Discover Séez: Craftsmanship, heritage and trails

Séez offers several very different points of interest for your trip: hiking and ski touring trails, insights into wool processing, as well as exhibitions and architecture. When planning, it is worth distinguishing route times from seasonal visitor access. At Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, an alpine garden and the history of the hospice provide further topics to explore.

Trails and tours

The Parcours de l’Hermine ski touring route runs between Les Écudets or Séez and La Rosière, with an elevation gain of 740 metres. Before setting out on a winter tour, check the latest snow and safety conditions.

The Sentier des Hameaux is one of the hiking trails that start in Séez. Local routes take between 1.5 and 6 hours; check their conditions according to the season. These figures describe different planning considerations: for local hiking trails, the focus is on duration, while for the Parcours it is on elevation gain.

Craftsmanship and wool processing

The Filature Arpin was founded in 1817 and is open to visitors. A 1.5-hour guided tour covers its historic machinery and the production stages involved in making Arpin wool and textiles. During the visit, you can follow the techniques of carding, spinning and weaving Savoy sheep’s wool on machines that are more than a hundred years old. This lets you trace the process from carding through spinning to weaving. Check booking requirements and tour times before you travel.

Blacksmithing, jewellery and architectural history

The Espace Saint-Eloi is a former forge in the centre of Séez. It hosts exhibitions on blacksmithing, Savoyard jewellery and Savoyard Baroque art. The jewellery display includes more than 200 pieces from Savoy, including crosses, hearts and brooches. Check the seasonal opening hours before your visit.

The Church of Saint-Pierre houses a gilded main altarpiece carved by Étienne Fodéré around 1686 and an Assumption painting by Bastiani, dated 1683. The church was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century, while Romanesque features such as the bell tower were preserved. Together, the building and its furnishings reflect several periods: Romanesque elements remained, while the rebuilding and artworks date to the late 17th century.

At Col du Petit Saint-Bernard

Chanousia is an alpine garden at Col du Petit Saint-Bernard. It lies at an altitude of 2,172 metres and is home to 1,000 different plant varieties. Seasonal access depends on snow conditions; take this into account when planning your visit.

Also at Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, the restored Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard now houses a tourist information office and an interactive exhibition on the history of the hospice and the pass. Check the seasonal availability of services before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Sardières, Albens, Saint-Baldoph, Chindrieux, Saint-Etienne-De-Cuines, Les Déserts, La Motte-En-Bauges, Saint-Martin-De-Belleville

For the overview of the wider region: Savoie.