Natura 2000 area

Above the resort of Valfréjus, the Thabor Natura 2000 area extends over 4,800 hectares. This classified and protected area is home to exceptional habitats for alpine flora and fauna.

The Thabor Natura 2000 site

The Thabor Natura 2000 site is located on the northern slopes of Mont Thabor and concerns 3 Savoyard communes: Modane ( Valfréjus resort with the Charmaix valley), Valmeinier (Neuvache valley) and Orelle (Bissorte valley). It adjoins the Clarée Natura 2000 site on the Hautes Alpes side.
The Thabor Natura 2000 site protects 4,800 hectares between 1750 meters and 3178 meters altitude (summit of Mont Thabor). Unlike the neighboring Parc National de la Vanoise, this massif is less well known to amateur naturalists and scientists alike. And yet, on the border between the northern Alps (Savoie) and the southern Alps (Hautes-Alpes), it is home to all the components of the alpine environment: moorland, grasslands, scree, rocky outcrops, but also high-altitude wetlands and some thirty lakes at altitudes of over 2,000 metres.

The Thabor Natura 2000 area
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The Natura 2000 network

The Natura 2000 network is a European ecological network comprising all sites designated under the Birds and/or Habitats Directives. Its aim is to help maintain biodiversity, while taking into account socio-economic and cultural requirements. The aim is to conserve threatened plant and animal species by maintaining their habitats.

The Thabor Natura 2000 area
A mosaic of alpine environments

This mosaic of sub-alpine and alpine environments is home to an incredible wealth of flora and fauna (black grouse, bartavelles, ptarmigan, chamois), offering walkers an exceptional natural environment.

The Mont Thabor massif, with its remarkable geological history, is a mine of natural treasures that needed protecting. On December 26, 2000, it joined the very select circle of "Natura 2000" classified sites. Classified sites are places whose exceptional character justifies national-level protection and monitoring of its evolution. The Massif du Mont Thabor is therefore a wonderful place to discover wild flora and fauna. Discover it during your walks and hike while respecting the flora and fauna.

To find out more about the Thabor Natura 2000 area, you can also visit the exhibition on display all year round on the first floor of the Salle du Thabor, at the entrance to the Valfréjus station.