Nature: Champdepraz

The Mont Avic Park, first natural park in the Aosta Valley, preserves since 1989 the natural resources of the upper Chalamy stream valley in the municipality of Champdepraz and, since 2003 the Dondena valley, in the territory of Champorcher.

The protected area is characterised by extremely captivating landscapes and environments only marginally affected by human activities.
Crossing the paths that meander through the protected area gives visitors the chance to come into contact with particularly interesting and various natural aspects: rugged and characteristic geological formations, floral alpine endimisms and peculiar plant associations tied to the green rock substratum. The largest mountain pine forest (pinus uncinata) in the region with a couple dozen ponds, marshes and peat bog, it is unrivalled in number and in extension in the Aosta Valley. All the most widespread alpine animals in the region are represented.

You can hike along the park paths all year round. Most of the paths are snow-covered from November to May and only advisable for experts with appropriate equipment. Some paths can be ridden on horseback or on mountain bike.

Audio guide mp3

Located in Chevrère, in the village of Covarey, the Mont Avic Regional Park visitors centre includes:

- an information point where you can watch films and admire pictures of the park on the large video wall, receive detailed information and publications on Mont Avic and the entire protected alpine area network and consult nature publications;

- a nature museum that describes the Park’s rocky environments, wetlands and forests, involving visitors with interactive systems;

-a multipurpose room where educational activities, films, meetings and temporary exhibits are held;

- a model in 1:5000 scale, located on the lawn, that faithfully reproduces the park and its surroundings.

Brochures and pamphlets are available in the outdoor distributor even when the information point is closed.

Inside the Centre the map of Mont Avic Park scaled at 1:25,000 can be purchased for 5,00 €; it includes useful information for hikers - in Italian, French and English – and two simplified cartographic inserts.

A mountain with a characteristic profile catches the eye: it is Mont Avic (3006 meters), the emblem of the park of the same name, a protected nature reserve that extends within the territories of Champdepraz and Champorcher.

Mont Avic is located on the ridge that branches off to the north from Mont Glacier (3186 meters), on the border between the municipalities of Champdepraz and Chambave, in the Graian Alps of Aosta Valley.
A statue of the Madonna was placed on its top in 1957.

The ascent to Mont Avic is possible along two itineraries, both with climbing sections that must be carried out by expert hikers with mountaineering equipment and in the presence of good environmental and meteorological conditions.