Hike N°10: - The Jovet Lakes

Traditional cooking with local produce. All-inclusive menus, à la carte dishes, dish of the day & local specialities. Shady terrace.

The refuge is located in the heart of nature, within the Contamines Montjoie nature reserve, ideally located above the forest to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. The establishment is rustic, which gives it all its charm.At lunchtime, we offer traditional à la carte mountain dishes, platters of charcuterie and local cheeses as well as homemade pastries, on the terrace facing the Aiguilles de la Pennaz. To quench your thirst, you will also find a choice of cold and hot drinks but above all a choice of local beers which maintain the reputation of Mont Blanc. In the evening, we offer half board for hikers, sports enthusiasts, and families wishing to spend an unusual night in a refuge (rooms recommended). We have hot showers, and take advantage of an unobstructed view over the forest to spend pleasant moments among nature enthusiasts.

Le Refuge des Prés propose une restauration simple et gourmande avec des spécialités traditionnelles mais aussi des petits plats d’ailleurs (farcement savoyard, croûte au fromage, planches, assiette végétarienne, tartes aux fruits, fondant au chocolat..).Arrêtez-vous pour une pause gourmande à toute heure de la journée, un déjeuner en terrasse ou dans notre salle chaleureuse et chauffée en cas de mauvais temps ou encore en demi- pension en venant passer la nuit dans un de nos petits dortoirs confortables. Une attention toute particulière est portée à la qualité des produits, tous nos plats sont faits maison à base de produits locaux et/ou bio autant que possible. Le refuge : Le refuge des Prés est situé face au massif du Mont-Blanc sur la commune des Contamines-Montjoie, dans une des plus grandes Réserve Naturelle (5500 hectares) de Haute-Savoie, créée en 1979. C'est un haut lieu de préservation de la nature en France. Le tout nouveau Refuge des Prés a été construit à 1933m d'altitude au pied de l'Aiguille de la Cicle (2552m), idéalement situé à proximité immédiate des sentiers internationaux du Tour du Mont-Blanc (GR TMB) et du GR5, du GRP du Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc et enfin sur le GRP du Tour du Beaufortain. Le sommet du Mont-Blanc est visible depuis le refuge, un grand plus, un privilège !

When one arrives at the Gorge, one discovers 14 small oratoricals (or chapels) that dot the path leading to the church.They were built at the instigation of Father Gaillard in 1728, primarily to lend even more splendour to the Marian cult already established in this location. The Rosary comprises five “Joyful Mysteries”, five “Sorrowful Mysteries” and five “Glorious Mysteries” that commemorate the various stages of the life of the Virgin Mary.

"An extremely ancient place of pilgrimage with a curious Baroque-style oratory, covered with Renaissance frescoes and gilt, in the purest tradition of Savoie's religious heritage..." wrote Roger Frison Roche in Mont-Blanc aux sept Vallées.We have no certain information on the origin of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge: it is said that 900 years ago, a hermit settled in this valley bottom, to welcome and comfort travellers who passed through this place... The path led to the Bonhomme pass, and from there, one reached Italy. The pious hermit had organised a sanctuary for the "spiritual rehabilitation" of travellers. He dedicated it to Saint Anthony, the patron saint of muleteers and guides. The archives reveal that the small sanctuary became a parish. The bottom of the valley was inhabited: in 1338, the "village" of La Gorge had thirty "fires" (households). A VERY SPECIAL ALTARPIECE Originally, the group of statues on the upper level of the altarpiece illustrated the Coronation of the Virgin, the fifteenth mystery of the Rosary. Mary at prayer, flanked by Christ and God the Father, occupied the central part of the decoration. For some unknown reason, the altarpiece was taken down between the end of the 18th and the middle of the 19th century. Perhaps to protect it during the revolutionary period? When it was put back in place, it was thought to be a good idea to place the statue of the Eternal Father in the centre of the decoration... But the scene thus lost its original meaning! For a long time, art historians, disconcerted by this four-figure Trinity, spoke of "theological boldness". It was only by chance, in 1998, that the original meaning of this composition was understood, when one observed the direction of the cherubs' gaze under each statue! A LATIN VERSION OF THE FAÇADE The façade of the building, protected by its large decorated roof overhang, is comparable, in a slightly simplified version, to those of other churches in the valley. Two stuccoed cartouches with Latin inscriptions are visible: on the left, it is written "He who has found Mary will find life" and on the right "Her foundations are established on the holy mountains". A final inscription can be seen on the transverse band between the cornice and the oculus: "I am the Mother of beautiful goodness". THE STATUES The statues on the left and right of the main altarpiece evoke Saint Anthony, the first patron saint of the place, and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the preacher of the Blessed Virgin. Little by little, the church was enriched with five other altars, three of which had gilded altarpieces. They have now disappeared, except for the openwork columns of the left-hand altar and the magnificent frieze in relief, which represents the angels consoling the souls in Purgatory. The flowery, colourful and gilded ensemble is characteristic of the Baroque style. On the left, a statue of Saint François de Sales - bishop of Geneva and great promoter of the reform of the Catholic Church - holding a flaming heart, alludes to his "Traité de l'Amour de Dieu" published in Annecy in 1616. Take a virtual tour here: drone-de-regard.fr/vr/facim/74_contamines.html

Situated at the heart of the nature reserve, this mountain refuge hut sits at the foot of the Pennaz needles (2688m) in the direction of the Bonhomme mountain pass.Enjoy the magical surroundings and a wide variety of animal and plant species. Allow 1h30 from the car park at Notre Dame de la Gorge. - Waste management. - Micro electric power station.

Situated 30 minutes from Notre-Dame de la Gorge, on the Tour du Mont-Blanc walking route and the GR5. Expect a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere at the Nant Borrant chalet refuge, whether you stay the night or simply have lunch.- Waste management - Sustainable energy - Hydro electric power