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Alpine gentian

Oeillet Negligée

Edelweiss

Mix of Alpine blooms in the high pastures

Trees are limited to the lower slopes and many walks are above the treeline, but the forests of Arolla Pine will provide welcome shade on valley walks and rides. These trees regularly live to over 600 years but are slow growing and as a result are vulnerable to deforestation. Careful management of the forests is very important, and the wood is popular with artisans because it has a good grain and is easy to work with. The larch is another commonly seen tree growing abundantly in the upper valley. It is unique in the conifer family as it loses its needles each winter.

History

Since the earliest of times the Maurienne valley has been occupied by human beings, and there is ample archaeological evidence stretching back to the Bronze Age and earlier. Much of this early history is explained in the museum at Sollières. The valley has served as a thoroughfare for travellers since Roman times, if not earlier. It is possible that it was the route Hannibal took to cross the Alps in 218BC on his famous journey, although no definitive archaeological evidence has ever been found of his crossing anywhere in the Alps. The route, via Col Clapier (Route 4), was still used as a main thoroughfare into the 16th century but once a more suitable route had been forged, over the Col du Mont Cenis, this old route fell into disrepair.