The moutains in summer, at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park
A small, ancestral mountain village at the foot of the Vanoise glaciers and the highest peaks of Savoie – including the Grande Casse, the highest point in the department (3855 m) – Pralognan is at the origin of Savoyard mountaineering and summer mountain tourism. The main gateway to the Vanoise National Park, the family village resort in the Alps is a paradise for hikers, families and explorers, in search of exceptional moments, in the heart of unspoiled nature.
Pralognan: resort in the Vanoise National Park, in Savoie
With 70% of its territory located in the center of the Vanoise National Park, Pralognan is the capital of the Park. This vast natural environment, protected and freely accessible, offers an infinite space of discovery, for young and old. At the heart of the Vanoise National Park, the rich biodiversity, the numerous species that coexist (mammals, birds or flowering plants), the varied landscapes, between high peaks, lakes and glaciers, pastoral valleys, vast passes and cultural heritage, immediately invite a change of scenery and wonder.
Pralognan-la-Vanoise: a summer hiking paradise
France’s first national park, created in the 1960s to protect the ibex, Vanoise National Park allows families, hikers, and mountaineers to explore a unique mountain environment in the Northern Alps in summer. At the heart of the park, Pralognan offers 250 kilometers of marked trails and seven mountain huts staffed in summer. A vast natural area, with a multitude of hiking trails to explore, alone or with a guide.
Find the full program of guided hikes with the Bureau des Guides & Accompagnateurs in the activities program.
The mountains in summer: a land of sensations and explorations
A small mountain village nestled at the foot of the highest peaks in the Vanoise region and the largest ice cap in continental Europe, Pralognan is a pioneering mountaineering destination. Labeled “Land of Mountaineering” and boasting one of the largest Guides & Accompanists’ Offices in France, Pralognan-la-Vanoise offers climbers, from beginners to experts, numerous nature and glacier hikes and high-mountain races.
In addition to this traditional guiding activity, numerous mountain sports are also available: trail running, climbing, via ferrata, adventure courses and zip lines, canyoning, paragliding, and more. Discover new mountain adventures in the summer, in complete safety. Adrenaline and thrills guaranteed!
Children’s activities to discover in the mountains in summer
The Croës Walk: Little mountain dwellers discover their surroundings during an easy walk punctuated with games and nursery rhymes. For ages 3 and up.
Survival Kit: Toddlers gently discover survival techniques in mountain and forest environments. Suitable for ages 6 and up.
Forest adventurers: climb the trees on the adventure trail, slide down the zip lines, build a cabin and discover the secrets of the forest… Here is the program for this nature & adventure outing, reserved for children between 6 and 12 years old.
Escape Game: a forest treasure hunt following in the footsteps of smugglers to find a treasure lost on the old salt and Beaufort cheese route… For ages 13 and up.
Horseback riding, pony rides, and riding lessons: come share your passion for horses at the Ranch de l’Ancolie. Ages 3 and up.
The Fraîche Waterfall Ziplines: Six ziplines allow you to soar above the clear waters of the Fraîche Waterfall. A thrill over 1,700 meters! For ages 12 and up.
And also: mini golf, inflatable games, aquatic center with slide, outdoor and indoor spaces, ice rink, bowling…
A family resort in Savoie, for authentic tribes
Looking for a family-friendly resort to explore the mountains in summer? A village resort in the Alps with an authentic atmosphere, Pralognan-la-Vanoise is an ideal destination for a summer mountain holiday with children. Here are some of the attractions of this family-friendly resort in Savoie in summer:
- The right altitude: at 1,410 meters, this village resort in the Northern Alps boasts the ideal altitude for a family summer mountain vacation.
- A privileged location in the Alps: the last village in the Tarentaise Valley, at the end of the valley, Pralognan is a safe and peaceful destination.
- The gateway to the Vanoise Massif and the Vanoise National Park: a magnificent and accessible region, a hiking paradise and a vast reservoir of biodiversity.
- A multitude of activities to discover with the family: outdoor activities, sports, contemplation, thrills, or more traditional… There’s something for all tastes and ages!
- Adapted infrastructure and services: aquatic center, Olympic ice rink, bowling, outdoor games, kids’ club, etc.
- Family entertainment and festive events to share all summer long.
- A rich local cuisine to discover through local grocery stores and a variety of restaurants, both in the village and at altitude.
- A wide choice of accommodation: hotels, resort hotels, holiday centers, guest houses, outdoor accommodation, tourist residences, chalet and apartment rentals… And great deals for affordable family mountain vacations.
Furthermore, Pralognan-la-Vanoise is a true mountain village that lives all year round, with a culture and heritage preserved over time and generations. Discover local know-how and products, meet farmers, visit farms, village markets, walks in the mountains and mountain pastures… In Pralognan, summer mountain holidays enchant tribes, in search of authenticity.
Pralognan-la-Vanoise, a summer mountain destination since 1905
Pralognan’s past is one of mountain pastures, trade, and hospitality. Since the 12th century, the naturally occurring meadows at the foot of the Vanoise massif have been used for grazing, and the canons, stationed at the start of the path leading to the pass, have provided assistance to travelers. Passable by mules, the Col de la Vanoise is an ancestral crossing point, used in the summer for the transit of numerous goods between the Tarentaise, Maurienne, and the Italian Piedmont (particularly for the salt and cheese trade, for which the path still bears its name).
Based on livestock farming and milk production at high altitude, Pralognan-la-Vanoise has lived off its agro-pastoral activities, century after century, until… “In August 1860, a chamois hunter from Pralognan, renowned for his endurance and skill, returned to the village one evening and told a curious story. An English traveler asked him the day before to accompany him into the mountains, and they climbed… the Grande Casse.”*
From then on, the small Alpine mountain village began to embrace tourism. With the creation of the first tourist accommodation in 1875, followed by the “Grand Hôtel de Pralognan” in 1895, the number of travelers increased during the summer months. The first tourism professions appeared, and in 1905, the resort’s first tourist office was created, along with the first steps of a guides’ office.
Today, Pralognan-la-Vanoise continues to embody the living Savoyard mountain scene, in its heritage and its evolution. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, the people of Pralognan cultivate their heritage through the unique natural, built, and cultural heritage of their village, passing on to visitors their passion and respect for the mountains.
This is how, for over 150 years, Pralognan has established itself as a must-see summer mountain destination in France, Savoie, and the Northern Alps.
*Source: Pralognan la Vanoise, Daily Life and Mountaineering from 1860 to 1914 – Jacques de Leymarie – Memoirs and Documents of the Val d’Isère Academy.
