Plancherine: Tufière, church and Tour Gaillarde

For a stay in Plancherine, nature and architectural history offer different points of interest. The Tufière is a petrifying spring with a cascade covered in vegetation; the Église de Plancherine and the Tour Gaillarde represent different chapters in the area’s history. There is also the shaded walking trail between the Abbaye Cistercienne Notre Dame de Tamié and Fort de Tamié. If you are looking for hotels in Plancherine, these topics can help you choose the focus of your trip.

Tufière de Plancherine: spring and cascade

The Tufière de Plancherine is a petrifying spring. Its striking cascade, covered in vegetation, can be viewed from an observation platform with information boards. It is one of the tufa springs that flow year-round. Tufa springs of this kind often support specialized flora and an exceptional biotope; calcium carbonate deposition shapes the habitat.

You can reach the Tufière on foot from the large roadside parking area at Col de Tamié. Head towards the restaurant, leave it on your right, then follow the uphill forest path. There are signs from the drinking-water reservoir onwards. As paths and signs may change, follow the current signs on site.

Walking trails with different destinations

The Tour du vallon de Tamié is a shaded walking trail connecting the Abbaye Cistercienne Notre Dame de Tamié with Fort de Tamié. On the circular route to the Tour Gaillarde, the path leads to a fortified residence that has been inhabited since the 16th century. This circular route is open from May 1 to October 31 in favorable weather conditions and is free to access.

The trails offer different highlights: the Tour du vallon is described in terms of its shade and the connection between two named destinations. For the circular route to the Tour Gaillarde, the seasonal opening period and weather conditions are important factors to consider when visiting. This lets you distinguish the trails based on their stated characteristics without assuming an unspecified duration or difficulty for either one.

Church and the history of the Tour Gaillarde

The present-day Église de Plancherine was built during the Sardinian period, from 1840 to 1844, on the site of a smaller earlier church. Its original interior, decorated with colored plaster, is well preserved despite damage caused by water ingress and is considered exceptional in the region. Its construction date and preserved design therefore offer two different points of reference for the church’s history.

The Tour Gaillarde served as the main residence of the abbots of Tamié for several centuries. What remains is a modest building regarded as a symbol of their seigneurial power over Plancherine. While the church is associated with a specific 19th-century building period, the Tour Gaillarde represents the abbots’ longer history of residence and rule.

Abbaye Cistercienne Notre Dame de Tamié

The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1132 by Saint Pierre de Tarentaise. It lies on the border between Savoie and Haute-Savoie, on the eastern slope of the Massif des Bauges, at an altitude of 900 meters. Its location and elevation provide a distinct geographical point of reference for the abbey, different from the local histories of the Église de Plancherine and the Tour Gaillarde.

The abbey’s liturgy is open to everyone and celebrated in French; Gregorian chant continues to play an important role there. As service times may change, check the current schedule before visiting.

The abbey also has a cheese dairy, where around 400 kg of Tamié cheese, an unpasteurized pressed cheese, is made each day. The cheese is sold in the region, throughout France, and online. The abbey thus combines its liturgical and historical significance with a well-known regional product; the listed sales channels also extend beyond the immediate region.

Discover more destinations: Granier, Courchevel 1550, Francin, Trévignin, Feissons-Sur-Salins, Les Échelles, Saint-Jean-De-Chevelu, Villaroger.

See the overview of the wider travel region: Savoie.