The Palais de la Mine

L'existence de cette chapelle remonte au moins à 1663. Afin qu'elle retrouve son apparence initiale du 17e siècle, la chapelle a été restaurée à l'intérieur en 2009 et l'extérieur en 2017, par les Beaux Arts. Ne manquez pas de la visiter : on y retrouve des photos d'archives et des explications sur son histoire et sa rénovation.Quatre éléments sont classés monuments historiques : un tableau représentant Sainte Marie-Madeleine, un devant d'autel en cuir estampé à motifs fleuris et perroquets, une statue de Saint Jacques archevêque et une statue de Saint Claude. La chapelle regorge d'autres ornements : chancel en bois tourné, tête d'ange de tuf peint, oculus en soleil, cadran solaire... L'actuel clocher date du début du 20e siècle et porte une ancienne cloche paroissiale de 1819. Ouverture : en saison touristique. Messe donnée quelques fois dans l'année.

The Saint Victor mine is one of the mines in operation between the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Galena minerals were extracted with much effort by miners by following thin seams, sometimes on several levels. It was then carried by mule to the Palais de la Mine where it was processed to separate the lead from the silver. The mines were abandoned in 1866 and the channels were knocked down or sealed to avoid accidents.

Not far from St Victor Mine, in a forest aisle, you can see the short spurred fragrant orchid from late June to early July (Gymnadenia odoratissima). This unusual orchid is distinguished from the fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) by a stocky spur, the same length as the ovary. It takes its name from the heady vanilla scent exuded by its flowers.

A historical site illustrating the municipality’s mining past. Discovered in 1644, the seam of galena (silver lead sulphide) was exploited up until 1866. An alley of larches leads to the former Ecole Française des Mines, which was headquartered there from 1802 to 1814. The saw marks on its trees date back to 1891/1892. They testify to an act of vengeance by people convicted of illegal logging.

L'eau salée (Saltwater) owes its name to the many minerals contained in the water there, which passed its name on to the locality itself.This little corner of paradise is an ideal spot for family outings: there is a little pond for the kids to enjoy and a selection of games on hand to keep them amused while the grown-ups play tennis or simply relax in the shade of the spruce forest, lulled by the lapping of the water.