La Table combines a short hike with an educational trail exploring the proportions of the Solar System, and a rich local history. Le Tour de la Table follows former trade routes; the local history includes a fortified residence, a church and castle ruins. There is also a climbing area and local crafts. You can tailor your visit to focus on outdoor activity, architectural history or a specific topic such as astronomy.
Hiking, the Solar System Trail and Climbing
Le Tour de la Table is a short hike that follows former trade routes. The route is 4.7 kilometres long, with 240 metres of ascent, and takes around 2 hours and 50 minutes. It starts at the car park for the Gîtes ruraux in the hamlet of Villard de la Table; yellow waymarks indicate the route. As local trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
The 1.3-kilometre educational trail offers a different focus: discovering the Solar System. Thirteen informative, interactive and illustrated panels lead from the Sun to beyond Pluto. The distances between the panels are proportional to the distances in our Solar System. This makes the scale of the Solar System itself part of the route: while Le Tour de la Table follows former trade routes, the educational trail provides a clear sense of spatial distances.
The Table Climbing Site has ten routes on a 20-to-25-metre-high gneiss wall. Grades range from 3a to 6c+. Six routes at the end of the sector are not equipped for lead climbing and must be set up from above. Check the rock conditions and your equipment before climbing.
Architectural History and Traces of the Past
The maison-forte de l’Huille fortified residence in La Table dates from the 12th century. The ruins of the Château de l’Hüille stand on a limestone outcrop above the plain. The castle was built to control the Roman road and once overlooked the important route used by travellers heading towards the Maurienne.
The architectural history of the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption can also be traced through several historical turning points. In 1689, two side chapels were added to enlarge the church. After being destroyed during the French Revolution, the church was rebuilt in 1865 on a considerably larger scale.
Behind the church is the former cemetery, where 57 graves have been identified. Visible forms include upright steles, horizontal grave slabs and heart-shaped memorials. These different forms give the site its own character and add another historical perspective to the architectural history of the church.
Crafts and Events
Sylvain Dautremay, who is based in La Table, mainly makes animal figures as chainsaw sculptures. His workshop can be visited; arrange your visit with the workshop before travelling there. Local crafts offer a different focus from hiking, climbing or local history.
The astronomy section of the Foyer pour tous created the Solar System educational trail and regularly organises events for children and adults. Check the dates of individual events before your trip. This lets you consider any event dates separately from a visit to the trail and plan your stay accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Mâcot-La-Plagne, Méribel-Mottaret, Champagneux, Aiguebelette-Le-Lac, Peisey-Nancroix, Verrens-Arvey, Crest-Voland, Aiton.
For the broader travel guide: Savoie.
