Valloire: Hiking, Winter Sports and Culture

Valloire offers an extensive hiking area in summer and cross-country ski trails and skiing opportunities in winter. There is also a Baroque church, Fort du Télégraphe and seasonal straw and hay sculptures. Free shuttle buses connect Valloire with its hamlets via eight routes in winter and summer. Check current routes and timetables before your trip, especially if you plan to travel to the hamlets.

Summer hiking and Lac des Cerces

In summer, Valloire offers 14,000 hectares of hiking trails between alpine pastures, famous mountain passes and alpine panoramas. They range from the Col du Télégraphe at 1,556 metres to the Col du Galibier at 2,642 metres. These elevations mark different points in the hiking area; conditions on individual trails may vary by season.

Lac des Cerces is in the Massif des Cerces and offers views of the Grand Galibier and the Aiguilles d’Arves. To reach the lake, take Route 902 from Valloire towards the Col du Galibier, passing the hamlet of Bonnenuit, to the free Plan Lachat car park. In summer, some shuttle buses serve Plan Lachat; check current operating information before your trip. The hike to Lac des Cerces is considered accessible to most visitors. Weather and trail conditions can affect accessibility.

The Buvette du Galibier, a rest stop known for its fresh-fruit tarts, is located along the route to Lac des Cerces. Opening times and offerings are seasonal.

Cross-country skiing and skiing opportunities in winter

Valloire’s well-maintained network of cross-country ski trails is suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. There are trails for both classic and skate skiing. Snow and grooming conditions vary by season. The Galibier-Thabor ski area also offers 160 kilometres of skiing across five slopes. Check seasonal operating conditions before your trip if you plan to make use of these facilities.

Church and Fort du Télégraphe

The Eglise baroque Notre Dame de l’Assomption is an example of 17th-century Savoyard Baroque and was consecrated in 1682. Its features include a main altarpiece, a choir vault with plaster stucco, side altarpieces, altar paintings by the Dufour family and frescoes in the nave. Valloire also comprises 17 hamlets, each with its own chapel.

Fort du Télégraphe was built between 1885 and 1893 on the site of a relay station on the Chappe optical telegraph along the imperial Paris–Milan line. It is accessible only in summer as part of guided tours offered by the Guides du Patrimoine Savoie Mont-Blanc and FACIM. From the car park at the Col du Télégraphe, the fort can be reached via a small road in about ten minutes; local conditions may affect access on foot. Check the current tour programme before your visit.

Straw and hay sculptures in Valloire

The straw and hay sculptures are located on the Route des Grandes Alpes at the exit from the hamlet of Les Verneys, between the centre of Valloire and the Galibier. They remain on display until All Saints’ Day; the exact dates may change from year to year.

In summer, you can reach the site by shuttle. A hiking trail from the centre of Valloire also leads there in 40 minutes; free parking is available nearby. Check the current shuttle service in advance if you plan to use it.

Discover more destinations: Saint Francois Longchamp, Traize, Saint-Etienne-De-Cuines, Voglans, Saint-Oyen, Gerbaix, La Motte-En-Bauges, Montaimont.

Go to the main travel overview: Savoie.