An outing to Notre-Dame-des-Neiges

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The name of this village comes from the low Latin term Buxellus, diminutive of Bocus (wood) which became Boselus. During the French Revolution, Bozel went by the name of Fructidor. Traces of human presence in Bozel date back to 2500 BC!Perched on the banks of Le Bonrieu stream at an altitude of 860m, on the sun-facing slopes, this village is brimming with things to see and do. There is a wealth of Baroque heritage to discover here, not least with Notre-Dame-de-Tout Pouvoir Chapel, St François-de-Sales Church and Sarrazine Tower, which is a surprising building. There is a lakeside leisure centre nearby where you can unwind and cool off on returning from your outing! And let's not forget that Bozel also lies at the foot of the sweeping ski areas of the 3 Vallées and Paradiski, as well as being the start point for a wide range of hikes.

Saint-François-de-Sales Church is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Savoie, and its interior décor is heavily steeped in Baroque influences. It is graced with two bell towers: one has a spire with two onion domes, the other an onion dome crowned with a cross and weather cock atop a globe, but the bell tower, its spire as well as the interior furniture were damaged during the Revolution. Incidentally, this church was even used as a warehouse for storing the saltpetre necessary for making gunpowder until 1800. Between 1840 and 1856, various sculptors crafted new altarpieces in succession: the main altarpiece located on either side of the central scene, where the pulpit is remarkable, and the Rosary altarpiece, which is typical of the Baroque period. In light of the growing population, the building was extended in 1976 to create a new, bigger gallery. Open all year round from 9:00 to 19:00, to visit at your leisure. One-hour tours for individuals and groups can be organised in French, English and Italian. Find out more at: fondation-facim.fr/ This building is included in the "Escapades Baroques des Alpes" initiative, aimed at showcasing Baroque heritage in the Alps.

The eye-catching paintings on the façade of the Baroque chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Tout-Pouvoir inspire you to step inside and see the equally exquisite interior! The chapel is laid out in a Greek cross, crowned by an octagonal dome. Between 1780 and 1850, an array of religious scenes were painted to decorate the sides of the dome, pendentives, walls and pillars. There used to be a statue in the 1754 altarpiece of the miraculous Virgin, whose veneration prompted the building of the chapel, but this was destroyed during the French Revolution and replaced by a Virgin with Child from the 19th century. Open all year round from 9:00 to 19:00, to visit at your leisure. 45-minute tours for individuals and tours can be organised in French, English, Italian and German. Find out more at: fondation-facim.fr/this building is included in the "Escapades Baroques des Alpes" initiative, aimed at showcasing Baroque heritage in the Alps.

This chapel can only be viewed from the outside. That said, once a year, on the first Saturday in December, it is opened specially to celebrate Mass. The local congregation then gets together around a traditional soup prepared at night in a big cooking pot.

Old vines abound along this south-facing track, which is surprising given the mountain setting. The Tarentaise region's warm, dry climate has helped them thrive. Low rainfall and a warm wind, the Foehn, were ideal conditions for farmers in the Bozel Valley to cultivate vines through until the 1950s.The very low wine yields were not sold, incidentally, but consumed by the local community. In the plots of Brides and Montagny, some climbing vines are still tended to. There's a lovely view as you pass alongside the River Doron de Bozel below.

Located in the village of Montagny, this church, dedicated to St Germanus, was rebuilt for the first time in the 17th century. But sinking subsoil threatened its foundations, so it was built on another site in the 19th century in a Gothic Revival style. Inside is a Historical Monument-listed organ with 23 rollers, dating back to circa 1832. In 1943, the heavy spire of the bell tower was demolished as it posed a threat to the solidity of the whole church. A new, copper-plated spire was finally erected in 2007.Open all year round to visit at your leisure.

The first chapel was built in 1750 on La Chal plateau at La Bonne Fontaine, following the villagers' wish to express their gratitude to the Virgin Mary for having protected them from the unprecedented snowfall between February and June 1749; hence its name (Our Lady of the Snows).But another harsh winter left the chapel, which was in any case too small and remote from the village, worse for wear, and the decision was made to rebuild it in 1889 where it now stands, closer to the villages.In the 1920s, however, the structure was once again weakened, probably owing to detonations in the coalmine located below the chapel where operations had ramped up during World War I: from 15 August, religious services and pilgrimages had to be held outside until it was fully restored in 1970-1971. The 15 August pilgrimage still takes place to this day incidentally.Since the chapel stands on the Le Châtelard hillock, the views over the surrounding valley alone make it well worth the trip.The chapel can only be viewed from the outside.

St Roch's Chapel stands amidst the narrow lanes of Le Villard. Gothic Revival in style, it was built before the pastoral visit of 1633. It was then completely rebuilt at the turn of the 20th century. The statue of Notre Dame de Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes) can be seen at the front of the chapel. Every year, the village fête is celebrated on the last weekend in August.The chapel can only be viewed from the outside.

The chapel of the most populated hamlet in the municipality of Bozel (350 inhabitants) stands right in the centre, and was founded in 1430 in honour of St James the Great, a temperamental man who would become Jesus' apostle. He is depicted as a bearded elder with a hat decorated with a shell, or dressed as a pilgrim with a travel bag and staff. Pilgrims began to travel the Way of St James after his burial place was discovered. Ever since 1935, the last weekend of July has been dedicated to this traditional pilgrimage route, and a celebration lasts for two days. Mass is held, a traditional soup is served to the poor, there are shows and a big public dance.The hamlet also harbours an oven that is still used on special occasions, as well as a bachal, a stone basin that was once used as a water source, a drinking trough for animals and washing place.The chapel can only be viewed from the outside.

This hamlet is just as picturesque and rich in heritage as Bozel's other hamlets. Its name speaks to the presence of mills that were once powered by Le Bonrieu stream. Commonly referred to as the Presentation of Mary at the Temple, this chapel was established in 1755. Its origins lie in the dedication of the New Church of St Mary (Theotokos) in Jerusalem in November 543, which has long since been destroyed. An oven harking back to 1913 can still be found in the village.This chapel can only be viewed from the outside.

This tower was built between the 12th and 13th centuries, but its name (derived from 'Saracen') refers solely to its typical, solid, square construction. 19m tall, it was originally three storeys high and movement between floors was via ladders or steep staircases.The thick walls provided a passive form of defence, and the roof was added later. The tower was probably used as a residence as well as a strategic observation post over the surrounding villages and valleys. The ground floor was most likely used for storing provisions (this level was partially filled in when the Bonrieu stream broke its banks) and the second floor by nobility. The upper levels were private quarters.An ostentatious symbol of the local lords' power, the tower was surrounded by a series of buildings of unknown size and nature. Open from mid July until the end of August, from 15:00 until 19:00, except on Saturdays.