Le Sappey-En-Chartreuse: Nature, Trails and Winter

Le Sappey-En-Chartreuse offers several distinct highlights for a stay: nature and trails, sports and leisure activities, and specific cultural attractions. The time of year also plays a part in your choice. In winter, snowshoe trails are available, alongside permanent orienteering courses. If you are looking for accommodation, you can start by considering whether nature, outdoor activities or culture will shape your stay.

Nature and trails

The Marais des Sagnes is the largest peat bog in the Parc de Chartreuse. The Parcours du Marais des Sagnes focuses on local wildlife and plant life. This themed, educational and playful trail connects a specific landscape with knowledge about nature. It offers a distinct option for an outing focused on fauna and flora.

The Boucle du Belvédère offers a different perspective: it is a short, family-friendly loop around the village. Along the way, you can discover several hamlets and enjoy lovely views of the village and the Marais des Sagnes. The two trails therefore have different focuses: the Parcours centres on wildlife and plant life, while the Boucle is a village walk with hamlets and views.

Exercise and activities

Seven permanent orienteering courses offer another way to enjoy sporting activity. Three are map-based courses, while four are more athletic courses. When choosing between them, you can bear this distinction in mind rather than treating all seven as the same kind of activity.

Indian Forest Chartreuse offers 15 climbing courses, more than 150 activity stations, over a kilometre of zip lines and big Tarzan jumps. Riding lessons and horseback or pony rides are available at Les Écuries du Sappey in the hamlet of Bens. Rides are offered for one hour, two hours or longer; riding lessons are a separate activity.

Winter activities

In winter, the Domaine de Chamechaude has a biathlon stadium, groomed snowshoe trails and toboggan runs. The Balcon de Roche Rousse is a 5.9-kilometre, moderately difficult snowshoe loop. It starts and ends at the Foyer de fond in Le Sappey-En-Chartreuse and can be used when weather conditions are favourable. Ski touring routes are also possible in the commune, but they are not marked as part of an organised system. Check current route and snow conditions before setting out.

Culture and sound

The church houses a bronze bell dating from 1665, which is listed as a historic monument. It brings together a specific date and a protected historic object.

In 2002, Arcabas created eight abstract stained-glass windows on the theme of resurrection. The artist, year of creation, form and subject give this artistic attraction its own distinctive character.

Le Sappey à la jumelle is an artistic sound walk around Le Sappey-En-Chartreuse, created by choreographer Laurent Pichaud. Unlike the orienteering courses, its focus is on the connection between sound and movement.

Getting to the sound walk

You can reach the sound walk from Grenoble without a car by taking bus N62 towards Col de Porte. The Col de Porte stop is served only on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays. Check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Valencin, Autrans, Seyssuel, Biviers, Saint-Pierre-De-Chartreuse, Chichilianne, La Motte-D'aveillans, Izeron.

See the wider travel overview: Isere.