The Politics of Space: How a French Valley Manages Crowds Without Fences

In an era where some tourist destinations are resorting to physical barriers like turnstiles, the Vallée des Belleville employs a more subtle and sophisticated approach to crowd control: the politics of space. By strategically designing and managing its environment, it guides visitor behaviour and preserves a sense of freedom and wildness.
The primary tool is the dispersal of visitors. By creating a diverse range of trails—from challenging high-altitude routes on the Grand Tour de Tarentaise to accessible, lower-level paths for pushchairs—the valley naturally separates different types of users. This prevents bottlenecks and ensures that no single area becomes overwhelmingly crowded.
Another key tactic is managing access points. For a refuge like Refuge Plan Lombardie, allowing car access to a point just 20 minutes away channels the high-volume family traffic to a specific, manageable location, keeping the deeper wilderness areas free for more dedicated hikers.
Finally, the limitation on accommodation is the ultimate control on overall density. This is a “soft” barrier that is far more effective than a physical fence. By understanding and shaping how people use the space, the Vallée des Belleville successfully manages the summer rush while maintaining an open, welcoming landscape that still feels like “ours alone.”