Chanousia:
The Alpine Botanical Garden
The Chanousia Alpine Garden is located near the Little St Bernard Pass, at an altitude of approximately 2,170 metres, just beyond the Italian-French border, in the Alpine landscape dominated by the Mont Blanc massif. It covers an area of around 10,000 square metres on carbonaceous schist soils and is subject to particularly harsh climatic conditions. Snow can remain until July, strong winds are frequent, and the average annual temperature is approximately +1°C. These conditions limit the growing season to about two or three months each year.
The area's natural vegetation mainly consists of alpine grasslands, while the tree line on the Italian side is located at around 1,850 metres above sea level. For this reason, the garden primarily cultivates alpine and nival plant species.
During the garden's restoration, efforts were made to recover the plant species originally present on the site, resulting in the identification of more than one hundred species. At the same time, paths and flower beds were restored, and new ones were created. Additional species have been introduced through collections carried out in accordance with applicable regulations and authorisations, with limited sampling intended to minimise impacts on natural populations.
To accommodate plants with different ecological requirements, a range of habitats has been created, including limestone and siliceous rock gardens, as well as wetland areas that reproduce different natural environments.
The garden also takes part in the international seed exchange programme (Index Seminum) with other botanical gardens. Given the short growing season at high altitude, some propagation is carried out at lower elevations or through the transplantation of cultivated plants, in accordance with the garden's management practices.
Today, the Chanousia Alpine Garden carries out ex situ conservation of alpine flora, botanical research, scientific documentation and educational activities, contributing to the study and knowledge of high-mountain plant species.
The Chanousia Botanical Garden was officially founded in July 1897 by Abbot Pierre Chanoux, rector of the Little St Bernard Hospice, on land owned by the Municipality of La Thuile. Its purpose was to collect and cultivate alpine plant species while providing a place dedicated to the study of high-altitude flora.
After Pierre Chanoux's death in 1909, the garden was managed by Professor Lino Vaccari. During his tenure, the botanical collection expanded considerably and, by the 1940s, included more than 2,500 alpine species from mountain regions around the world. During this period, new facilities were built, including a laboratory and a small museum.
In 1943, during the Second World War, the garden was abandoned. The buildings were destroyed and the scientific collections were lost. After the war, the area's administrative situation delayed restoration work for several decades.
Restoration began in 1976 through cooperation between Italian and French institutions. In 1978, an International Scientific Council was established to oversee the garden's activities. Paths, flower beds and numerous surviving plant species were restored. In 1988, the former laboratory was rebuilt and now serves as a museum and accommodation for researchers and scholars.
Today, the Chanousia Alpine Garden is home to approximately 1,200 plant species. Its activities include the management of botanical collections, scientific research, ex situ conservation and educational initiatives for researchers, schools and visitors.
