Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards: Mountains and Village History

Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards lies at an altitude of 1,100 m at the foot of the Col du Glandon, whose summit reaches 1,924 m. The altitude and local cultural sites define two distinct aspects of the destination. When planning your trip, both the mountain landscape and local history can serve as useful points of reference. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can decide in advance whether cultural sites, walking circuits or outdoor tours will be your main focus.

Cultural Sites and Architectural History

The Maison du Patrimoine is in the hamlet of La Pierre. Its remarkable exhibition showcases traditional village costumes. You can also see the interior of a local home as it used to look, with numerous objects from everyday life, work and farming. The costumes and the home offer two different ways to explore village history: clothing on the one hand, and domestic and working life on the other. Those interested in history beyond individual buildings can also get a glimpse here of everyday objects and activities.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Neiges in Valmaure was built in 1691 and houses two paintings by Laurent Dufour from the 18th century. The chapel and its paintings thus date from different centuries. This distinction in time makes the history of the building and its furnishings easy to grasp at a glance.

The Eglise de St Colomban des Villards offers another perspective on architectural history: the church is Neo-Gothic and replaced an older Romanesque church. In 1981, it was severely damaged by the force of an avalanche. Local volunteers, organised in the Notre Clocher association, are working to preserve and restore it. If you are interested in this work during your visit, check the current status of the activities in advance.

Walking Circuit and Tours

The Circuit des chapelles – Circuit de St Colomban des Villards starts in the main village and passes six chapels in the commune. It is open all year round. If you want to see several chapels, you can use the circuit as a broader point of reference for planning, rather than focusing on just one building.

Four snowshoe hikes cover a total of 30 km; a separate 15 km walking route is also listed. The 30 km refers to the combined length of the four snowshoe hikes, while the 15 km refers to the single walking route. The activities and the scope of these figures therefore differ. Check current route conditions before setting out.

The Col du Glandon also has a specific historical connection for cycling enthusiasts: the road to the pass has been ridden by the Tour de France 14 times.

Getting There and Trip Planning

By car, take exit 26 at Sainte-Marie-de-Cuines/La Chambre. Then follow the Vallée des Villards and the RD 927. Road conditions can vary seasonally, so check them before setting off. Gare de St Avre / La Chambre railway station is 10 km away. If you are arriving by train, plan your onward journey before travelling so that the leg from the station is accounted for.

Discover more destinations: Pralognan-La-Vanoise, Grignon, Planay, Rochefort, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Valloire, Saint-Christophe, Saint-Sorlin-Darves.

Go to the overview of destinations in the region: Savoie.