Maurienne

Maurienne is a geographic and historic region in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It corresponds to the Maurienne Valley, a major Alpine valley fashioned around the Arc river, running from Modane near the Italian border northwest toward Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. The valley is surrounded by high peaks and includes numerous communes and Alpine villages. The name Maurienne appears in ancient and medieval documents, and today the area is part of the administrative valley of Maurienne within Savoie.

Historically part of the Duchy of Savoy, the region became part of France in 1860 under the Treaty of Turin. Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is often regarded as the historical capital of the valley.

Economy centers on tourism and hydroelectric power. The Maurienne hosts several ski areas, including La Norma, Val Cenis, and Les Sybelles, attracting visitors in winter, while summer hiking and cycling are popular in the Vanoise and surrounding massif. The valley also supports dairy farming and alpine livestock, contributing to regional cheeses and products.

Transport links connect Maurienne with Italy and the French networks: the Fréjus Road Tunnel near Modane provides road access to Bardonecchia, and the Turin–Fréjus railway passes through Modane. The landscape features notable protected areas such as parts of the Vanoise National Park, glaciers, and protected flora and fauna.

Languages historically spoken include Franco-Provençal (Arpitan) varieties beside French, reflecting the region's Alpine cultural heritage.