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Slate quarry trail
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Description
Starting out from Saint-Julien-Montdenis, hike in the footsteps of the slate quarry workers and discover just how hard their labor was, thanks to explanatory panels, reconstructions and the presence of tools.
The world-famous sentier des Ardoisiers pays tribute to the "black gold" that shaped the Maurienne valley in the 19th and 20th centuries, with up to 25 million slates produced annually between the two world wars. As you follow the trail, which winds its way along a balcony above the torrent, you'll discover the remains of a former slate quarrying site. Explanatory panels plunge you into the hard life of the workers of the time. As you enter the old quarry, the tools still present make the experience immersive, almost as if you were seeing them at work. A walk that will give you a whole new perspective on the slate roofs of the surrounding houses!
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Additional information
Updated by
Office de tourisme Intercommunal Cœur de Maurienne - 30/12/2025
drone-de-regard.fr/vr/mcm-2/saint-jean/
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Open period
All year round daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Contact
Phone : 04 79 83 51 51
Location complements
Start: Le Costerg, park in the parking lot at the end of the road.
Topo guides and map references
Topo guides references :
Topoguide Pays des Aiguilles d'Arves available for €5 at Explore Maurienne tourist offices during opening hours.
Map references :
TOP 25 IGN 3433
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Departure: Parking Le Costerg, park at the end of the road.
1/ From the Costerg parking lot, follow the signs for La Poudrière, taking the track on the left.
2/ Stay on the track to continue towards the slate quarry sites. You can also go directly to the Croix de La Puble by taking the little path on the left as you round the bend.
3/ Follow the slate quarry path, turning right at the junction with the Chemin des Crêtes.
4/ The discovery of the slate quarry sites begins on the left-hand path. Please note: the path that used to go straight ahead at the crossroads (the former slate quarry path) is now closed due to a landslide (life-threatening).
5/ The "sailor" corresponded to the slate "clearance" or "mining waste" zone. Here's a magnificent example right before your eyes. Turn right towards Espace Bertholin for the rest of the tour.
6/ Bertholin was a former slate quarryman who did a great deal to improve access to the quarries, including the creation of an impressive (now collapsed) parcel of land. From this area, you can observe the cliffside quarries opposite, which bear witness to the incredible conditions under which the slate quarrymen accessed their sites. (Be careful not to get too close to the edge of the cliff: danger). Continue along the path to the left at the sign to discover a quarry.
7/ This former quarry is on your right. For the rest of the loop, keep walking on this second sailor.
8/ Leave the sailor to take a forest path on your right, towards a second quarry (in about 350 m). Situated in the middle of the forest, this one will be even different from the first, with many period tools at the entrance.
9/ A true witness to the past, this site is a perfect reminder of the work of slate quarry workers, with the quarry, the wagon, the hut, the tools used to mine the slate and the sailor below. After the quarry, follow the path to reach the Chemin des Crêtes.
10/ Fork left on the crest path to descend to the Costerg parking lot or continue towards the Croix de la Puble. The crest path on the right takes you up to Montdenis.
11/ At the crossroads, fork right to make the short detour to the Croix de la Puble (viewpoint). Alternatively, continue straight ahead to reach the parking lot more quickly.
Animals
Yes. Pets allowed on leash only.
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