Les Marches: Discover History and Wine

If you are looking for a hotel in Les Marches for your trip, the town offers several specific themes to help you plan: the historic centre, the Église des Marches, boundary stones, and wine and cheese offerings. The founding of the new town, the château, and traces of former borders represent different aspects of the town’s history. There are also visits, tastings, and a weekly food market. This lets you choose Les Marches based on the themes you want to shape your stay.

Town Centre and History

Les Marches was founded as a new town in 1301. The château in the town centre was built in the 14th century to strengthen the border of the County of Savoy. The founding and the château represent two milestones in the town’s history; the château’s historical purpose also illustrates the importance of its border location to its construction. Towers, defensive walls, and other fortifications have also survived in the town centre. Old houses and a bread oven add to these architectural traces. Together, they show different aspects of the townscape: fortifications, housing, and an element of everyday life. If you are interested in history, it is worth considering these features not only individually but also as different parts of a historic town centre that developed over time. The selection therefore extends beyond a single building and includes both defensive architecture and older homes.

Church and Boundary Stones

The Église des Marches is a neoclassical church built by G. Trivelli in the early 19th century. It can be visited independently throughout the year. Check local visiting arrangements before your visit, as they may change. Sardinian boundary stones in Les Marches offer another trace of the past. They date from between 1672 and 1852 and document the former border between Savoy and France. Unlike the château, which dates from the 14th century, the boundary stones point to a later period. These different dates help place the town’s history in chronological context without conflating the château’s construction history with the documented border. Together with the church, they create a varied picture of different periods and architectural styles.

Wine, Cheese and Market

Domaine des Granges Longes offers wine tours and tastings. By reservation, it also offers introductions to food and wine pairings, as well as tastings of local cheeses with wines from the wine-growing area. If you are planning a tasting, check the current reservation and cellar access arrangements in advance, as they may change. Another way to discover regional produce is the small food market held weekly. Vendors include a rotisserie chicken seller, a cheesemonger, and sellers of seasonal produce. Check the current market schedule if you want to plan your visit around it; market dates may change. The options are distinct: Domaine des Granges Longes focuses on wine tours and tastings, while the market brings together several types of food.

A Route Through Les Marches and the Vineyards

The Circuit patrimonial des Abymes passes through Les Marches and the vineyards at the foot of the Chartreuse Massif. Alongside the buildings and town centre, a route through wine-growing areas offers another distinct travel experience. If you are interested in both the town’s history and its wine tradition, you can consider these themes side by side when planning, without combining them into a single sightseeing offer. When choosing a hotel in Les Marches, the historic sights, tasting opportunities, or weekly market may be the deciding factor; which matters most depends on your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Épersy, La Ravoire, Moutiers, Jongieux, Pralognan-La-Vanoise, Feissons-Sur-Salins, Les Avanchers Valmorel, Salins-Les-Thermes

For the broader travel overview: Savoie.