Visiting the Saussurea Alpine Garden on Tour du Mont Blanc

In Courmayeur (Italy) – day 5 of your Tour du Mont Blanc – your legs will get a bit of a break: it’s a rest day, but don’t worry, this day is anything but boring! The Skyway Monte Bianco and it’s mid-way alpine garden will definitely keep you entertained. This super-technological cable car rotates while reaching up to 3466 meters. At the top of Punta Helbronner you’ll have mesmerizing views of the Italian side of the Mont Blanc Massif. But that’s not the reason why I’ll come and join you on your rest day. It’s the small alpine garden at mid station that excites me the most.

The story behind each alpine plant

Together we’ll explore the Saussurea Alpine Garden where we’ll discover the secret world of alpine plants. We’ll see many flowers that you can find during your trek around the Mont Blanc, like alpine clovers (Trifolium alpinum), globe flowers (Trollius europaeus) and black vanilla orchids (Nigritella nigra). Naming all these flowers while trekking through the Alps is of course very satisfying, but it’s the story behind each plant that makes it so special! Some plants steal nutrients from neighbouring plants with their roots, some flowers have unbelievably intimate relationships with specific insects, while other plants get help from fungi to extract nutrients from the ground. It’s such stories that make the world of alpine flora such an interesting one.

Looking forward to meeting you!

When we wander through the alpine garden, these are the stories I’ll be sharing with you. Of course, I’d also be delighted to answer any questions you might have about the flowers you’ve seen along the way. And as much as I love wild flowers, I love animals too. So please feel free to ask me any questions you have about wildlife in the Alps. See you in Courmayeur!

Some info on the garden

 The Saussurea Alpine Garden is situated at mid station of the Skyway Monte Bianco in Courmayeur. The garden covers an area of approximately 7000 square meters and is divided into 2 areas; the rock garden, where the flora is sectioned according to geographical origin, and an area with natural high mountain environments, like you would see while hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc. It’s in this garden where I’ll come and meet you on your rest day and share with you the extraordinary stories of the flora of the Alps.

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Simone van Velzen

In her work as an alpine naturalist Simone adds an exciting new dimension to your Tour du Mont Blanc trek with insights into the incredibly rich flora and fauna of the Alps. Simone studied Wildlife Management at the Van Hall Institute in the Netherlands. After her studies she left her home country (which is flatter than a pancake) and moved to British Columbia. In the Canadian Rockies, she discovered the astonishing richness of mountain environments. Her passion for mountain nature was born. And when she returned to Europe, she based herself in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the perfect setting for exploring and studying the natural history of mountain environments. As an alpine naturalist she writes for outdoor magazines and leads excursions in the natural world.

If you step into the natural world with Simone, her passion for all living things—wild flowers to lichen, birds to mammals—can’t help but rub off on you. She’s excited to meet you on your Tour du Mont Blanc and share the amazing natural wonders in the Alps.

Latest posts by Simone van Velzen (see all)

• The Alps: A Biodiversity Treasure Trove - December 10, 2020
• Flora in the Alps – Spotlight on the Alpenrose - June 25, 2020
• Tour du Mont Blanc Hightlight: The Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve - May 21, 2020