STE-FOY-TARENTAISE: Part 1 - Le Vallon du Clou

The debate has been going on for some time.

Should the tiny resort of Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise be allowed to expand its ski area into the beautiful and islolated Vallon du Clou?

This week, we appear to have closure.

There's a full report in Le Dauphiné on the decision to give the valley protected status.  Here is a belt-and-braces translation:

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Ste-Foy will not be extending its ski area into the vallon du Clou.  The site, at c2000m, has just been given protected status - in its entireity - by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy.  The two new lifts which the ski resort wanted to install in the north of the valley will therefore not be happening.

                                 

With this addition to the list of Savoie's "sites classées", the Ministry is looking to protect "the quality and riches of this savoyard countryside".  "It's a remarkable location, which still features traditional pastural activities....with amazing scenery all around: lakes, glaciers, the high mountains".

Further down, at entry of the valley is the famous hamlet of Le Monal, which was given protected status in 1987 (and is a mecca for off-piste excursions by the way).

Off-piste above Le Monal.  The entrance to
 the valley is on the left

For the mayor of Ste-Foy-Tarentise, if this decision "isn't a surprise", it's still bad news:

"We were only looking at the highest part of the valley", says Raymond Bimet.  Just 150 hectares out of the 2,692 which make up the site.  For us, this is not incompatible with the site having protected status, because it would only have had minimal impact on the eye. In addition, we were ging to build an "entry point" to the site which would show visitors the differeent features, flora and fauna of the site".

That's not enough, say the environmental associations (Vivre en Tarentaise, Frapna, Mountain Wilderness, Club Alpin Francais...) who have been battling for several years for the site to be protected from development.  "When you classify a site, you are talking about a complete geographical area" says André Collas, of Frapna Savoie.  "It's as if you wanted to protect a church but you are only taking into account the majority of the building.  It just doesn't make sense" argues Vincent Neirinck, of Mountain Wilderness.

In the future, walkers wil therefore be able to enjoy the whole of this high valley without seeing ski lifts in front of them or on the horizon.  But Ste-Foy's town hall hasn't given up quite yet - they are planning an appeal against the decision to classify the whole of the valley as protected.

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