The Lavours marsh One of the last great continental marshes.

Explore one of Europe’s last great marshes on wooden footbridges at the heart of a unique ecosystem. Over 4,000 species, 200 springs of pure water and an unspoilt natural environment where flora and fauna flourish freely. Birdwatching, sensory immersion, changing landscapes: a timeless experience that respects the environment.

The large peat bog

You could say it represents the hidden face of Lac du Bourget. The filled-in part of the lake was formed by the Rhone glacier 15,000 years ago. The slow accumulation and transformation of plant debris in the flooded soil gave rise to thick peat bogs, used by man as domestic fuel.

Now a nature reserve, this priceless site, one of the last great continental marshes in Western Europe, has become a precious conservatory, with over 4,000 species of flora and fauna recorded.

4 000species

of flora and fauna.

474hectares

nature reserve.

200resurgences

of pure water.

1km

trail on stilts.

Trail on stilts

For the public, it’s impossible to move freely through the 474-hectare reserve. For this reason, a 1 km trail on stilts has been built. It leads into the heart of the marsh from the hamlet of Aignoz. Accessible free of charge all year round, this educational trail, punctuated by observation posts, allows visitors to decipher the incredible richness of the site. The tour can be continued at the house from the reserve in Aignoz (films, exhibitions, store…).

Please note

A Ramsar sanctuary

Since 2024, the Lavours marsh is no longer just a well-kept secret, but an essential link in an ecosystem classified as being of international importance. Now part of the Lac du Bourget and Chautagne marshes Ramsar site, it is part of a living network, connected to the Rhône, where thousands of birds stop off between Europe and Africa. A migratory stopover, a fragile refuge, a territory where water still shapes nature…