Church history, protected nature and a range of routes offer many ways to discover Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle. These include a snowshoe loop with a specific duration and difficulty rating, trails through forests and alpine pastures, and a viewpoint overlooking three mountain regions. This lets you give different weight to culture, scenery and activity when planning your visit.
Churches and crafts
The church of Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle has eight bells; two of them were cast locally in 2013. It acquired its Clergeau organ in 1866. In 1944, the organ was restored and fitted with a motor by Merklin. The bells and organ thus tell different chapters of the church's history: from the local casting of two bells to the restoration work on the organ.
Lace-making also points to local production. Until around the middle of the 19th century, lace was made at home in Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle from flax and hemp grown locally. Merchants from Faucigny then sold the goods on. Locally sourced materials, home-based craft and resale thus formed part of the same historical production chain.
The Eglise de Chaucisse was built in 1818 as a chapel dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales and became a parish church in 1828. Its wooden shingle roof was recently restored; painted walls, along with furnishings and fittings displaying Baroque artistic features, shape the interior. The church is closed, except in summer during the daily Mass. Check access before your visit.
Nature reserves and wildlife
The municipality includes part of the 3,747-hectare Aravis Nature Reserve. It is considered a refuge for chamois, ibex, marmots, mouflons, roe deer, foxes, badgers, wild boar, black grouse, bearded vultures and golden eagles. Both the size of the protected area and its diverse wildlife are defining features of the local natural landscape.
The Nanpareux/Merdassier reserve extends across Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle and Ugine and is designated as a strict nature reserve. In contrast with the Aravis area, its defining features are its coverage of two municipalities and its designated protection status.
Snowshoe trails, loops and viewpoints
The La Boucle des Carrés snowshoe loop starts in Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle. It is 4.3 kilometres long, rated difficult and takes 1 hour 45 minutes. The distance, difficulty rating and duration provide specific information to help you decide whether to include this tour in your plans. The Tré le Sez snowshoe trail offers a different landscape: it runs above Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle through forests and alpine pastures.
The Boucle des Avenières loop starts at the Sous La Bèque car park, next to a hiking information board. The Avenières orientation table offers panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the Beaufortain and the Aravis massif. This gives visitors specific names for the mountain regions visible from the viewpoint, as well as a route to follow.
Another route option is the Tour du Val d’Arly e-bike route, signposted as an FFC route. It leads from the centre of Flumet towards Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle and continues to the higher hamlet of Chaucisse and the Route de Montagnes. The snowshoe trails and the e-bike route differ in their named activity; local route descriptions also place their own emphasis on duration, difficulty, scenery and views.
Alpage Les Mouilles
Alpage Les Mouilles can be reached via the Route des Montagnes by off-road vehicle or on foot. Goat Tommes, SĂ©racs, Faisselles, Petits frais and pure goat's cheese are made and sold there. These named products give the place a distinct culinary connection, adding another aspect of the municipality alongside its churches, nature reserves and routes.
Discover more destinations: La Table, Crest-Voland, Montailleur, Flumet, Challes-Les-Eaux, Les Marches, Planay, Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards
Return to the regional travel overview: Savoie.
