Saint-Bernard brings together cultural and historical details, striking landscapes and seasonal activities: at Chapelle St Michel, a medieval choir meets an exterior structure rebuilt at a later date; from Belvédère du Puy, panoramic views stretch as far as Mont Blanc. The Cascades du Glésy and the activities at Col de Marcieu add waterfalls, hiking and activities in winter and summer to the mix. When planning, it is worth considering your desired experiences and travel dates together.
Cultural history at Chapelle St Michel
Chapelle St Michel has a stone-vaulted choir dating from the 11th century; its exterior structure was rebuilt in the 17th century. The chapel once served as a place of worship for the inhabitants of St Michel du Touvet. The building therefore reveals two distinct construction phases: the medieval choir and the much later reconstruction of the exterior structure. Anyone interested in religious architecture will find a tangible point of historical interest here.
Panoramas and waterfall
From Belvédère du Puy, panoramic views take in the Belledonne massif, the Grésivaudan Valley and Mont Blanc. These three views give the viewpoint a broad landscape setting. At the Cascades du Glésy, by contrast, one specific feature takes centre stage: the upper waterfall has a 20-metre drop, and the water flows down a white, foaming channel in the rock.
The Cascades du Glésy can be reached from the car park by the church in Saint-Bernard-du-Touvet. The GR® de Pays Tour des Petites Roches also leads through the landscape around the waterfall: the hiking trail is around 40 kilometres long, leads to Col de Marcieu and descends to Cascade du Glésy.
Activities at Col de Marcieu by season
The Domaine alpin du Col de Marcieu is designated for alpine skiing. The Domaine nordique has 24 kilometres of cross-country ski trails for skating and classic technique. The ski activities operate depending on snow conditions. In the winter Espace Ludique, activities include a toboggan run, tubing, Snakegliss, beginner alpine skiing, orienteering courses, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Individual activities and their seasonal availability may change; check what is currently on offer before visiting.
The summer Espace Ludique has a different focus: activities include treetop courses, zip lines, summer sliding with Trottin'herbe, tubing, Quick Jump, a winding zip line, MountainCart and Ventrigliss. If you want to plan your stay around a particular activity, factor the season into your plans and check its current availability. This will help you choose between the winter and summer activities based on the experiences you actually want.
Getting there and hiking options
The resort at Col de Marcieu can be reached by road via Saint-Nazaire-les-Eymes, La Terrasse or Le Touvet. The Cars RĂ©gion T85 line terminates at the Col de Marcieu stop. As road and bus arrangements may change, check the current timetable and road conditions before travelling.
To get a sense of the hiking options, it is also worth looking at the wider Plateau des Petites Roches, which includes Saint-Bernard. There are numerous trails there, from one-hour walks to full-day hikes. This range offers different time frames for planning; the 40-kilometre GR® de Pays Tour des Petites Roches is a separate, significantly longer route option.
Discover more destinations: Villefontaine, Monestier-De-Clermont, Uriage-Les-Bains, Saint-Romain-de-Jalionas, Janneyrias, Savas-MĂ©pin, Assieu, Charantonnay.
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
