Discover Sardières: Monolith, Archaeology and Church Art

The Monolith of Sardières and the Église Saint-Laurent in Sardières stand alongside the archaeological theme of the Musée d’Archéologie Val Cenis Sollières; the forest trail and winter route add specific paths to the selection. Visiting conditions vary: museum offerings may change seasonally, access to the cave is scheduled and subject to conditions, and snow and weather may affect the conditions and markings of the winter trail. These differences help you distinguish between your interests and planning requirements.

Archaeology and the Grotte des Balmes

The Musée d’Archéologie Val Cenis Sollières presents 3,000 years of everyday life among the inhabitants of the Grotte des Balmes. Its subject matter thus spans a long period while remaining focused on the everyday lives of the inhabitants. The museum offers self-guided visits, guided tours and archaeology workshops; offerings may vary by season. The formats differ in whether you visit independently, join a guided tour or explore archaeology in a workshop. If a particular type of visit is important to you, check which offerings are available at the time of your trip. The museum is on Chemin du Petit Bonheur, a trail between Modane and Bonneval sur Arc.

A visit to the Grotte des Balmes includes a visit to the first cave chamber, followed by a guided tour of the museum. This special access is scheduled and subject to conditions. If the cave is the deciding factor in your choice, take these planning requirements into account when preparing your trip.

Forest Trail and Monolith

The Sentier pédestre sylvicole between Sollières and Sardières is a forest trail with information panels about trees and animals. Its focus differs from the museum’s: here, the focus is on the forest and wildlife, while the museum explores the everyday lives of the inhabitants of the Grotte des Balmes. If you are weighing up cultural and nature-related themes for your stay, you can compare these two clearly distinct focuses. The information panels give the trail an educational character, while the museum explores its subject matter through archaeological interpretation.

The Monolith of Sardières is 93 metres high. A developed path goes all the way around it, offering a loop option. In addition, the winter trail to the monolith starts at the Chalet nordique de Sardières and passes through the hamlet of Le Clott and Sardières Le Lotissement. This route is distinct from the developed path around the monolith. Snow and weather may change the conditions and markings of the winter trail. Check current conditions before setting out on a winter hike.

Baroque Church Art in Sardières

The Église Saint-Laurent in Sardières has Baroque furnishings and splendid floral motifs in stencil painting, described as unique in Haute Maurienne. It offers a different cultural point of interest from the museum: the church highlights design and painting, while the museum presents 3,000 years of everyday life among the inhabitants of the Grotte. For choosing what interests you, these are different ways of experiencing culture: architectural furnishings on the one hand, and the archaeology of everyday life on the other.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Grésy-Sur-Aix, Saint-Jean-De-Chevelu, Valmeinier, Notre-Dame-Du-Pré, Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards, Saint-Jean-D'arves, Bellentre, Mâcot-La-Plagne

Return to the regional travel overview: Savoie.