Discover Gran Paradiso: Italy's alpine crown jewel
Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy's oldest national park, is a spectacular wilderness in the northwest Alps where a single soaring 4000-metre peak rises above rugged valleys and pristine alpine meadows. From its royal hunting reserve origins to its current status as a protected mountain sanctuary, this remarkable landscape offers some of Europe's finest mountain walking opportunities
You may be familiar with the Swiss Alps or the French Chamonix valley, but have you discovered Gran Paradiso, Italy's crown jewel of national parks?
Nestled between the Valle d'Aosta and Piemonte regions in northwest Italy, this mountain wilderness spans 700 square kilometres of spectacular alpine terrain. The park takes its name from the 4061-metre Gran Paradiso peak – Italy's only 4000-metre summit lying entirely within its borders – possibly derived from the ancient phrase granta parei, meaning "great wall", a local interpretation that fits the towering granite peaks dominating this alpine landscape.
Gran Paradiso's history is fascinating. What began as a royal hunting preserve in 1856 under King Vittorio Emanuele II became, in 1922, Italy's very first national park when his son made the landmark decision to abandon hunting rights "for the purpose of protecting the fauna and flora, and preserving the special geological formations, as well as the beauty of the scenery." The legacy of those royal hunting days remains in the hundreds of kilometres of carefully constructed paths that wind through the park, originally built for the king's hunting parties and now serving as excellent walking routes.
The park is home to healthy populations of ibex, chamois, and marmots, which visitors regularly encounter on mountain paths. The elegant ibex, with their distinctive curved horns, have recovered from near extinction to around 3000 individuals today, making them a common sight throughout the park. Golden eagles patrol the skies above, while the impressive lammergeier, the largest bird in the Alps, soars overhead with its three-metre wingspan.
The park's 470 kilometres of marked trails offer routes for every level of walker, from gentle valley walks through traditional hamlets to challenging alpine routes. These paths lead through diverse landscapes: alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers, stark rock cirques, clear mountain lakes, and ancient glaciers on the highest summits. Along the way, walkers pass through stone villages and abandoned hamlets, remnants of a time when tens of thousands of people lived across the valleys now encompassed by the park.
The park's position straddling two distinct regions adds cultural interest to its natural appeal. The Valle d'Aosta, with its French influences and bilingual heritage, contrasts with Piedmont's Italian character, creating an interesting mix of languages, customs, and architectural styles. This cultural diversity appears in everything from traditional stone architecture to local dialects preserved in place names.
For those interested in wildlife, Gran Paradiso offers good opportunities for observation. Early mornings often reveal chamois on distant screes, while evening brings ibex down from high peaks to graze in alpine pastures. Marmots are active throughout their grassy territories, and the occasional sighting of wolves or lynx – both slowly returning to the Alps – adds excitement to mountain days.
The best time to visit is from June through October, when snow has retreated from higher elevations and trails are accessible. Summer brings alpine flowers into bloom, while autumn offers the spectacle of golden larches and clearer mountain views.
Whether you're seeking challenging multi-day treks like the Alta Via 2, which covers 148 kilometres through the park's most impressive terrain, or prefer day walks that explore quieter corners of this mountain landscape, Gran Paradiso provides memorable experiences. This is a place where conservation and adventure combine successfully – a corner of the Alps where mountain nature thrives and visitors can experience the peaks at their finest.
Walking Gran Paradiso National Park
30 day walks in the Aosta Valley and Piedmont
£17.95
Guidebook to day walks in the Gran Paradiso National Park. The 30 graded walks explore alpine mountainsides, lakes and river valleys in Italy’s oldest national park and range from short leisurely strolls to demanding alpine routes.
More information
Trekking Gran Paradiso: Alta Via 2
From Chardonney to Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley
£18.95
This guidebook describes the 12-day Alta Via 2 trek in the Gran Paradiso National Park, which covers over 140km of rugged mountains and valleys between Chardonney and Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley. While not high on the difficulty scale, Alta Via 2 is strenuous, and best suited to trekkers with some alpine experience.
More information
