The Vallée des Belleville is pioneering a new paradigm for mountain tourism that could serve as a global model. It successfully combines two elements that are often seen as contradictory: a commitment to preserving a “wonderfully wild” and authentic natural environment, and an equally strong commitment to being actively welcoming and supportive to new and diverse visitors.
The “wild” component is protected by limiting development and visitor numbers, ensuring that remote areas like the Varlossière valley retain their primeval character. This satisfies the growing desire for genuine, off-grid experiences and maintains the ecological integrity of the region.
The “welcoming” component is achieved through a comprehensive support system. Initiatives like kids’ skills days, accessible trails, family-friendly refuges like Refuge Plan Lombardie, and the encouragement of guides create a low-barrier entry point for first-timers, fostering a new generation of mountain lovers.
This “wild and welcoming” model is the future. It moves beyond the old dichotomy of either locking nature away in an exclusive park or allowing it to be overrun by mass tourism. It proves that with thoughtful management, you can have both: a pristine wilderness and a thriving, inclusive tourism economy.
