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Unveil the charms of Saint-marcel, Savoie, Rhône-Alpes

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Welcome to Saint-marcel, set in the heart of Savoie within the stunning Rhône-Alpes region. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy scenic hikes, such as the trail to the Massif de la Lauzière, offering breathtaking vistas. History buffs can explore the must-see Église Saint-Marcel, with its unique architecture and rich cultural heritage. In winter, the nearby Tarentaise ski resorts are ideal for a day of f...See more

Walking around Saint-marcel

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Discover the trails of Saint-marcel.
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Hautecour Arts Trail- "Les Éphémères Alpines" - Liberty loop
1.9 km

Hautecour Arts Trail- "Les Éphémères Alpines" - Liberty loop

Immerse yourself in a unique journey combining nature and art in the heart of Hautecour's enchanting landscapes. The “Les Éphémères Alpines” art trail will surprise you—it's a veritable open-air art gallery with nearly 70 creations. Unusual and unique, this family walk will take you on a journey of discovery through typical hamlets that bear witness to an ancient heritage. Be amazed by the more than seventy works of art installed along the Les Éphémères Alpines trail. These bold creations line the trail, paying tribute to the ephemeral beauty of nature. At a bend in the trail, a rock shaped like a benevolent face welcomes you; a wooden sculpture evokes a mysterious animal... This relatively easy artistic trail will surprise you with the creativity of local and international artists, who transform forests, clearings, and trails into an open-air museum. Whether you are an art lover or simply seeking serenity, this walk promises unforgettable encounters between man and nature. So, put on your best shoes, bring your curiosity, and set off on a journey of discovery. Admire the beautiful chapels on the promontory and imagine the smell of warm bread coming out of the old oven, dip your hand into one of the many bachals where the water is as cold as it is pure. Fancy a relaxing break or a gourmet treat? The lake with its welcoming, shaded surroundings will be your haven of peace. So why not treat yourself to lunch on the terrace at the Chalet de la Trappe... unless you'd prefer a picnic at one of the tables designed by artists. And above all, come back... because the trail has been enriched with new creations every year for over 20 years, featuring works by artists from all over the world! Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes Difficulty: moderate (elevation gain: 216 m)

3 h
4.3 km
Very easy
Le Breuil Parking du plan d'eau de la Trappe : "Place des Arts" 73600 Hautecour
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Pré Communal path
2.1 km

Pré Communal path

An almost 4-hour hike through the forest, with beautiful views over the valley and surrounding peaks (waterfalls, the isolated, typically Savoyard hamlet of Hauteville, the Pré Communal mountain pasture...). In winter, allow 5 hours for the entire snowshoe hike. Start from the village square parking lot in Notre-Dame-du-Pré. Head towards the church and follow the road on the left to the first waterfall (approx. 500 m). Follow the road to the signposted Hauteville path (approx. 500 m). Continue on this path through the forest to the hamlet of Hauteville (approx. 45 min). In Hauteville, pass the old chapel and continue towards the fountain next to the communal bread oven. On the opposite slope, you can see the hamlet of Montfort above Moûtiers. Continue along the same path above the fountain. On leaving Hauteville, turn left at the hamlet's old quarry (approx. 40 m after the ruins). Follow the small path that winds above the quarry, then continue on this larch-lined path to the Pré Communal road a little further up (approx. 10 min). At the intersection with the Pré Communal road, there are two ways to get to this small hamlet of three houses: - the easiest (+ 20 min) Take the left-hand lane up the hill, which crosses the Pré Communal stream and leads to the hamlet after three hairpin bends. - the most difficult (approx. 10 min) Continue along the path you've taken so far, which climbs straight up to the hamlet. A steeper variant, but much shorter! From Pré Communal, follow the road uphill for 10 min, leaving it some 50 m before the second hairpin bend. Follow the path towards La Lèche, then Bois Renaud, and continue downhill on the same path to the Chaille waterfall. From here 2 options: + short through the forest to "Les Foyères" (45 min from the village): Take the path on your left before the bridge and go down to the forest road. Then turn right onto the Hauteville path to Notre-Dame-du-Pré. + long : After the bridge, continue on the forest road that leads to the mountain pastures. Then pass under the ski lift cables. There are two options at this point: 1st option: Continue straight ahead on the track until you reach the tarmac road, which you follow downhill to Notre-Dame-du-Pré (approx. 30 min). 2nd option: Follow the small path alongside the ski lift cables on this old, steeper path down to the village (approx. 15 min). All the way down to the Chef-Lieu, you'll enjoy exceptional views of the Tarentaise and Basse Tarentaise. If the weather's fine, you may even catch a glimpse of the summit of Mont-Blanc and its eternal snows!

4 h
7.1 km
Chef-lieu 73600 Notre-Dame-du-Pré
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Le Quermoz path
2.2 km

Le Quermoz path

This relatively difficult hike offers very pretty views and varied landscapes (forests and mountain pastures). The Quermoz is the highest point of Hautecour (2296 m). At the top, a 360 ° view ! This relatively difficult hike offers beautiful views and varied landscapes (forests and mountain pastures). Possible in summer and in winter with snowshoes or ski touring. Practical information : IGN map: TOP25 3532 OT Massif du Beaufortain 2 possible variants from Hautecour for this hike which leads to the Quermoz summit (2296 m). - Full version: 15 km Return - D+ : 1015 m - 6h30 Return from the PK of Pradier. From Moûtiers, take the D85 in the direction of Hautecour, hamlet of Breuil (follow the signs "Plan d'eau"). Follow the road to the place called "le Pradier" (1300 m) From the Pradier car park, count 3h30 of ascent including 1h30 before reaching the chalets de la Faverge (parking point for the short version). - Short version : 9 km Return - D+: 492 m - 3h50 Return from the chalets de la Faverge. From Le Pradier, continue by car along the Alpages forest road for 4.5 km to the chalets de la Faverge (1764 m) at the place called "Prariond", where you can leave your vehicle (a few metres after the cross on your right in the bend). The path climbs directly behind the chalet. Then, you will pass in front of the communal chalet of La Faverge (pink façade) in the direction of the high voltage line. Never leave the forest track. You will continue on this forest track after the first isolated chalet on your left and then further on you will find the communal chalet of the PLAI!A (1972 m). Continue on this same forest track to the right and follow the signs (green/yellow panels). On the plateau, a sign indicates "lac du Bozon", take this direction and at the "passage du Bozon" (2060 m), follow the small path that will lead you to the crests. The Quermoz is in front of you, it is only 1.3 km (55 minutes) away. From the ridges, as you walk the last few metres, admire the landscape: - The Nâves Valley and the Beaufortain massif on your left - The mountains and glaciers of Haute Tarentaise on the right A final, somewhat steep climb will take you to the summit of the Quermoz (2296m). What a satisfaction at the arrival with a grandiose panorama and an incredible 360° view! Mont-Blanc, Alpes Grées, Vanoise, Encombres, Pelvoux, Ecrins, Meije, Lauzière, Belledonne, Bauges and the neighbouring summits of Beaufortain.

7 h
15 km
Medium
Parking du Pradier 73600 Hautecour
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What to do in Saint-marcel

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Relax and have fun with the available activities in Saint-marcel.
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Historical Center of Moûtiers
4.1 km

Historical Center of Moûtiers

Discover the historic center of Moûtiers: its pedestrian street and its shops, the medieval streets, the squares, the old bridge, the old archbishop's palace, the cathedral ... Visits for groups on request or free visits all year round. During the visit you will discover one of the emblematic sites of the city. The old bridge or Saint-Pierre bridge built in 1785 and classified as a Historic Monument since 1980. It is the oldest bridge in the city. It already existed in Roman times. Very often rebuilt due to the heavy floods of Isère in the 18th century in particular. Below, you will see a passage called barrioz that the washerwomen used to do their laundry. These barrioz were closed in the evening by barriers (hence their name) in order to avoid unwanted intrusions into the city from the banks. This circuit will reveal many other curiosities linked to the history of the city. For the little story : Moûtiers, known as Darantasia in the Roman era, was the historical capital of the Tarentaise (IIès). At the crossroads of the Valleys and located on the old Roman road linking Milan to Vienna (38), the town was often frequented by pilgrims on their way to visit the tombs of the apostles in Rome, as well as by merchants and soldiers. Home to what is now a thousand-year-old cathedral, Moûtiers had a bishop right from the 5th century, when the bishops became archbishops before being awarded the honorific title of ‘Comte de Tarentaise’in the Middle Ages. A major religious centre, the town’s name doubtless comes from“Monsaterium”: the word for the collected spaces of the cathedral, archbishop’s palace and cloisters. Guided tours are organized by the Savoie-Mont-Blanc Heritage Guides for groups. Guided tours are organized in summer.

23 place Saint Pierre 73600 Moûtiers
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What to visit in Saint-marcel

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Walk along the picturesque streets of Saint-marcel.
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St Marcel's cupule stone
104 m

St Marcel's cupule stone

A remarkable cupstone rich in inscriptions. The view of the valley and the Saint-Jacques chapel from the plateau is stunning. The Roche de la Pérouse is located in a pasture above the Manoir de la Pérouse, at an altitude of 760 m, below the Rocher du Siaix. It bears the marks of glacial striations. The rock is located on a flat area that could have been used as a meeting place. It was here that the location of the Ceutrons (a Celtic people) prior to the attack by the Roman procurator recounted in the Irnec legend was defined. The engravings are of the polishing, staking and incising type and have been inventoried as follows: - 176 gemellated cupules, elongated, disordered and bound. - 6 cruciforms: T-shaped branches, Christian symbol. - 1 stelliform - meandriform representation - zoomorphic: pisciform - inscriptions in figures. 150 metres to the west of this is another rock, also polished by a glacial event at an altitude of 800 m on the edge of the old mule track from Saint-Marcel to Montgirod. It marks the boundary between the 2 communes. 16 cupules have been recorded, 2 crosses bearing the dates 16BE97 and 1936. The etymology of the word cupule comes from the Latin for ‘small cup’. It refers to cavities cut into prehistoric or megalithic rocks. Their origin is attributed to mechanical and chemical erosion caused by the almost permanent presence of rainwater or run-off. The stagnant water in the caves has a very low pH and is therefore corrosive. As a result of this extremely slow process over time, several neighbouring cupules can be eroded.

La Pérouse 73600 Saint-Marcel
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Saint-Etienne Church
1.6 km

Saint-Etienne Church

Above the lake, a pointed bell tower stands out against the sky. A sculpted portal invites you to go further... to discover a building in which the decorations of successive centuries complement each other in beautiful harmony. From the top of its mound, the 12th-century bell tower, with its geminated bays topped with Lombard arcatures, still dominates the village districts scattered across the slope and the Moûtiers basin... When the building was refurbished in the 17th century, G. Cocher, a master carpenter from the village, carved the stone portal with an interrupted pediment arch, surmounted by a statue of the Virgin and Child. The entire painted decoration, restored in 1990, was created by the Artari brothers in 1860. They painted the vaults of the nave and choir: their decoration, full of finesse, features holy figures and symbolic representations illustrating the foundations of the faith. At the back of the choir, the main altarpiece was created in 1825 by Gilardi and Schira, sculptors from Valsesia in Piedmont: four columns with smooth shafts frame the central painting depicting the two Saints Stephen, one a pope and the other a martyr. In the side aisles, the two altarpieces of Saint Anthony and the Rosary have better preserved the Baroque aesthetic of the 17th century. Of particular note in the right-hand aisle is a carved wooden bas-relief painted in the 19th century and imported from Italy, depicting the Nativity surrounded by numerous figures and animals.

Chef-lieu 73600 Hautecour
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Where to eat in Saint-marcel

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Explore the culinary traditions of Saint-marcel.
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Where to sleep in Saint-marcel

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Choose a comfortable accommodation in Saint-marcel.
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Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾