Tré la Tête Glacier by Combe noire Waterfall

10 points of interest

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  The nature reserve

  A few steps away from the true entrance to the nature reserve, a panel presenting the issues of this protected and regulated natural space.

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  Flora

  Rosière boglands

  On your left are the Rosière boglands, but be careful to only admire them while walking along the path, as they are fragile environments and hidden treasures of biodiversity! Tracing its origins from the Ice Age, this boggy area is the result of a glacier erosion which caused water to stagnate. This is the kingdom of carnivorous plants such as the Alpine cattail or the round-leaved sundew...

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  Small patrimony

  The Roman bridge

  Also known as the "Téna Bridge", this structure dates back to Roman times! It is located on the strategic route used at that time to reach the Tarentaise valley and Italy from Les Contamines. This route, which has since become the famous long-distance GR5 hiking trail, is a popular tourist attraction. The bridge overlooks the gorges of Bont nant. Marvel at the pools of water that the waterstream has sculpted over the years!

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  Flora

  The Alpine Autumn Crocus

  It's the end of summer... This is the time of year when the Alpine Autumn Crocus blossoms. Its name comes from Colchis in Greece, home to infamous poisoner Medea. This plant contains a highly toxic alkaloid: colchicine. According to the alchemists, this substance, when used in very small doses, could be used to treat rheumatism and episodes of gout.

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  Fauna

  The Sparrowhawk

  Like a bolt of lightning, a silvery silhouette threaded its way silently between the branches, accompanied by the shrieks of tits and kinglets... What luck! You've just spotted a sparrowhawk! This small, daytime bird of prey is common but very secretive. It is the terror of passerines, an order that comprises most songbirds. The sparrowhawk is their executioner! It is a predator that plays on the element of surprise by flying as close to the ground as possible or hiding behind obstacles to surprise its prey.

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  Geology

  Combe noire waterfall

  When you stop at this bridge, you can feel the fresh spray from the Combe Noire waterfall and just imagine that the Tré-la-Tête glacier arrived here in 1870! Since then, the glacier has melted a few hundred metres, but its presence can still be felt through the raging river, which has formed impressive sculptures known as "potholes of giants" as it erodes the rock in a thunderous racket!

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  Fauna

  The Crested Tit

  It is a small forest passerine that often lives in the company of its brethren, such as the Black-capped Chickadee or the Willow Tit, as they share the same habitats. Its presence is linked to that of old trees, either dead wood or ageing trees, also known as "senescent wood". It is particularly fond of coniferous forests (spruce, pine and fir). It is a lively little ball of energy, constantly on the move and recognisable by its crested tail. It feeds on small insects, larvae and spiders, as well as conifer seeds.

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  Panorama

  The Combe noire viewpoint

  Make the most of this scenic viewpoint to catch your breath. But be careful, this place is unsafe as the rock is slippery! You overlook the forest and the village of "Combe noire". The name comes from the forest that is almost exclusively covered in dark spruce. From this stunning vantage point, you can see the Rollaz mountain pastures which are part of the GR footpath. From left to right, you can see the Roches rouges, the Roches franches, the Aiguilles de la Pennaz, the Col du Bonhomme, the Rocher du Bonhomme and finally the Tête Nord des Fours.

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  Fauna

  The Golden Eagle

  It's a predator, armed for the hunt! Thanks to its large, wide wings, it glides high into the sky in search of prey. Its exceptional eyesight spots marmots (its favourite meal), hares, foxes or ptarmigan, and sometimes even young chamois or ibex! Its prominent eyebrow arch acts as a sun shield when it swoops down to snatch its prey. It is equipped with talons for grabbing and a powerful, hooked sharp beak for tearing flesh.

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  Tré-la-tête glacier

  This glacier, the name of which means " over the head ", is the fourth largest in France! It is being studied in relation to climate change. Its condition has been monitored by the Nature Reserve since 2014, assessing the volume of ice gained or lost. This is known as mass balance. It is 8 km long, and its tongue of ice runs from the Infranchissable pass on the Italian border at an altitude of 3,300 m, right up to the place where you are standing!