Notre-Dame-des-Vernettes

It was built in 1684, and was first dedicated to Saint-Guérin, protector of horned animals, and Saint-Antoine of Padua, the greatest preacher of the Middle Ages. The chapel has a beautiful chancel in turned pine wood, a simple altarpiece with a painting in the centre of which presides an astonishing black virgin and child, undoubtedly that of the sanctuary of Oropa in Piedmont, where the inhabitants of Peisey-Nancroix worked as drapers. On the painting we also see Saint-James the Greater (Saint-Jacques le majeur) with a shell on his shoulder, a pilgrim whose grave was in Compostela.

The hamlet of Pracompuet is unique for welcoming the goats of André Trésallet during the summer grazing period. This small dairy herd grazes on the pastures of this well exposed slope and effectively fights against the invasion of scrub on the meadows. This traditional pastoralism differs markedly from the recent changes in the production of Beaufort whereby herds are grouped together and pastoral practices are intensified.

"This pretty shrike, of contrasting colours, visits our mountains in the summer. It takes its name from its habit of ""flaying"" the large insects it catches by sticking them on thorny bushes, or even on barbed wire. It sometimes appears clearly visible by hunting often from a hide, dead branch or stake."

This protected butterfly is one of the largest you are likely to meet in Vanoise. It is characterised by its red eyespots against the black and white hind wings, but remains difficult to differentiate from the small Apollo for the uninitiated. Its caterpillars feed on the many stonecrops and houseleek around Notre-Dame des Vernettes.

The sanctuary of Notre-Dame des Vernettes was built at the beginning of the 18th century close to a source located at an altitude of 1,816 metres, following the miraculous recovery of a Peisey resident who drank the water. The chapel which was built between 1722 and 1727 for the worship of Notre-Dame de Pitié, patron saint of the lepers is a proud representation of baroque and rococo-style art. A great pilgrimage takes place here every year on the 16th July.

The early coralroot (Corallorhiza trifida) is a discrete coralroot orchid that you may be lucky to come across if you are on the lookout as it measures only 6 to 10 cm in height. Abundant on the trails of Carro Blanc forest, it is nevertheless rare in Vanoise, despite not benefiting from any protection status.

The Carro Blanc forest hosts one of the most beautiful populations of lady’s slipper orchids in the Peisey valley. This iconic protected orchid of intense bright colours has demarcated the extension of the forest tracks that often disfigure our forest massifs. This enchanting forest entreats you to seek out the slender lady’s slippers to step into.