Verrens-Arvey can be explored through two specific hiking routes and a local history with religious and technical connections. The names Orisan and Pointe de Chaurionde represent different hiking destinations; the chapel, church, and frame saw offer another perspective on the village. You can therefore plan your stay around either the timing of a hike or traces of cultural history.
Hiking from the Sous le col de Tamié car park
The “Les chalets et la Croix d’Orisan” hike is moderately difficult and follows an out-and-back route. It covers 9 km, takes 5 hours 30 minutes, and has 837 m of ascent. The starting and finishing point is the Sous le col de Tamié car park in Verrens-Arvey. These key details answer different planning questions: the distance describes the route length, the duration gives the timeframe, the ascent indicates the elevation gain, and “moderately difficult” is the difficulty rating. If you are structuring a day’s itinerary, you can set aside the stated duration as its own block and take the climb into account when assessing the hike.
The trail leads to the chalets d’Orisan; the final section offers views of the Albertville area and the Isère Valley. The route to Pointe de Chaurionde also starts and ends at the Sous le col de Tamié car park. This means two named hiking destinations share the same starting and finishing point but lead to different places: one route focuses on the chalets d’Orisan and the views, while the other leads to Pointe de Chaurionde.
Alpine pastures, mountain trails, and pastoral paths
The GRP® Tour de la Sambuy, which passes through Verrens-Arvey, offers another perspective. Its route crosses alpine pastures, mountain trails, and pastoral paths, and offers the opportunity to meet the shepherds who bring these mountains to life. While the hike to the chalets d’Orisan uses distance, time, and ascent to structure the day’s planning, the GRP draws attention to different types of trails and pastoral life.
Chapel, church, and local history
The Chapelle de Samuaz was built in 1701 in honor of Notre-Dame du Puy. Its founder was the Reverend Charles Déléans, a priest from the village. Inside, the chapel houses a large painting depicting the Apostle Peter, John the Evangelist, Saint Charles Borromeo, and Saint Guérin. Its former ecclesiastical role is also part of its history: the Chapelle de Samuaz had a chaplain for a long time. The year it was built, its founder, the painting, and the period when it had a chaplain each offer a different insight into the history of this religious building.
The Church of Saint-Laurent is on the Verrens side of Verrens-Arvey and is dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Its location on this side of the commune adds another named religious building to the history of the Chapelle de Samuaz. Together, the two sites offer a cultural and historical perspective distinct from the hiking descriptions and their landscape connections.
A frame saw at the Scierie PĂ©tel
A frame saw, also known as a battante or reisse, is located at the Scierie Pétel within the commune. In 2025, it was considered part of the commune’s heritage as part of a rehabilitation project. This adds a technical element of local history to the religious buildings. The terms battante and reisse refer to the saw, while its designation as one of the last still-operating examples describes its particular significance in Savoie.
Discover more destinations: Avrieux, Albertville, Jongieux, Arbin, Bramans, Granier, Saint-Sorlin-Darves, Beaufort.
For the broader travel overview: Savoie.
