Les Avanchers Valmorel comprises 13 villages separated by the Torrent du Morel; the Valmorel resort is also part of the area. Local themes include village traditions and sacred heritage, as well as hiking trails and the history of winter sports.
Village Traditions and Heritage
The Four de Lancheverne is still occasionally used for baking bread at village celebrations, particularly in early August during the Avanchers festival. The date can vary. If you would like to include this tradition in your plans, check the festival date before travelling.
The Église Saint-André was built in the Baroque style in 1676 and retains a Romanesque bell tower and a bell dating from 1613. The Baroque construction period and the Romanesque tower thus coexist in one building; the bell adds another layer from a different period. The church can be visited free of charge every day throughout the year, and visitors are asked to remain quiet. Check the visiting arrangements before your visit.
The Musée du patrimoine avancherain is located in the former town hall of Les Avanchers-Valmorel. Admission is free; check the current visitor arrangements before your visit. The Espace patrimonial et ancien presbytère documents the beginnings of skiing in the valley, including the tradition known as “La bénédiction des skis” (“The Blessing of the Skis”).
The Oratoire Saint Roch is open and accessible free of charge every day throughout the year; however, the chapel can only be viewed from the outside. As access conditions may change, check them before your visit. The present building was reconstructed beside the piste of the same name after the former oratory was destroyed in 1978/80 during the construction of Valmorel’s ski runs. The reconstruction revived the tradition of blessing herds and alpine pastures; a blessing was held outdoors on 25 August 2012.
Winter Sports and Seasonal Activities
The Grand Domaine de Valmorel covers 3,600 hectares, ranges in altitude from 1,250 to 2,550 metres and includes 165 kilometres of ski runs. The ski area has five designated access points. Operations and lift access are seasonal; check the latest operating and access information for your travel dates. The history of skiing in the valley, documented at the Espace patrimonial et ancien presbytère, adds a historical perspective to this present-day offering.
In summer, Valmo’bourricot opens: the small-animal farm features animals from the mountain region and offers donkey rides as well as soap made from the milk of a jenny. This seasonal activity is clearly distinct from winter sports around Valmorel. The “En route to the hamlets around Le Morel” route starts and ends in Valmorel and passes through Les Avanchers-Valmorel. Check the route conditions before setting out.
Hiking Trails and Getting There
Plan d’eau de Malatrait was developed as a hiking destination in 2010. It is about an hour’s walk from the resort and can be reached via a path intended for alpine pasture operators. Plan d’eau lies on two circular hiking routes and offers views of Col de la Madeleine, Mont Blanc and the Lauzière massif. This makes it possible to include both a specific hiking destination and views of several notable peaks when planning your stay.
Moûtiers-Salins is the nearest railway station for travelling to Valmorel. Connecting services operate seasonally; check them before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Les Marches, Challes-Les-Eaux, Aillon-Le-Jeune, Saint-Oyen, Bozel, Grésy-Sur-Isère, Les Coches, Hermillon.
For the broader travel overview: Savoie.
