Lanslevillard lies between Vanoise National Park and the Mont-Cenis Pass on the Italian border. There are two different ways to choose what to do during your stay: explore the cultural heritage of its church and chapels, or take to the paths and enjoy mountain activities. The historic sites range from wall paintings to archaeological finds; options for getting active include a cultural trail, other routes, a via ferrata and the Val Cenis alpine ski area. You can plan your stay around what matters most to you: culture, a specific hiking destination or winter sports.
Historic Traces in Churches and Chapels
The Church of Saint Michel houses furnishings dating from the 17th to the 19th century. Its Rosary altar dates from 1626 and is the work of sculptor Jean Clappier. The church therefore brings together a precisely dated work of art and furnishings spanning several centuries.
The Chapel of Saint SĂ©bastien contains 53 wall paintings depicting the life of Christ and the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. The years 1446 and 1518 are recorded for the chapel. The wall paintings and the recorded dates offer different points of reference for exploring this site.
The Chapel of Saint Roch houses a permanent exhibition about life in the mountains in the 17th century; it also displays objects from the Gallo-Roman period. Recent archaeological excavations at the chapel uncovered graves dating from the 1st century BC and the Early Middle Ages. The exhibition, objects and grave finds thus offer different points of reference in time. As access arrangements for the exhibition may change, check them before your visit.
Cultural Trail, Hiking Destinations and Bus Connections
Les Chemins de l’Histoire is a cultural trail that passes through ten restored chapels and illustrates 5,000 years of Lanslevillard’s history. You can explore the trail on foot or on snowshoes. The ten chapels give this cultural trail a different scale from a single attraction. Local access conditions may change; check them before setting out.
For a specific hiking destination, take the Circuit pédestre la Pierre aux Pieds: the trail leads to a prehistoric cup-marked stone at an altitude of 2,750 metres and runs partly through Vanoise National Park. This route focuses on a single archaeological site, while Les Chemins de l’Histoire connects several chapels and spans a long period of history.
The Sentier de la Pierre des Saints can be reached on bus line S53, getting off at the Pont Abribus stop. Check the timetable before travelling, as transport details may change. This bus information relates to the Sentier de la Pierre des Saints; it is not the access information for the Circuit pédestre la Pierre aux Pieds.
More Mountain Activities in Lanslevillard
The Val Cenis alpine ski area connects Val Cenis Lanslevillard with Val Cenis Lanslebourg and Val Cenis Termignon, and offers 125 kilometres of pistes. The three connected villages make the ski area a different kind of highlight from the individual cultural and hiking destinations. Seasonal operations and the availability of individual pistes may change, so check current operating information for your travel dates.
The Via Ferrata du Pichet is near the village of Val Cenis-Lanslevillard and is considered relatively easy and family-friendly. The availability of guided activities and the conditions may change. If you plan to do this activity, check both in advance.
Discover more destinations: Montchavin, Hermillon, Landry, LĂ©pin-Le-Lac, Novalaise, Saint-Martin-De-Belleville, Domessin, La CĂ´te-D'aime.
For the regional travel overview: Savoie.
