Granier: Mountain scenery, trails and chapels

Granier lies at an altitude of 1,250 metres on sunlit slopes. From here, views stretch across the valley and surrounding peaks. The village’s character is shaped by religious buildings, traditional alpine chalets and activities for a range of interests. The altitude, chapels and trails give you a concrete sense of the local attractions and activities that may shape your stay as you choose your destination.

Mountain Scenery and Architectural History

At the Thiabord/Verraret alpine pasture, traditional chalets form small hamlets. There, you can spot flocks of sheep and mares from Granier; grazing follows the seasons. In the village, sundials on the façades of some houses are among the visible details. Alongside the open mountain scenery, you can also see individual traces of everyday village life.

The Church of Saint Barthélémy was built between 1535 and 1537. It contains three Baroque altarpieces, which have been listed as historic monuments since 1992. Bonvillard is home to another chapel: founded in 1544, it is dedicated to Saint James the Greater and Saint Pantaléon. The chapel’s altarpiece dates from 1730. These different dates of origin make Granier’s church and chapel history tangible through specific buildings.

The Chapel of Saint-Guérin, also known as Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, stands at an altitude of 1,940 metres and is the highest chapel in the municipality. It overlooks the waterfall at the Plan Pichu alpine pasture.

Circular Trail and Winter Activities

The Sentier du Plateau de Plan Pichu is a circular trail to the Plan Pichu alpine pasture and its Beaufort-making hut. The trail is rated easy. A botanical nature trail follows part of the same circular route. These three details answer different questions: the circular route describes the type of trail, the rating indicates its difficulty, and the nature trail is a section with a botanical focus. The hut is described as a place where Beaufort is made.

The Nordic area of Prachanié offers a five-kilometre cross-country ski trail, snowshoe trails and a starting point for ski touring. The five-kilometre trail is for cross-country skiing; the Nordic area also includes snowshoe trails and a starting point for ski touring.

More Activities Throughout the Year

The Trail de Combe Bénite has been held every September since 2009. It gives runners the opportunity to discover Granier’s alpine pastures.

At the Bergerie de Bonvillard, visitors can watch the sheep being milked every evening from 5 p.m. As visitor arrangements may change, it’s best to check in advance before planning your visit. The escape game “Le berger et le coffre maudit” can be played independently all year round. You should also ask in advance about arrangements for the booklet.

The Buvette de Prachanié serves light meals, homemade pastries, crêpes, and hot and cold drinks seasonally. It has a sunny terrace with views across the valley. Check the opening hours for your travel dates when planning your visit.

Practical Information

There is no organised public transport from Granier. Bear this in mind when planning your journey and check current transport conditions before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-D'arves, Bonneval-Sur-Arc, Traize, Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, Flumet, Lépin-Le-Lac, Saint-Avre, Ugine.

Back to the regional travel overview: Savoie.