Montaimont: Baroque Chapels and Mountain Landscapes

Montaimont lies in the heart of the Maurienne Valley, on the right bank of the Arc, above the La Chambre basin. The mountain cirque is shaped in part by Mont du Fût, whose summit reaches 2,822 metres. The landscape includes gentle alpine slopes as well as more challenging mountain terrain, woods and forests, and meadows and pastures used for agriculture. This brings together different facets of the mountain environment: open pastures and gentler slopes on one side, more rugged terrain on the other.

Baroque Art and the Heritage of Mountain Villages

The Notre-Dame de Beaurevers Chapel is a listed historic monument and is considered an important Baroque shrine. Its features include trompe-l’œil paintings, paintings on the Baroque altarpiece, and a painting by Gabriel Dufour dating from 1683. The chapel is open to visitors on Fridays in July and August from 4 to 6 pm. Check the latest dates before your trip.

The “De Bonvillard à Beaurevers” route also highlights the heritage of the mountain villages. It passes a bread oven, crosses, an oratory, traditional houses and basins, continuing as far as Notre-Dame de Beaurevers Chapel. Other religious landmarks can be found in the hamlets: the parish church of Montaimont is dedicated to Saint Grat and John the Baptist. The Saint Roch Chapel in La Pallud is dedicated to Saint Roch, the patron saint of animals. In the village of Le Loup, the Saint Bernard de Menthon Chapel bears the name of the patron saint of the people of the Alps.

Festivals and Local Traditions

The main festival in Montaimont is the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, associated with the chapel of Beaurevers, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The festivities include a procession in traditional costume and the local “r’zoules”, also known as bugnes. The Foire follows on 24 August. These recurring dates give August a special place in the local festival calendar; the exact programme may vary.

Mountain Routes and Activities

The “De Bonvillard à Montaimont” route starts at the car park and cross-country skiing centre in Bonvillard. It goes via Le Loup, Taramur and Pierre Rouge to a point just beyond Montaimont. As route information is seasonal, check current conditions before your trip. There are also snowshoeing routes in the Montaimont area towards Lac du Loup, the Plateau of Sainte-Marguerite and the high-altitude trails as far as Saint François Longchamp.

Cyclists will also find a connection to the region: Montaimont lies along routes belonging to “La Maurienne – Le plus grand domaine cyclable du monde”.

Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing and Year-Round Activities

The Espace nordique du Grand Coin Nordic area lies between Montaimont and Montpascal; the cross-country ski trails start in the village of Bonvillard. Activities include cross-country skiing, sledging and snowshoeing. The area has twelve cross-country ski trails covering a total of 40 kilometres, as well as ten signposted snowshoe routes covering a total of 35 kilometres. Check in advance what is available during your travel dates.

Around Montaimont and its mountain pastures, Randonnées Pays’Ânes offers donkey treks, farm workshops, cow milking, evenings on the mountain pastures and high-altitude hikes throughout the year. If you plan to take part in any of these activities, check booking arrangements before your trip. This makes it easier to balance heritage, mountain scenery and activities to suit your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Queige, La Perrière, Mouxy, Le Pré, Aime, Attignat-Oncin, Aillon-Le-Jeune, Montchavin.

See the wider travel guide: Savoie.