Tour of Lac de la Plagne

10 points of interest

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  Fauna

  The bearded vulture

  The Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) has a wingspan of 2.80 m and feeds mainly on bones! Falsely attributed with demonic powers, the bearded vulture was completely exterminated from the Alps at the beginning of the 20th century. Its return is the result of an international reintroduction programme supported by Europe. The bearded vulture has been established in the valley since 2004. It is highly sensitive to disturbances, information is therefore provided on site with guidelines on how to ensure its eyrie remains a peaceful place in case of reproduction.

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  Summit

  The Dôme de Bellecôte and Aliet

  "Upon departing, on your right, you follow the Dôme de Bellecôte (3,417 m in altitude). In winter, several of the paths facing you are used for off-piste skiing from the area of La Plagne. At the eastern end, you can see the summit of Aliet (3,109 m in altitude). Its name came from ""alye"", meaning needle in Savoyard patois. From this point of view, it appears in the form of a pyramid of rock. It requires special climbing techniques to scale. It is rated as difficult."

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  Fauna

  The golden eagle

  The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a rare and protected species, although in recent years its numbers have been increasing in the Alps. At Peisey-Nancroix, it appears on the town’s coat of arms. The hike crosses through the territory of a pair of golden eagles. Monitored since 1973, it has already occupied 11 different eyries (term used to designate a bird of prey’s nests) and guided 35 young birds to take flight. It feeds mainly on marmots in summer and is content with carrion in winter.

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  Fauna

  Ungulates

  The Rosuel valley is particular for also welcoming the plains ungulates such as deer, rœ deer and occasionally wild boars on the low zones and those more specific to the mountain on the upper parts such as the chamois and ibex. However, the latter do not occupy the same areas according to the seasons and they leave the bottom of valley in the summer in favour of areas that are higher in altitude and cooler.

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  Water

  Water inlets and kitchens

  The water of the Gurraz waterfalls, in front of the Lanches de la Rèbe, is partially captured by Électricité de France and transported by an 8 km long tunnel under the Mont-Pourri massif to the artificial lake of Tignes. This tunnel was excavated in the fifties. The concrete ruins at the bottom of the valley are the remains of the kitchens which fed the workers during the excavation works.

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  Summit

  Mont-Pourri

  On the ascent to your left, you will see the Mont-Pourri which culminates at 3,779 m, making it the second highest peak of Vanoise after the Grande Casse. It was scaled for the first time by Michel Croz in 1861. Today the route passes conventionally through the Geay glacier that can be seen under the summit. At the foot of its moraine, the former refuge, where mountaineers slept until the 1970s, has been converted into a museographic space dedicated to the history of this summit.

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  Pastoralism

  The cows

  More than 250 cows come from neighbouring villages or from further afield (Isère in particular) to summer in this mountain pasture. Here, different races co-exist: Montbéliarde, Charolais, Limousine, Tarentaise… These are cows that do not produce milk and instead are bred for heifers, breeding or meat cows. They arrive at the bottom of the valley, then climb at altitude as the grass grows, before gradually descending again. They are watched over by a herdsman, who will occupy different alpine chalets according to the progression of the herd.

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  Lake

  Lac de la Plagne.

  The Lac de la Plagne is a particularly deep natural lake (19 m). It is currently privately managed and depends on the association of the Lacs de Montagne de Landry-Peisey which regularly stocks it. Brown trout, brook trout and lake trout populate its waters. The lake trout originated in northern America, in the area between the Great Lakes and Alaska and was introduced here in 1964. This species is monitored by tagging the young fish.

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  Refuge

  The Refuge d'Entre-le-lac

  At 2,145 m in altitude, on the shores of Lac de la Plagne, an old sheep pen, owned by the town of Landry, was renovated as a refuge in 1980. Since then, the shepherd who farms the alpine pastures still stops there, but it is also guarded throughout the summer period, providing overnight and catering services for about 40 guests. Thanks to the two dairy cows on site, the refuge caretakers offer fresh dairy products daily.

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  Architecture

  The chalets of La Plagne

  "The hamlet of La Plagne includes a sheep pen, 2 stables, 2 covered market ruins, several dry stone walls and enclosures, a vaulted cellar and an old ruin to the south, evidence of an alpine pasture that has long been farmed. The cellar includes several engraved stones, one of which dates from 1772. The main buildings have been built on the slope, which protects them from avalanches. They still have, at least in part, a traditional mortar made of ""visible stones""."