Mont Jovet return (from Montagny center)

The actual Saint Germain church was built in 1899 in a neo-gothic style. It hosts the Organ of Clément Dumont from 1832-1834 which is classified as a historic monument with its 23 rolls.The church dedicated to Saint Germain was rebuilt in the 17th century, in a new style (the roman building was partially destroyed and only the bottom of the church tower was remaining). It was consecrated the 25th of August 1686. Since the 18th century, some cracks in the vault and in the walls were subject to expert visits. In the 19th century, emergency repairs have been done. But with the underground subsiding, the building was at risk of collapsing entirely. In 1899, it was decided to rebuild the church in a different location, on the east of the town. The church was destroyed but the church’s tower is still standing in the cemetery nowadays. In a neo-gothic style, during 3 years, the contractor Pierre Benedetto, helped by several volunteers, built a new church. It was unveil and blessed in October 1903 by Your Grace La Croix. The bells were transferred later, in December 1920. In the same time, the Monument for the fallen of the Great War was erected on the Place de l’Eglise. And it is in 2007 that the town council decided to « offer » a new spire to its bell. The actual spire is covered with copper. It was put in place the 5th of July 2007 admirated by the town’s inhabitants!

Boutons d'or : bar, restaurant, grocery at Montagny.As a local shop, I really want to welcome you and offer you good products and services all year long : - At the bar " les copains d'Abord" (Friends first), to share nice time. Bread and newspaper depot. - At the restaurant : Daily menu everyday at midday from monday to friday (First plate, main course, cheese or dessert 16 €). Traditional cuisine made with fresh and local products. Pizza on site or take away from thursday night to sunday night. Familly meal, firm etc on demand. - At the grocery : First need product (salted and sugary food), alcoholic drinks and soft, fresh point( yoghurt, jam, ham, wine) product local.

Located at 1050 meters, it is the main village where you can find the town office and a restaurant. You can see the St Germain church with its Organ, the St Sébastien chapel and the Notre Dame des Neiges chapel a few kilometers away.The inhabitants of Montagny are called the “Montagnolais”. The ancient form of the name is Montaniaco : a field (acum) belonging to Montanius, a frequent roman name. You can find some other towns called Montagny, at least 11 more in France, without counting the « Montagnac » in south-west France which comes from the same etymology. The territory consists of 1326 hectares, 334 of forest, facing south, forming a dome in between two rivers. The underground is mostly in the Briançonnais coal belt which under the « Terreur », was known as Mont-Noir (Black Mountain). The coal mines of Montagny are exploited since the 18th century. Miss de Varens, protectress of Jean Jacques Rousseau, invested money in the mines of Montagny. The exploitation of these mines maintained a larger population than the other cities in the region from the 16th to the 19th century. The coal was meant to be used at the Salines (salt manufacturing) de Moûtiers. The mine was at its best potential from 1940 to 1946. The last owner « Les mines de Carvin » stopped the production in 1960 when cardboard factory of La Rochette decided to use another power source. The village’s festival is celebrated during the first week-end of august.

The Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel, erected in 1750 following a vow. Firstly built at « La Bonne Fontaine » above the « Plateau de la Challe », it soon started to deteriorate. It was rebuilt in 1891 closer to the villages.The Notre Dame des Neiges chapel overhangs all the valley and is located at the intersection between the road to the Villard and the main town, when we go up to Moranche. The first chapel was built in 1750 at « La Bonne Fontaine » on the « Plateau de la Chal », where there was a small oratory. It involved realizing a vow from the villagers, in gratitude for the intercession of the Virgin Mary which preserved them from an extraordinary amount of snow from February to June 1749. The first mass was celebrated in august 1750. In a bad shape (particularly during winter 1886/1887), too small and at two hours of walk from the village (at an altitude of 1740 meters), the chapel was rebuilt on the mound of the « Chatelard », visible from the 4 villages and only 30 minutes away from the main town. The laying and the blessing of the first brick were done on the 14th of July 1889. On the 21st of may 1891, a procession followed by a mass and a solemn blessing ended the works with the Notre-Dame-Des-Neiges’s day on the 5th of august. The statue of the Immaculate conception erected on the church tower and the statue of Notre-Dame-Du-Sacré-Cœur of Issoudun adorning the front recess blessed respectively the 15th of august 1890 and the 15th of august 1891. However, around 1918-1920, some cracks started to appear, probably caused by the explosions of the coal mine located under the chapel which exploitation was accelerated during the Great War. Since the 15th of august 1950, the masses and the pilgrimage had to happen outside the chapel, on the esplanade. Finally, a complete renovation happened in 1970-1971. It was renovated in 2000-2001 as well. The ancient chapel of « La Challe » was demolished during the year 1891 and was replaced by a small oratory, now in ruins. The pilgrimage of the 15th of august at the chapel still happens nowadays.

There’s a lot of high mountain pasture village on the sunny side of Montagny : Moranche, Pracepaix, la Balme, la Challe, Champruel, le Mont, les Granges, Pargenty, le Champey.

Come and enjoy the breathtaking panorama from the recently restored Mont Jovet refuge. Guarded in summer, it is ideal for a discovery with family, friends or as a couple.

The panorama offers a view of the Ecrins as well as the Cervin, with the Mont Blanc and the Vanoise domes in the foreground. Enjoy the autentic characteristic of the Mont Jovet hut, one of the first refuge inaugurated in 1890: a wooden construction almost untouched.Summit: the Mount Jovet is situated in 2 558 m of height, where we can, in clear weather, admire a panorama of 360°, with the Mont Blanc on the horizon. It's name could be a derived of the god Jupiter. Geology: The hillside of Bonrieu consists of a basis of schists of the coal bearing (layers of sedimentary rocks) on which a tablecloth of gypsum triasique covered by the glossy schists (glossy aspect due to the presence of white mica). Below 1600 m of height, the torrent dug its bed in schists of the coal bearing. On both sides, the slopes are covered by former moraines. Downstream the torrent flows on more stable conglomerates. In left bank the ground is constituted by glacial resides. Refuge: In August 24th, 1889, the mayor of Bozel, Mr GARCON Victor-Marie-Ernest presented the project to the municipal council for the construction of a chalet-refuge on the Petits-Reys mountain for the benefit of the Tarentaise section of the CAF. It was completed on August 24, 1890 and served as a cottage or hotel for tourists on an excursion to Mount Jovet. A diligent system allowed to go from Albertville to Moutiers, then from Moutiers to Brides. Then we went up on the back of mules to the shelter. In 1893, a train replaced the hitch on the first section. Then it became disinterested for almost 15 years after the war, and the refuge became less and less profitable. Then the CAF decided to sell it in 2004 and the municipality of Bozel acquired it and obtained the right to exploit it in the summer of 2004. Since 12 January 2005, the municipality of Bozel has been the owner of the sanctuary and various contractors manage it during the summer. Impluvium des Sources de Brides: The history of Brides-les-Bains is inseparable from the thermal waters consomation there for their healing virtues, from the 17th century. But the springs are silted between 1653 and 1774, and it is necessary to wait 1818 founding date for the station, with the gushing of the thermal spring. A benefit that we owe to a natural disaster upstream from the valley... It is the Doctor Hybord who makes the first analysis of these waters and the following year, the first treatment cabins are built. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the clientele of the spa of Brides les Bains climbed on the back of a mule to contemplate the sunrise and sunset at the summit of Mont Jovet. By the Perrières woods, the trail climbs towards the Grand Rey. Climb in alp towards the refuge, then Mont Jovet. Alpine: The term refers to a mountain pasture where herds of cattle, sheep or goats are brought mainly in summer to enjoy fresh and abundant grass. It also designates the period of the year when the flocks grazein this pasture (we also speak, more precisely, of "estive "). The Chapel of the Bozelet or Chapel of Our Lady of the Alps: It is the smallest of the chapels, the furthest and most isolated of the commune. This private building was built in the middle of an alpine pasture and on top of a mountain at 2,271 m above sea level. It is accessible, for example, after the beautiful hiking route of the crests of Mont Jovet (PDIPR).