The 10 Most Beautiful Natural Sites in the French Alps

The Galibier mountain pass (Col de Galibier) is one of the highest in France and a favorite with cyclists. It's not just legendary, it's incredibly beautiful too. This 2,645 meter high pass, which often features in the Tour de France, basks in the sun of the Maurienne valley.

The effort you'll expend getting up there will be more than rewarded by the sensational panorama including a view of La Meije mountain and the glaciers around it and even, if you're lucky, Mont Blanc in the distance. One piece of advice, it's better to do this in the summer as the snow often makes it impassible from October until the end of May.

The Cirque du Fer à Cheval is a marvelous limestone theater in the Alps created by glaciers and great for hiking. 5 km long and 700 meters high, it is punctuated by more than 30 superb waterfalls falling from fabulous peaks like the Corne du Chamois. The forests and peaks shelter an exceptional variety of plants and wildlife.

But if you prefer activity to botany there's also the via ferrata, mountaineering, rock-climbing and mountain biking. In winter you can enjoy the cross-country skiing or just admire the fairy tale icicles on those famous waterfalls.

Vanoise National Park (le parc national de la Vanoise) is known for its outstanding natural beauty and the incredible variety of plant and wild life it shelters. Straddling the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys in Savoy its primary purpose has always been to protect its unspoiled biodiversity.

Imagine mountain treks that could include magical glimpses of marmots, chamois, ibex, ptarmigan and black grouse or even golden eagles or vultures. And the good news is that the Vanoise National Park also includes lots of valleys and easy to reach mountain passes. So, are you ready to give it a go?

Lake Bourget (Lac du Bourget) and it's glistening water formed from glaciers is surrounded by mountain scenery. There are lots of different activities to do, depending on which side of the lake you are. The gentle shores at Aix-les-Bains are much wilder at Bourget-du-Lac but wherever you are, there are lots of water sports to try.

Rowing, kayaking, water skiing, rafting and sailing are all possible, or you could just enjoy a little fishing or bathing on a summer day. You can also cycle round it or opt for a hike to admire the lake from the heights of the Grande Mollière belvedere (Belvédère de la Grande Mollière).

The Platé desert (désert de Platé) is a spectacular limestone landscape that's only accessible on foot and stands at 2,500 meters above sea level. This unique place was formed by glaciers and melt water, creating a magnificent limestone landscape that stimulates the imagination, bearing witness to the presence of sea water many years ago.

While you are visiting these amazing rocks, don't forget to keep an eye out for the marmots, ibex and other species that live there. When you arrive by aerial cableway the view of Mont Blanc and the panoramic views makes this one thing you absolutely should not miss if you are in the area.

The Dévoluy mountains (Le massif du Dévoluy) will amaze you with natural light and magnificent scenery. Vast wild neighborhoods sown with parcels of agricultural land also include, for the amateur astronomers among you, the famous astronomical observatory on the Pic de Bure.

This chain of mountains is famous for its unusual geology, including the natural cave system known as the chourum, for speleologists, and the Pellafol Canal (le canal de Pellafol), dug through the rock. Here, nature combines with escapism and many sporting activities. There are two ski resorts in Dévoluy, as well as hikes, bike trails and other outdoor activities, and not forgetting the local wellness neighborhoods.

The Mercantour National Park (parc national du Mercantour), where the Alps meet the Mediterranean, is very proud of its biodiversity. Here there are at least 3,000 different species of animals and plants enjoying life in an area that is as beautiful as it is varied. Whether you're hiking for a vacation or for just a day, expect to see stags and chamois among the orchids, as well as wolves and golden eagles along the valleys and fast flowing rivers.

This area is much favored by walkers but is also great for families, for whom an absolute must is a visit to Lake Allos (lac d'Allos). If you're a climber you'll want to go up Mont Pelat or you could just have a look round the picturesque local villages.

Mont Aiguille, known in the middle ages as the "Inaccessible Peak", attracted endless legends and was a source of fascination to those who saw it. Whatever else it may be, Mont Aiguille was first climbed in 1492 by Antoine de Ville, on the orders of King Charles VIII, representing the beginning of the sport of mountaineering.

At 600 meters long and 100 meters wide, this well known peak looks more like a tooth than the needle (aiguille) it is named after but is still a fascinating sight in the Alpine countryside, green in summer and snow-covered in winter.

Écrins National Park (le parc national des Écrins) is a kingdom of glaciers and valleys created through erosion. There are many peaks that are more than 3,000 meters high and a huge network of hiking paths. This wild landscape is home to a variety of plant and animal life including the famous purple mountain saxifrage whose color will stay in your memory for a long time.

And if you are interested in Alpine flora then don't forget the Lautaret botanical garden (Jardin botanique de col du Lautaret) on the mountain pass of the same name. It is one of the oldest in Europe and has an outstanding view over the surrounding Écrins National Park.

Queyras Regional Natural Park (le parc naturel régional de Queyras) is 65,000 hectares of forests, gorges, mountain lakes and villages which together are a haven for hikers. An opportunity to enjoy the cool larch forests or pit yourself against the elements with steep passes, wild pathways and fast flowing streams.

Just imagine if you had to take your pack as well, like the pedlars of old. When you need to rest and eat there are little villages offering cheese and honey and if you like to combine culture with your nature then you could go to Saint-Véran, one of the highest villages in Europe, or visit Fort Queyras. And along the way you'll see ancient sundials, fountains and little chapels.