The listed Valley of Champagny le Haut’s 4 hamlets

A magnificent glacier valley 1,500 metres above sea level, Champagny le Haut Valley was listed as a National Heritage Site in 1992.
Through determined and patient human endeavour, nature has been organised to ensure the mountain dwellers' survival, with every possibility provided by a hostile environment turned to their advantage. The hamlets are all located on the right bank of the stream, to the south in order to make best use of the sunlight, close to the few areas of arable land and the grassland necessary to stockbreeding, near the woods that provide fuel for heating, and on sites chosen in order to keep their inhabitants safe from avalanches, rock falls and landslides. All of them at the feet of some of the highest ice-capped peaks in the Vanoise, close to 4000 metres above sea level, including the Grande Casse and the Grande Motte.

Come and acquaint yourself with the ice giants! In this era of global warming and untimely melting of the planet’s ice, it's all the more important to (re)discover glaciers and wonder at their incredible beauty and multiple attributes. In this light-hearted, educational museographic facility with 200 m² of exhibition space, the subject of glaciers is tackled from all angles: scientific, geological, historical, mythological, environmental, landscape and human. There’s a range of activities to enjoy, including guided visits, exhibitions, scavenger hunts and presentations.

Information:
https://espaceglacialis.fr
04 79 01 40 28

The last little hamlet accessible by car in winter and Champagny le Haut Valley’s main village, Le Bois boasts an outstanding natural setting. Its houses are perfect examples of traditional architecture, with their stone slate roofs, balconies with wooden balusters and cantilever barns…
You’ll also find much to appreciate at Le Bois’ mountain hut, with its stretch of tree-shaded lawn, children’s games and excellent restaurant, along with Espace Glacialis, which is dedicated to the discovery of mountain glaciers, and finally, Saint-Clair Church, built thanks to donations from the parish’s inhabitants.
Each hamlet has its own chapel, but the biggest has a full-fledged church.

Don’t miss out on a visit to the craft workshop run by Hélène and Patrick Milliat, wood carvers and the hamlet’s last year-round inhabitants.
This picturesque hamlet used to be inhabited all year round and contains fine examples of the traditional rural architecture of bygone days. It's located between two avalanche corridors, beneath a rocky outcrop and protected by a “tourne” (deflecting structure), and the mountain dwellers’ resourcefulness has ensured the hamlet’s survival in its natural environment, respecting the setting and making use of all its attributes.
The pretty little chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Grâces provides a panoramic view over the entire hamlet.

Take in the valley’s true magnificence from the Palet Pass, which provides you with views of some of the massif’s highest glaciers, with eight numbered marker posts located along the trail by the Vanoise National Park.
The itinerary, which takes around 4 hours to complete, was created and waymarked by the Vanoise National Park. The accompanying booklet contains all the information you might need as you get better acquainted with mountain glaciers.
On the itinerary: the Glière mountain hut (restaurant service and beds for the night), the high mountain pastures of the Plan du Sel and the secrets of Beaufort cheese production, and above all, no end of marmots!
You can get a copy of the booklet at the Laisonnay Reception and Information Point.

A trail with its full share of interpretive signage including anecdotes and games, enabling young and old alike to uncover the secrets of this unique valley and its characteristic flora, fauna and pastoral life.

The trail is labelled “Promenade confort” (Comfort Walk) and is also suitable for people of reduced mobility and pushchairs, due to its very gentle slope and the picnic tables provided along the way, where you can take a well-earned relaxing break.
Excursion time: 1½ hours (loop trail)
Difference in elevation: 30 metres