The area of the Mont Mars Nature Reserve offers a rich variety of plants, due to the variety of environments preserved in the valley bordered by the Pacoulla stream. The lower part of the Reserve is home to extensive larch and broadleaf forests, interspersed with areas rich in shrubs such as rhododendrons, blueberries, and fragrant dwarf junipers.
Higher up, amidst the scree and pastures, in the summer season, you can see the purple gentian, the Arnica montana, the Nigritella, and the mountain lily. Strolling in the Lei Long area, close to the alpine pasture, you can see the Austrian leopard's bane, and the large-flowered Sempervivum, together with the common water-crowfoot and the branched bur-reed, floating on the calm waters of the pond.
Protected Area
Identity Card
- Land Surface Area: 390.00 ha
- Regions: Valle d'Aosta
- Provinces: Aosta/Aoste
- Municipalities: Fontainemore
- Establishment Measures: DPGR 513 22/04/1993
- PA Official List: EUAP0411
- Park Authority: Regione Valle d'Aosta - Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali - Dipartimento Risorse naturali e Corpo forestale - Aree protette
The Mont Mars Nature Reserve: 380 hectares of nature to be experienced
The Mont Mars Regional Nature Reserve is a little treasure in the Alps, just entering the Lys Valley.
It contains everything that high mountain nature has to offer: dense forests, imposing peaks, green alpine meadows, crystal-clear lakes, and wetlands filled with beautiful flora.
Its highest peak is Mont Mars, rising above a landscape of scree and steep walls, and dominating the area with its imposing 2600-metre pyramid.
Further information (Italian text)
Mont Mars Regional Nature Reserve
Fauna in the Reserve
On the paths through the Reserve, depending on the season, you may encounter species that are typical of alpine areas, such as the marmot, the chamois, the mountain hare, the wild boar, the black grouse, and the rock ptarmigan. In the wetlands and lake areas, you can also spot the common frog, the Arctic char, and the white-throated dipper.
The reserve is a hunting territory for the golden eagle, but other birds of prey populate these skies, such as the Eurasian sparrowhawk and the kestrel.
Deer
Flora in the Reserve
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