History

The disappearance of the alpine ibex from the Vanoise mountain massif led to the creation of the Vanoise National Park the 6 July 1963.
 

The ibex was still widespread in the 16th century, but it was soon wiped out when guns were used for hunting. Only around a hundred individuals remained in the Gran Paradiso mountains, in Italy, when hunting of this animal was banned in 1823. King Victor Emmanuel II created the Gran Paradiso royal reserve in 1856; it was enlarged in 1922 and made into a national park. In France, the creation of a national reserve in the Vanoise mountains was being considered from 1943, under pressure from the Club Alpin Français, the Touring Club de France and hunting associations.

Alpine ibex
© PNV / Patrick Folliet
There were numerous hesitations concerning the surface area to be protected as well as whether the focus should be placed on humans or animals. Finally, the project was planned with two zones, one central, the other peripheral. The ibex was at last permanently protected by the Vanoise National Park, created on 6 July 1963 - the first French national park. It has a common border with the Italian Gran Paradiso National Park. Twinned since 1972, together they cover 1250km2 and constitute the largest protected site in Western Europe.