La Bâthie: Hiking Trails, Alpine Pastures and Cultural Heritage

La Bâthie combines hiking trails in a mountainous setting with historic buildings and insights into alpine farming. When planning your stay, these themes offer different points of focus: spending time outdoors in the warmer months, learning about the history of the community, or making a seasonal visit to an alpine pasture. You can also take travel arrangements into account.

Hiking and Views Around La Bâthie

A circular hiking trail marked in green and yellow heads towards Château de Chantemerle and the Belvédère du Char de la Raclaz. From the viewpoint, you can look down into the valley. Check the trail markers locally before setting out; access to the viewpoint may depend on trail conditions. This circular route combines a view with a trail leading towards a historic building, without assuming a particular walking time or level of difficulty.

Other hiking trails also pass through the commune and over the Col de La Bâthie. These trails offer an additional way to explore the area on foot and should not be confused with the circular route described above. In the warmer months, the mountain landscapes around La Bâthie also offer opportunities for walks and mountain biking. If you are planning activities, you can first decide on the seasonal focus and take current trail conditions into account for specific routes.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

La Bâthie is accessible via the Nationale 90 (N90). In 1992, the road was upgraded to a four-lane highway with separate carriageways for each direction. This provides a specific road connection to use as a guide when planning your journey. This travel detail can be considered alongside the local highlights described here—hiking and cultural heritage; no distances or journey times are specified.

Building History and Architecture

Château de Chantemerle has existed since at least the 12th century. Eglise Saint Didier offers another way to explore the local heritage and is an example of Sardinian Neoclassical architecture. The two sites highlight different aspects: the château points to a long history, while the church draws attention through its architectural style.

The chapels each have their own dedications and stories. Chapelle de Biorges is dedicated to Saint Aubin and Notre-Dame du Puy. Chapelle de Fugier was founded in the 1660s and is now dedicated to Saint Sauveur and Saint Félix. Together, these details offer various ways to explore local architectural and religious history. You can choose which places to visit based on what interests you most: the age of the château, the church’s architectural style, or the history and dedications of the chapels.

An Insight into Alpine Farming

At Alpage de Bellachat, visitors can learn about work on an alpine pasture, including milking cows and making Beaufort. The experience is seasonal; check dates and participation requirements in advance. Beaufort chalet d'alpage and Sérac are sold on site, subject to availability from the shepherds. Visiting and buying products are two separate aspects: while a visit offers insights into alpine farming, sales of the products mentioned depend on availability from the shepherds.

Discover more destinations: Lanslevillard, Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards, Montgellafrey, Pugny-Chatenod, Saint-Jean-De-Chevelu, Bellentre, La Motte-En-Bauges, Villard-Sur-Doron.

Go to the regional travel overview: Savoie.