VANOISE, SAINT-BON-TARENTAISE, LES ALLUES
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
Information desks
Maison de la Vanoise - Avenue Chasseforêt<br>73710 Pralognan-la-Vanoise,
hotesse.pralognan@vanoise-parcnational.fr
04 79 08 71 49
Transport
Access and parking
Parking :