facts and information :

From the 11th to the 13th century, forestry dominated the economic activity of the middle and high mountain regions.

Up until the end of the 19th century, agro-pastoral activities provided for local populations that were by necessity concentrated in high-altitude mountain villages.

During the coldest winter periods, these populations engaged in smaller and traditional occupations, woodworking; gypsum cooking, local mining and exploitation of iron, nickel and silver lead, and also of "lauze" stone and slate. There was also a significant amount of seasonal migration.

The economic upheavals of the 20th century, with the revolutionary introduction of hydraulic energy and aluminium electrolysis techniques, transferred the mountains’ economic activities to the floor of the valley, which was no longer subject to the divagations of the River Arc thanks to the dykes built during the 19th century.

During the following century, the riverbanks of the Arc were gradually covered with factories.

Dams and hydroelectric power plants were built on all the slopes along the river, providing significant energy resources.

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The last decades of the 20th century rang the death knell for what is known as 19th-century "industrialisation".

The aluminium-producing Pechiney-Alcan group remains an internationally reputed showcase company dedicated the latest technologies. This is also true for, but perhaps to a lesser extent, Teksid (formerly Métaltemple), Elf-Atochem, the Maurienne Forges and Gate France .

The torch has been passed to a new industry, taking the place of the old: Tourism, currently generating 40% of all jobs.

Following the "White Gold" Rush of winter sports, tourism is also becoming increasingly summer-oriented.

Summer tourism has been vivified by an increased awareness and protection of the natural and cultural heritage in the region: the Vanoise National Park was created in 1963; and the Maurienne became a adhering member of the official French VPAH Art and History Villages and Areas convention in 1985.

Planning and development programmes have followed the opening of the Fréjus motorway tunnel (1980), the Autoroute A43, built according to standards respecting the environment and inaugurated in 2000, and the launching of the great Lyon-Turin TGV tunnel in 2004.

Department: Savoie

The valley can be accessed by two principal entries:
• By the "Combe de Savoie" mountain pass, in the commune of Aiton.
• By the Fréjus tunnel in the commune of Modane.

• Surface Area: 187,000 hectares, of which 70,000 hectares are high mountain pastures and 40,000 hectares are forest.

• Population: Approximately 41,300 (as of 2002)
Density: 22 inhabitants per square kilometre

• Population per "canton" district:
Aiguebelle: 5,000 inhabitants.
La Chambre: 6,200 inhabitants.
Saint Jean de Maurienne (in the Sous-Prefecture): 15,600 inhabitants.
Saint Michel de Maurienne: 5,670 inhabitants.
Modane: 6,550 inhabitants.
Lanslebourg / Mont Cenis : 2,580 inhabitants.

• Economic Data:
2,800 companies, of which 93 are industrial in nature
Active Population: 46.79% (as of 2002)

• People with more than one activity: 6,000 seasonal workers.

• Agriculture: 370 jobs (as of 1999)

• Other sectors of activity:
Percentage of salaried work in the private sector:
industry: 25.69%
construction: 9.12%
transport: 15.72%
commerce: 16.65%
tertiary sector: 38.8%

• Unemployment: 5 %

• Winter Tourism:
24 stations and Nordic sites.
1,600 km of diverse ski runs of which more than 1,000 km of Alpine ski pistes.
115,000 beds.
4.6 millions person-nights.

• Summer Tourism:
More than 100 mountain summits over 3,000 m.
40% of the Maurienne territory is protected.
2,000 km of marked paths.
1,300 km of VTT mountain bike courses.
2,000 inventoried species of flower.
Vanoise National Park: 300,000 visitors (entering from the Maurienne).

Maurienne , Guide Gallimard , Éditions Nouveaux Loisirs, 2004

Le guide de la Maurienne , Pierre Dompnier, La manufacture, 2004