Gran Paradiso National Park
Italy’s first national park, created in 1922 to save the ibex
Gran Paradiso is Italy’s first national park. It was created by decree on 3 December 1922 to protect the ibex, which became its symbol, and the chamois. It covers more than 71,000 hectares between the Aosta Valley and Piedmont.
The Aosta Valley side
In the Aosta Valley the park takes in the Cogne valley, the Valsavarenche and the Rhêmes valley. Seven municipalities of the valley belong to it: Aymavilles, Cogne, Introd, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Rhêmes-Saint-Georges, Valsavarenche and Villeneuve. Cogne is its main gateway.
Ibex, eagles and bearded vultures
Ibex and chamois are found throughout the park. In 2021 it also counted 27 nesting pairs of golden eagle and 3 pairs of bearded vulture, the great Alpine vulture that returned after being reintroduced.
Visitor centres and sites
On the Aosta Valley side, three visitor centres welcome the public, in Cogne, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame and Valsavarenche. The Fondation Grand Paradis also runs the Paradisia botanical garden, Introd castle, the Maison Bruil and the John Paul II house-museum. For the summit itself, see the article on Gran Paradiso.
Address : visitor centres in Cogne, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame and Valsavarenche
Email : info@grand-paradis.it
Official website : www.grand-paradis.it
Opening : the park is open all year; the visitor centres have seasonal hours: please enquire.
Admission : free access to the park.
Please check before your visit: hours and prices can change from one season to the next.
Main photo : Tim Verfaillie, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Maps: personal work by Marc Badjou.
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