The Vallée de la Clarée is a scenic valley in the
French Alps near to
Montgenèvre,
Briançon and the French-Italian border. The
Clarée river runs through the valley.
The mountains on either side are part of the
Massif des Cerces
The massif des Cerces is a region of the French Alps on the Franco-Italian border. On the French side it lies in the departements of Hautes-Alpes and Savoie.
The massif consists of smaller mountain chains including Mont Thabor as well as those of ...
. To the west they are between 2800 and 2900m high, while on the east side they are between 2300 and 2400m high. Consequently, the snow is slow to melt and gives rise to the name of the central commune
Névache
Névache (; oc, Nevascha ) is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Geography
It is situated in the Vallée de la Clarée.
Climate
Névache has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification ''Dfb''). T ...
meaning "snowed".
The valley lies at between 1400 and 2000m and contains meadows and larch forest. This alpine situation creates great biological diversity with several different habitats such as flooded soils and
peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficien ...
. These valleys contain 39% of known plant species in the French Alps, and 61% of those in the
arrondissement
An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands.
Europe
France
The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissements' ...
of Briançon.
The Vallée de la Clarée and the adjoining
Vallée Etroite Vallée is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*André Vallée (1930–2015), Canadian Roman Catholic bishop
*Anne Vallée (born 1958), Canadian biologist
*Bernard Vallée (born 1945), French fencer
*Brigitte Vallée (born 19 ...
cover 26,000 hectares and contain famous hiking trails (GR 57, Tour du Mont Thabor, Grande Traversée des Alpes). The valleys are exceptional area in that they have been preserved in their natural state. Agriculture, forestry and the rearing of livestock are still carried out traditionally.
Consequently, the valley is one of the most visited parts of the
Hautes-Alpes department. Visitors have been estimated at 600,000 visits per year. As a result, and as a result of the campaign led by
Émilie Carles
Émilie Carles (29 May 1900 – 29 July 1979) was a French writer and activist.
Biography
Marie Julie Émilie Allais was born in Val-des-Prés on 29 May 1900. Her parents were small farmers in a mountainous region. Her mother died when she was j ...
, the valleys have been given the status of protected areas since 1992. In the summer the valley is visited by cyclists and walkers and by riders who use the large stables in Les Alberts.
The river is used for water sports especially in spring as the snow melts. There are sections of white water, which are used by kayaks and white water rafts. There is a dramatic waterfall at Fontcouverte.
The valley in winter is covered in snow, which is enjoyed by many cross-country skiers. There are over 65 km of trails. It has one of the main circuits where the French cross-country team train. Although it is popular for cross-country ski-ing, the valley's protected status has prevented ski-lifts being installed.
The valley is famous for its numerous sun-dials.
Access
The valley is accessible by car via the
Col de Montgenevre from Briançon in the summer or over the
Col de l'Echelle
In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 103. . It may also be called a gap. Particularly rugged and forbidding col ...
from
Bardonecchia (Italy). In July and August is the highest part of the valley is closed to motorised transport. Only a shuttle is allowed to take tourists to the Refuge de Laval at 2000m.
Places and monuments
300px, Vallée de la Clarée (taken from 3,500 m altitude)
*
Col de l'Echelle
In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 103. . It may also be called a gap. Particularly rugged and forbidding col ...
*
Le Rosier
*
Nevache
*
Plampinet
*
Val-des-Pres
References
Tourist Office NevacheTourist Office - Val-Des-PresGeoportail site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vallee de la Claree
Landforms of Hautes-Alpes
Valleys of France
Landforms of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
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