Along the River Isère between woodland and picturesque villages

Rebuilt between 1681 and 1694, the church in Hauteville-Gondon, dedicated to St Martin of Tours, is decorated with colourful 17th century altarpieces. The high altar may be the handiwork of Valsesian sculptor Joseph-Marie Martel. The last restoration phase (which lasted more than 5 years) particularly saw the original colours being restored to one of the altarpieces, the painted décor of a draped cloth crowning the Rosary altarpiece (listed as a Historical Monument) refreshed, the 19th century painted décor of all of the vaulting restored and its original décor enhanced, including the strikingly colourful motifs in raised stucco on the keystones. Previously completely hidden from view, their restoration bestows special status on this church, since they are not found in any of the other Baroque churches in Savoie.
Guided tours and opening times: enquiries at the tourist offices of Bourg-Saint-Maurice / Les Arcs.

A new type of orchard well worth exploring and experiencing on a tour of this scenic complex, located on a hillock overlooking the River Isère. Easy 600m walk with explanatory panels (30 mins) telling you about the different stages in an orchard's life cycle. Picnic tables available.
With the help of the association "les croqueurs de pommes de Tarentaise Beaufortain", the municipality of Bourg-Saint-Maurice established this orchard to help safeguard a number of old fruit tree varieties in our region.

The first records found of the parish of Macot date from 1096.
Its church underwent major repair work in 1475 and 1511. It was even completely rebuilt in 1676 by the same master builders who built Aime's church (labour and materials cost 2,700 florin coins).
Like other churches dating back to this time in Tarentaise, it comprises three naves and bays as well as a chancel with a rectangular chevet. The bell tower lost its top during the French Revolution in 1794, but was rebuilt in keeping with the original architecture: bulbous roof topped with two successive lanterns, each crowned with an onion-shaped dome.

This chapel dates back to 1628. It is believed to have been built thanks to the generosity of the village's prominent figures. It is often called "Chapelle de la Salette" after the statue of the Virgin of La Salette inside (donated by a village local). Notre-Dame de La Salette is how Catholics refer to the Virgin Mary when she apparently appeared before two children on 19 September 1846 above the village of La Salette-Fallavaux, near Corps, in the Isère département (just south of here).
St Sebastian, meanwhile, was called on to heal leprosy and plague, an outbreak of which ravaged the municipality. The great plague epidemic hit many households here, such that by 1348 there were only seven cottages left in Sangot that asked to join Macot. Since then, Macot and Sangot have formed the same municipality.

The Canton d'Aime's Neige & Soleil dairy cooperative and maturing cooperative are both located in the same building. Between them, they turn more than two million litres of milk into Beaufort cheese! This is a seasonal activity: in the summer, the cooperative stops the cheese-making process and delivers the milk to member farmer groups who make summer Beaufort cheese.
669, Avenue de Tarentaise 73210 AIME
TEL.: +33 (0)4.79.55.61.68
www.jaimelebeaufort.fr

This church particularly pays tribute to St Gratus, who is commonly invoked to help with harvests.
The 17th century building has retained some 15th century features, not least the ogee arches above the side entrance door. The main entrance in grey Villette marble is directly inspired by the principles laid down by F. Cuenot in his 1660 book.
The trompe-l’œil vault paintings by the three Artari brothers at the turn of the 19th century depict the four great prophets of the Old Testament, the evangelists and the four Fathers of the Latin church.
Jean-Baptiste Delponte rebuilt the high altar in 1815 on the basis of elements that escaped destruction during the French Revolution with, in the middle, a Nativity of the Virgin painted by Tosi. Two wreathed columns adorned with vine branches and wild roses frame the main scene, which is flanked by St Peter and St Paul.
The second strip celebrates St Gratus and St Roch, who are often called on to intervene in times of harvest and plague, St James and St Francis-de-Sales.
The six altarpieces of the side aisles are neoclassical restorations. In 1705, Pierre Chanu sculpted the choir stalls and preacher’s pulpit.

The cooperative in Bourg Saint Maurice brings together 52 producers who are wholeheartedly committed to making AOP (protected designation of origin) Beaufort cheese.
One of the Cooperative’s buildings is entirely given over to showcasing this outstanding cheese with an exhibition area, shop and tasting area.
You’ll gain an insight into the long-standing history of this cheese. A few dates at a glance: Back in Roman times, Pliny praised the different cheeses from Tarentaise and extolled the quality of the dairy cows. In the 19th century, agriculture and livestock rearing were still the main sources of livelihood for communities in the Haute-Tarentaise Valley. In 1888, the Herd-book of the Tarine breed was compiled (official description of the characteristics of cow breeds). In 1894, a cheese-dairy school was founded in Bourg Saint Maurice to train students in the cheese-making trade. In each hamlet and in the village, livestock rearers grouped together to establish these cheese dairies, or fruitières, as they are known, to make cheese. The French name refers to the fruit of the common labour of a village or hamlet. From 1960 to 1964, an economic recession set in and agricultural produce struggled to sell. From 1964, part of the village’s cheese dairies closed and the whole of the municipality’s production was centralised at the main village’s cheese dairy, which was named Coopérative laitière de Haute-Tarentaise. It obtained the controlled designation of origin (now the AOP) for its Beaufort in 1968.
Free, unaccompanied tours of the site during the shop’s opening hours.
Tel.: +33 (0)4 79 07 08 28
fromagebeaufort.fr