Montgellafrey: Hiking and village culture

Montgellafrey lies in the Lauzière Massif. Two themes can help you choose a place to stay: hiking and the village’s distinctive features. When planning a hike, distance, duration and difficulty each play a different role; the church, wooden granaries, bread ovens and characteristic houses offer another way to discover the village. This can help you decide whether a specific hike or the village’s history and architecture should be more central to your trip.

Hiking and getting your bearings

The “De Montgellafrey aux Covatières (2)” hiking trail in the Montgellafrey sector is about two kilometres long and rated easy. Trail length and difficulty rating are two different factors to consider: “about two kilometres” indicates the approximate distance, while “easy” is the trail’s rating. When comparing hiking options, also check whether the information refers to distance or walking time; each helps answer a different question when planning your day.

In summer, the Refuge du Lac de la Grande Léchère can be reached on foot from Montgellafrey in two hours. For your day’s planning, this walking time answers a different question from the Covatières information: that gives the distance and difficulty level, while here the focus is on the season-specific time needed on foot. The climb to Lac de la Grande Léchère offers views of the Belledonne range and the Aiguilles d’Arves. If views are important to you on a hike, these two mountain ranges provide a specific landscape to look out for.

The Refuge du Lac de la Grande Léchère is a starting point for several hiking trails and free orienteering courses. Check locally to see whether the orienteering courses are available. The first stage of the “Lauzière” route starts at the refuge car park in Montgellafrey. Access depends on snow and weather conditions, which you should take into account when planning this stage.

The refuge serves home-style cooking made with fresh produce. If you plan to eat there, check the current service conditions before your visit.

The church and architectural features

Montgellafrey’s church is first mentioned in 1358; its interior features Baroque art. The historical reference places the church within the village’s history, while the art offers a different perspective on its interior. The church thus offers two distinct points of interest for those interested in history and art.

Montgellafrey’s architectural features include groups of wooden granaries and houses with “legs or columns,” which are considered characteristic. The wording draws attention to how the houses are supported, while the granaries are described as groups. The bread ovens are still in use, so their continued use is another feature of the village, alongside their design. These examples highlight different aspects: the houses’ supporting structures, the grouping of the granaries and the ovens’ continued operation.

Discover more destinations: Gilly-sur-Isère, Le Pré, Saint Francois Longchamp, Gerbaix, La Côte-D'aime, Bessans, Fontcouverte-La-Toussuire, Saint-André.

For the broader travel overview: Savoie.