The Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve and the Baroque Trail
In 3 days
Here, we would like to suggest a less-usual way of visiting the Mont Blanc Massif. The route starts in Les Houches, goes through the Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve, follows part of the Baroque Trail, and ends by taking the amazing Mont Blanc Tramway and the Bellevue cable car to get back to the start point. On its way, the route takes in sections of the famous Tour of Mont Blanc (TMB) trail. The naturalist and scientist Horace-Bénédict de Saussure was probably one of the first people to walk the TMB, doing so in 1767, long before it was signposted and mapped!
The TMB is a 150-km trail through France, Italy and Switzerland that is usually walked in 8 to 10 days. Hikers with a little more time can extend the standard route to around 200 km by following the numerous variants.
Highest points - Standard route: Grand Col Ferret 2537 m, Testa Bemada 2534 m, Le Brévent 2525 m. Variants: Col des Fours 2716 m, Fenêtre d'Arpette 2665 m.
District: Les Houches
Region: Pays du Mont-Blanc
Road access and parking: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - Les Houches: 8 km
Leave Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and follow the N506 to a right-hand turn for Les Houches. Park beside the cross-country ski centre (foyer de ski de fond), near the ice rink.
Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): circuit
Best season: from spring to summer, when snow free
Waymarkers: Départemental waymarkers, "Espace Mont-Blanc" waymarkers
Maps and guides: IGN Top 25 n° 3531 ET Saint Gervais-les-Bains Massif du Mont-Blanc
Gîte du Champel 1196 m
GPS coordinates
Hosts: Nathalie & Serge ERRARD
Le Champel
74170 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Tel: 04 50 47 77 55
Fax: 04 50 47 77 56* Web:
Second stage: hotel at Les Contamines-Montjoie
Les Contamines-Montjoie Tourist Office: 04 50 47 01 58
Contact TO: Les Houches
Tel: 04 50 55 50 62
Website: www.leshouches.com
Day 1: From Les Houches to Champel
Start height: 992 m
Highest point: 1672 m
Height difference: 869 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 3hrs 30min
Description:
From les Houches, follow the GR5 towards the Bellevue cable car. Continue to "Les Trabets", and then turn right onto the path to the Col de Voza (snack bar). At the Col, the view opens out to take in the Arve Valley, Les Contamines-Montjoie, the Aravis Mountains and the Aiguilles Rouges. Cross the Mont-Blanc tramway, bearing right towards "Les Maisons", "Les Béttières", "Bionnassay" and its little chapel, and then "Les Champel", where you will spend the night.
Highlight
This first day offers some wonderful views of the glaciers flowing down from Mont-Blanc, the Aiguille Verte, and the Aiguille du Goûter, etc. Lying at 1200 m, Champel is a tiny hamlet nestled in a grassy corner below the glaciers of the Domes de Miage.
Day 2: Le Champel to Les Contamines-Montjoie and Notre-Dame-de-La-Gorge
District: Les Contamines-Montjoie
Region: Pays du Mont-Blanc
Start height: 1196 m
Highest point: 1751 m
Height difference: 949 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 4hrs
Description:
From Le Champel, follow the "Tour du Mont-Blanc" towards the Chalets de Miage. This beautiful trail follows a precipitous route above the Gorges de Gruvaz - take care. The small hamlet of Miage should not be missed. Do not take the path to the Col de Tricot, but continue southwest to the Chalets du Trucs, just below Mont Truc (in geographical terms, Truc means rounded summit). Follow the path to the Granges de la Frasse, and then take the most direct route down to Les Contamines-Montjoie.
Turn left onto the D902, and follow it for 500 m. Go over the bridge and follow the Bon Nant stream towards Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge. This is part of the Baroque Trail. There are no fewer than 14 shrines along the path to the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge, a former pilgrimage objective. Re-built in 1699, it was the parish church for all the inhabitants of the valley from the 12th century to the beginning of the 19th century.
Retrace your steps back to Les Contamines-Montjoie. Several 1* to 3* hotels.
After Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge, the trail continues to the Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme (see Tour of the Beaufortain).
Highlight
This second day allows you to explore the cultural and historical heritage of this valley, as well as to enjoy some breathtaking views. Every visitor to Les Contamines-Montjoie should take the time to visit the village's 18th century Baroque church. Finished in 1759, it was immortalised in 1802 by the famous English painter, William Turner.
A very informative brochure on the Baroque Trail can be bought at the tourist office.
Day 3: Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Houches via Saint-Gervais and the Baroque Trail.
Start height: 1196 m
Highest point: 1196 m
Height difference: 250 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 6hrs (using the Mont-Blanc Tramway to get from Saint-Gervais to the Col de Voza and the Bellevue cable car to get back to Les Houches).
Description:
From les Contamines-Montjoie, follow the Baroque Trail to Saint-Gervais, a route that the valley's inhabitants have been using from time immemorial. Follow the Bon Nant stream, go through the forest, follow the road to Tague, cross the Les Crouets footbridge, and then follow signs to the Plaine des Praz to get to Saint Gervais. Head to the Mont-Blanc Tramway station. The tram takes about 35 minutes to get to the station at the Col de Voza. From here there are two options: 1. Walk down the path taken on day one - allow about two hours. 2. Take the Bellevue cable car - much faster!
In order to avoid a long wait, it is advisable to look up the timetables for the Mont-Blanc Tramway (www.compagniedumontblanc.fr) and the Bellevue cable car (www.leshouches.com).
Highlight:
On day three, you will see a gentler aspect of the mountains. The entire route is dotted with shrines, chapels and churches - reminders of the Counter Reformation. Taking the Mont-Blanc Tramway for the return leg from Saint-Gervais to the Col de Voza provides an original way of finishing your walk. The building of the tramway at the beginning of the 20th century was a major engineering achievement. If you have time, why not take the tram all the way to its terminus at the Nid d'Aigle - the gateway to the high summits.
