Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle: Church, Nature Reserves and Routes

Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle offers several points of interest to help you plan a stay: church history, two protected areas and named routes for snowshoeing, hiking and e-biking. When choosing a destination, you can consider whether architecture, landscape or a particular activity should be the focus of your stay.

Landscape and protected areas

The Aravis Nature Reserve covers a total of 3,747 hectares, part of which lies within the municipality. It is considered a refuge for chamois, ibex, marmots, mouflons, roe deer, foxes, badgers, wild boar, black grouse, bearded vultures and golden eagles. Another protected area, Nanpareux/Merdassier, extends across Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle and Ugine and is designated as a strict nature reserve.

The Avenières orientation table offers panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the Beaufortain and the Aravis range. This means the view takes in three named landscapes that you can appreciate together.

Churches and local history

The church of Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle has eight bells; two of them were cast locally in 2013. The church also houses the Clergeau organ, which was installed there in 1866. In 1944, the organ was restored and motorised by Merklin. Together, these dates form a longer timeline: the organ's acquisition in the 19th century was followed by the work in 1944 and the local bell casting in 2013.

Lace-making is also part of the village's history. Until around the middle of the 19th century, lace was made at home in Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle from flax and hemp grown locally. Merchants from Faucigny then sold the goods on. This tradition thus involved both domestic production and resale by merchants.

The Church of Chaucisse was built in 1818 as a chapel dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales and became a parish church in 1828. Its wooden-shingle roof was recently restored, and the walls are painted. The furnishings and fittings show artistic features of the Baroque period. The interior is closed to visitors except in summer, during the daily Mass. Check locally whether a visit is possible before making plans.

Snowshoe trails, a circular route and an e-bike route

The La Boucle des Carrés snowshoe loop starts in Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle. It is 4.3 kilometres long, rated difficult and takes 1 hour 45 minutes. Length, duration and rating answer different planning questions: they describe the route, the time required and the level of difficulty.

The Tré le Sez snowshoe trail runs above Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle through woodland and alpine pastures. When choosing between the two snowshoe trails, you can therefore weigh the stated length, duration and difficulty of the Boucle des Carrés against the landscape along Tré le Sez.

The Boucle des Avenières circular route starts at the Sous La Bèque car park, next to an information board about hiking. Check the board on site if you want to use it for orientation at the starting point.

The e-bike route Tour du Val d’Arly, marked as an FFC route, runs from the centre of Flumet towards Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle and continues to the higher hamlet of Chaucisse and the Route de Montagnes.

Alpage Les Mouilles

Alpage Les Mouilles can be reached by off-road vehicle or on foot via the Route des Montagnes. Goat tommes, séracs, faisselles, petits frais and pure goat's cheese are made and sold there. These products offer a distinctive insight into local food production, while the routes and churches provide other points of focus for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: La Perrière, Attignat-Oncin, Crest-Voland, Saint-Pierre-De-Genebroz, Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, La Ravoire, Bozel.

For the broader travel overview: Savoie.