Les Contamines-Montjoie for Hiking and Nature Breaks

Les Contamines-Montjoie is a destination for travellers who want to include hiking, nature activities and local history in their hotel plans. As a transit or overnight stop on the Tour du Mont-Blanc, the commune offers several reasons to plan a trip: you can focus on hiking stages, leisure and sports activities, or churches and regional cultural heritage.

Hiking: Stages and Local Trails

Les Contamines-Montjoie is a transit or overnight stop on the Tour du Mont-Blanc, with a range of hiking options along this renowned GR route. The Tour du Mont-Blanc variants comprise 15 stages, with walking times ranging from 3 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours 30 minutes, and pass through landscapes that are sometimes little known. The Tour du Val Montjoie is a separate route: this five-day trek runs between Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and Les Contamines-Montjoie. When planning, you can distinguish the walking times for the stages from the five-day duration of this trek.

A historic walk with a local connection is “Vers la Frasse, un P’tou Joly tour”. It leads from the village square to the hamlet of La Frasse, offers panoramic views of Mont Joly and, on the return, passes via P’Tou and the parish church of Sainte-Trinité before returning to the village. This described route thus brings together a named hamlet, views of Mont Joly and the church in a circular walk.

Nature and Leisure Activities

Since 1979, the Réserve naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie nature reserve has been located entirely within the commune. The Sentier de découverte trail follows the Bon Nant and includes 16 illustrated stations presenting the nature and cultural heritage of Les Contamines-Montjoie. Espace Nature au Sommet provides information about the nature reserve and offers weekly exhibitions, films, discussions and events.

The Parc de loisirs du Pontet offers 30 hectares of leisure and recreation space, with more than 20 activities for the whole family. At Lac de Baignade du Pontet, there is a supervised swimming area covering 3,800 m². It is open seasonally; check the opening dates before your visit.

Sports in the Nordic Area

The Piste de ski-roues is a paved track measuring 2.5 kilometres long and 4 metres wide in the year-round Nordic area. It is open to everyone, can be used independently or with a professional guide, is secured and connects to the homologated biathlon stadium in Les Contamines.

The biathlon stadium is homologated for the international circuit. Competitions for amateur and professional skiers take place there throughout the winter. The year-round Nordic area and the winter programme at the biathlon stadium therefore offer different sporting aspects of the destination.

Churches and History

The Sainte-Trinité church in Les Contamines-Montjoie is a Savoyard Baroque church dating from 1759. Its square bell tower is based on a tower from the former Château de Montjoie, which guarded access to the Col du Bonhomme. The church thus brings together a specific construction date and an older military function for the tower.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Gorge was listed as a historic monument by decree dated 22 June 2015. A pilgrimage takes place at the chapel every year on 15 August. This fixed annual date is a distinct occasion to consider when planning a stay focused on religious traditions.

Getting Around the Village

A shuttle bus service is available for getting around the village of Les Contamines-Montjoie. Timetables vary by season; check the times that apply to your trip in advance.

Discover more destinations: Bellevaux, Cran-Gévrier, Neydens, Jonzier-Épagny, Plateau Dʼassy, Montmin, Gaillard, Chavanod.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.