Nature: Arvier, Avise, Introd, Saint-Nicolas

A glacier lake in a basin, a mosaic of plant species

The small Lolair Lake, 1,175 meters above sea level, is fed by three springs and surrounded by an extensive cane field, roche moutonnée and gentle, rolling hills of glacier origin. The lake is home to a large planktonic population, whose only equal in the region is Lozon, and vegetation of significant worth.

Flora
The pond hosts numerous floating species like the Floating pondweed (Potamogeton natans) and Aquatic bladderwort (Utricularia australis). Near the shores and channels grow buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) and, along the brooks, rich populations of Yellow Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) and Water Avens (Geum rivale). The dry Western slope is characterised by xerophile vegetation with Savin Juniper (Juniperus sabina), flowering Common Rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium) and, in the long abandoned fields, the main alpine station of the rare Pennsylvania cinquefoil (Potentilla pensylvanica).

Fauna
It is easy to glimpse a Golden eagle, Goshawk or Buzzard on the rocky cliffs and, around the lake, typically aquatic birds like wild ducks, that nest here, and gallinules.
In and around the pond live amphibians and reptiles like the common toad (Bufo bufo) and grassa snake (Natrix natrix) while the lake waters are populated by tenches, invertebrates and numerous insect families.

How to get there
Driving on the regional road 26 from Arvier to Courmayeur, turn left following the signs for Leverogne - Valgrisenche and go on until you reach La Ravoire hamlet.
Some paths also start in the Baise Pierre hamlet.

Two of the twenty-six glaciers present in Valgrisenche can be found in the municipal area of Arvier: the Château Blanc and the Tos glacier.4
The first, visible from Aosta and from the mid central valley, takes its name from mont Château Blanc (3408 m) which dominates it, and is part of the Rutor ridge, a group of mountains that occupies an area of about 50 square kilometres within the Valley of La Thuile or the “Little Saint Bernard” (Piccolo San Bernardo), the Valgrisenche and the Val d’Isère, in France.

To divide the valleys of Valgrisenche and La Thuile, in addition to Mont Château Blanc, there are Punta Flambeau (3315 m) and Doravidi (3439 m) with its characteristic summit formed by two peaks of the same height, from where you can also admire a sweeping panorama of the Rutor glacier.

The Tos glacier is located on the border with the municipalities of Valgrisenche and Rhêmes-Saint-Georges, and it is surrounded by three peaks, all on the same side: the highest is the Becca de Tos (3302 m), followed by the Grand Revers (3164 m) and by the Becca del Merlo (2961 m), also called “Becca di Chamin” from the name of the village below. Opposite these peaks rises the Becca di Verconey (2925 m).

Descending along the ridge and approaching the central valley, on the border of the municipality of Rhêmes-Saint-Georges, there is Mont de l’Âne (2362 m) and Plan Cou (2219 m), a wonderful balcony with a broad view.

Big Bench no. 178 installed near the hamlet Verney, makes it possible for you to enjoy a breathtaking view of the upper Valle d’Aosta, admiring Mont Blanc, perfectly centered between the sides of the main valley, and the imposing glacier of Château Blanc spreading along mount Rutor.
The wide-ranging view also extends to Monte Emilius and Becca di Nona (behind the bench) and to Becca del Merlo at the entrance to Valgrisenche opposite Rutor (on the left side of the bench).

In order to reach the installation, it is necessary to park in the administrative center of Arvier near the church and the green area.
Starting from the drinking fountain at the church, special signs guide visitors through the hamlets of Chez-Les-Fournier, Chez-Les-Moget, and La Crête, then climbing on up towards Verney.
After a stretch of farm road, you take the old mill path which runs along the stream up to the hamlet of Verney.

At this point, you come across stage no. 15 of the Cammino Balteo (signpost no.3 in a triangle with the vertex downwards) which you travel along for about fifty meters before you come across the big bench.

The walk lasts about 30 minutes and, after stopping to visit the bench, it is possible to eat and drink at Arvier commercial activities that provide the official stamps and passports of the Big Bench circuit.

Animals, plants and flowers, all starring at the Parc Animalier d’Introd… All visitors have to do is walk, watch and….naturally observe! The Parc Animalier is dedicated to those who want to experience the mountain habitat, comparing its ecosystems in a short period of time. Families are ideal Park visitors since the park respects and conserves animals typical of the alpine region like the ibex, chamois, woodchuck, various birds of prey and a multicoloured flora.

Dogs, although they cannot walk off their leashes in the Park, are welcome guests to the specific dog areas.

The Introd Ravine, about one hundred meters deep, is carved into the junction point of the Rhêmes and Savara Valleys and can be seen from the bridge along the regional road leading through the village. The bridge, built during World War I, is a true architectural masterpiece. To construct the huge wooden scaffolding, 8 meters wide and 34 meters long, whole tree trunks were used.

Partendo dal capoluogo di Saint-Nicolas percorrere in auto circa 8 Km seguendo le indicazioni per Vens. Arrivati nel villaggio di Vens è necessario parcheggiare l’auto e proseguire a piedi seguendo due percorsi alternativi:

• seguire la strada asfaltata, che con una lieve pendenza ed un percorso leggermente più lungo consente di raggiungere il lago. Questa soluzione è facilmente percorribile anche con un bambino sul passeggino (2 Km- 40 minuti);
• seguire il sentiero che dall’abitato di Vens porta direttamente al lago (sul tracciato del Cammino Balteo). Il percorso è a tratti ripido ma complessivamente più breve (25 minuti).