Where can you see marmots in the heart of the Alps?

At Mont-Cenis! In spring, along the D1006, from the Col du Mont-Cenis to the foot of the dam of the same name. Be careful when driving along the road beside the dam: in spring, after long months of hibernation, marmots sometimes wander onto the road. Then, in summer, you'll see them in the mountain pastures around Fort de Ronce and Col du Petit Mont-Cenis.

For easy marmot-watching in Val Cenis, you can also reach Bellecombe, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park (access by car). The area is busy in summer, but marmots are often right there, watching you as you pass along the road. They are, however, most visible in the morning and late afternoon. With the high-altitude lakes, Dent Parrachée and Grande Casse in the background, the area is simply magical!

In Aussois, in the Fournache and Fond d'Aussois mountain pastures. Start from the Aussois dam parking lot towards the Plan Sec refuge, then La Fournache. You can make a lovely loop by continuing towards Pont de la Séteria and then descending to the opposite shore of Lac de Plan d'Aval. You can also take the Grand Jeu chairlift directly from the village to reach the mountain pastures, where you can watch the marmots.

The vallon de l'Orgère, also known by some as "the valley of the marmots", is a beautiful place where you can easily get close to the marmots that thrive in the flowery meadows around the chalets. The parking lot at the refuge de l'Orgère is easily accessible by road from the traffic circle at Le Freney and Saint-André. The walk in the valley is accessible to baby carriages (cross wheels) and people with reduced mobility. Explanatory panels and interactive terminals tell you more about the marmots, the history and the ecosystem of this postcard-like valley. Also worth noting: the Polset valley, just before the Orgère valley from Saint-André, is also home to marmots. Less well known, it's a great walk to the end of this secret valley where magnificent waterfalls roar.

Between Val Cenis and Bessans, the Vallonbrun area is also very marmot-friendly. From the hamlet of La Madeleine (in summer, you can even drive to the Grattais parking lot to avoid the climb), a pleasant path leads to the Vallonbrun refuge. In the mountain pastures before the refuge, you'll be whistled at most of the way up... In the off-season, you may also spot chamois. From the refuge, you can also climb up to the Pierre aux Pieds, a superb slab engraved by man in the Iron Age (between 700 and 200 BC).

At the bottom of the valley in Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc, you'll also see marmots. They often stand on their hind legs atop a rock to watch you, whether you're on theAvérole, Ecot, Carro or Evettes trails, or even cycling up the Col de l'Iseran.