La Table: Hiking, Solar System Trail and History

La Table offers several points of interest to help you plan your trip: a short hike along former trade routes, a Solar System trail, historic buildings and a climbing area. These different themes can help you decide what interests you about the area before you look for a hotel for your stay.

Hike or educational trail?

Le Tour de la Table is a short hike that explores former trade routes. The route is 4.7 kilometres long, climbs 240 metres and takes about two hours and 50 minutes. It starts at the Gîtes ruraux car park in the hamlet of Villard de la Table and is marked with yellow trail signs. As trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check the latest conditions before setting off.

The 1.3-kilometre educational trail introducing visitors to the Solar System offers another way to explore a subject outdoors. Its 13 illustrated, educational and interactive panels take you from the Sun to beyond Pluto. The distances between the panels are proportional to the distances in the Solar System, bringing the scale of the subject to life along the route. By comparison, Le Tour de la Table is the longer route at 4.7 kilometres and also includes information about the climb and walking time.

Church and castle history

The history of the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption spans several phases of construction. In 1689, two side chapels were added to enlarge the church. After it was destroyed during the French Revolution, the church was rebuilt in 1865 on a much larger scale. These two dates mark distinct stages: the addition of the chapels and, later, the rebuilding of the church.

The fortified house, maison-forte de l’Huille, also dates back to the 12th century. Château de l’Hüille was built to control the Roman road. Its ruins stand on a limestone outcrop above the plain. The castle once watched over the important road used by travellers heading towards Maurienne. The site thus highlights both its architectural past and the road’s former function.

The former cemetery was located behind the church. Fifty-seven graves have been identified there; features include upright stelae, horizontal grave slabs and heart-shaped memorials. The different forms make the cemetery a distinctive part of La Table’s historic character.

Star trail, climbing and local activities

The astronomy section of the Foyer pour tous created the Solar System trail and regularly organises events for children and adults. If you would like to include one of these events in your travel plans, check the specific dates before your trip. The trail itself combines information on the panels with the proportional spacing between them.

The Table Climbing Site has ten routes on a 20- to 25-metre-high gneiss wall. Grades range from 3a to 6c+. Six routes at the end of the climbing area are not equipped for lead climbing and must be set up from above. Check the rock conditions and your equipment before climbing. This information describes the routes and their setup; it does not replace an assessment of conditions on site.

In La Table, Sylvain Dautremay mainly creates animal figures as chainsaw sculptures. His workshop is open to visitors; arrange your visit with the workshop before travelling. These craftworks complement the area’s hiking, astronomy and history themes.

Whether you are most interested in the hike with its stated elevation gain, the shorter educational trail, historic buildings or an activity such as climbing, the attractions described offer different ways to explore La Table. Use this guide to decide whether the area is right for your trip, then look for a hotel in La Table.

Discover more destinations: La Motte-Servolex, Voglans, Lépin-Le-Lac, Praranger, Montagny, Pussy, Aiguebelle, Frontenex

Return to the regional travel overview: Savoie.