Saint-Sorlin-Darves

Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves combines access to the Les Sybelles ski area with walking and hiking trails, Beaufort cheese, and a protected historic ensemble. The range of themes thus extends from winter sports to local history and trails through the mountain landscape. When choosing a hotel, it can help to consider whether the ski area, a particular circuit, or historic sites are your main focus.

Skiing in Les Sybelles

Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves offers direct access to the highest point of the Les Sybelles ski area, at 2,620 meters. The ski area near Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves has 310 kilometers of varied slopes for different ability levels. The two figures provide different points of reference: the elevation refers to the highest point, while the number of kilometers refers to the range of slopes. You can therefore consider the summit elevation and the size of the ski area separately.

Beaufort and local production

The Fromagerie Coopérative de la Vallée des Arves makes and sells Beaufort AOC. Free guided tours cover the cheese-making and aging process and take place Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Groups can attend by reservation. If you are planning a visit, bear in mind the morning hours; groups should book in advance.

Church, chapel, and local history

The Église Saint-Saturnin was built in 1603 and enlarged in 1658. It is part of an ensemble in Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves that is protected as a whole, which also includes the cemetery, the former town hall, chapels, crosses, and an oratory. The site was listed by decree dated April 13, 2004. The church is open to the public and can be visited individually or in groups, independently or with a guide. Glass-bead death crowns stand out on its façades, which they completely cover.

A walk through the Vallée des Prés Plans leads to the hamlet of Prés-Plans and the Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie chapel. It was built in 1671 and restored in 1855. The route and the building together make for a specific cultural and historical destination. The Musée de la Vie d'Autrefois was founded in 1977 by local residents committed to preserving the past. It features a reconstructed old kitchen in the traditional style of housing in Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, as well as traditional clothing, tools, and old photographs. Its exhibits span local housing and cuisine, clothing, work equipment, and photographs.

Circuits and mountain landscapes

Route No. 1 – Malcrozet starts at the tourist office in the village of Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, leads to Plan du Moulin, and follows a balcony trail above the Arvan River. The return route follows the Chemin de Sorlinette back to the cheese dairy where Beaufort is made. Route No. 7 – Trail de l'Etendard, by contrast, is a double loop: it also starts at the tourist office, crosses the high mountain area around the Ouillon and the Col de la Croix de Fer, and returns to the village. Along its route, Malcrozet connects Plan du Moulin and the trail above the Arvan with the cheese dairy; the second route is defined by its double loop and high mountain terrain.

The Circuit des petits lacs leads from the Col de la Croix de Fer to three small high-altitude lakes and offers a view of the Aiguilles d'Arves. There are also opportunities for walks and hikes from various hamlets. Mountain guides are available for guided thematic excursions. You can choose among a specific circuit, a route to the lakes, and a guided thematic excursion without needing to assume a walking time or level of difficulty.

More activities and getting there

The Plan du Moulin Express chairlift can be used by pedestrians and mountain bikers. From the summit, trails for pedestrians, mountain bikes, and e-mountain bikes are accessible, as are the Croix de Fer bike park and the mountain kart. Operating details and weather conditions vary by season; check them before planning a lift visit.

To get there, take exit No. 27 at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, then follow the signs to the Vallée de l'Arvan. A Sybelles ski bus runs between Saint-Jean-d'Arves and Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves. Conditions may vary depending on the season and the ski pass required. If you plan to use the shuttle, check the relevant information.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Avre, Courchevel 1550, Albertville, Attignat-Oncin, Les Marches, Chambéry, Aillon-Le-Jeune, Cruet.

For the broader travel overview: Savoie.