Fontainemore The Mont Mars Nature Reserve

The Mont Mars Nature Reserve was established in 1993 and is located at the head of the Pacoulla stream valley, covering an area of about 390 hectares.
This reserve extends from the altitudes of 1675 meters of the hamlet of Pillaz to the 2600 meters of the summit of Mont Mars, presenting a variety of environments typical of the alpine environment, including forests, pastures, grasslands, rock faces, lakes and wetlands.
Despite its modest size, the Mont Mars Reserve is the largest of the nature reserves established in the Aosta Valley.
Geology and Environment of the Mont Mars Nature Reserve   The territory of the reserve presents morphologies of glacial origin, with a succession of rock basins arranged in steps, which currently host small lake basins and peat bogs.
The glacier that occupied the valley until 10,000 years ago has left a modest trace in the snowfield located in the small cirque at the foot of the northern slope of Mt. Mars.
The prevailing rocks are micascists crisscrossed by white marble banks and dark bedrock.
How to get to the Mont Mars Nature Reserve To reach the Mont Mars Nature Reserve, you can follow the regional road S.R. 44 from Pont-Saint-Martin in the direction of Gressoney.
Once in Fontainemore, take a detour to the right crossing the bridge over the Lys stream and continue along the left slope for 11 kilometers to the locality of Pian Coumarial.
Here you can park your car and continue on foot to explore the reserve.