La Motte-En-Bauges: Landscape, Trails and History

If you are looking for hotels in La Motte-En-Bauges, its landscape, heritage and specific trails can help you get your bearings. The municipality offers a range of points of interest, from the Chéran and the wooded Mont-Chabert to historic buildings, a geosite and cheese-related activities.

The landscape and location of the main village

The municipal area, covering almost 1,000 hectares, stretches from the “island” of the Chéran at an altitude of 615 metres to the wooded summit of Mont-Chabert at 1,475 metres. The main village lies on a molasse outcrop north of the Mollard hill; the church is located on this hill. The municipality’s landscape therefore ranges from the Chéran to higher, wooded areas.

Local history and architecture

The main village is considered one of the oldest settlements in the Bauges. The Église Saint-Victor was built in 1862 as a Neo-Gothic church, based on plans by the architect Duverney. The medieval Maison forte de la Frénière was already in existence before the 15th century. A Gallo-Roman site with buildings and a necropolis was also discovered in the 19th century.

The Château des Cerises is another of the area’s historic buildings. It is a manor house restored in the 19th century and was built on the former site of the castle belonging to the de Cerise family. The different dates offer insight into several chapters of local history, from the Gallo-Roman site and the medieval Maison forte to the construction and restoration work of the 19th century.

Explore the trails and landscape

La Motte-En-Bauges is listed as a starting point for hikes in the Bauges Massif. The Promenade Picot is a 4.4-kilometre circular trail with 52 metres of elevation gain. It leads to the suspended Passerelle Picot, which offers a view of the Chéran. The Promenade has only very gentle slopes and is considered accessible to everyone.

The Plaine d’inondation du Chéran geosite offers a different landscape experience. It is accessible from the hamlet of Le Rocher; within the geosite, a flat path runs past the Plan d’eau de La Motte-en-Bauges to the right bank of the Chéran. This gives you different trail features to consider when planning: the Promenade Picot’s circular route, length and elevation gain, and the geosite’s flat route to the riverbank.

Cheese and local highlights

Community cheese-making is also part of local history: farmers began establishing communal dairies. At Ferme La Marmotte en Bauges, visitors can learn about and sample cheese. Products for sale include Tome des Bauges AOP, fromage blanc battu, faisselle and Raclette de Savoie. This offers a way to combine a visit with an interest in regional cheeses, whether to sample them or explore the named selection.

Fishing information

The La Motte-En-Bauges fishing pond is a private, enclosed body of water for first-category fishing and is home to brown trout. One clear restriction applies: only holders of the special fishing permit for this pond may fish there.

Discover more destinations: Bonneval-Sur-Arc, Grésy-Sur-Aix, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Saint-Jean-De-Belleville, Aillon-Le-Jeune, Bramans, Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle, Jarsy.

For the regional travel overview: Savoie.