The Chapels and Hamlets of Montvalezan

Clinging to the slopes of the Haute Tarentaise, the commune of Montvalezan, home to the resort of La Rosière, stands out for its exceptional mountain heritage. Ranging from 850 to 2,900 metres in altitude, the area encompasses around forty hamlets and preserves a strong identity shaped by rural life and Savoyard traditions.

Hamlets: a living mountain landscape

Montvalezan is a territory made up of a multitude of small hamlets, perched or clinging to the mountainside. There are around forty of them, often organised around former agricultural activities.

These villages are characterised by typical architecture:

• Stone and wood houses
• Slate roofs
• Compact layouts designed to withstand the mountain climate

Each hamlet tells a story : that of life at altitude, shaped by the seasons, farming work, and strong family ties.

Even today, these villages are home to permanent residents, seasonal workers and visitors, while preserving their authentic charm.

Chapels: spiritual and cultural landmarks

Montvalezan is home to a rich collection of rural chapels, scattered throughout its hamlets. The distance from parish churches, the difficulty of travel, and winter isolation led the inhabitants of this valley to build these places of worship close to their daily lives. They stand as a testament to the faith and community life of past generations.

Several chapels also feature elements of the Baroque style, characteristic of Savoyard religious art, with expressive decoration and often richly ornate details.

The chapels are also places of contemplation, where people would come to pray to a patron or healing saint.

There are around fifteen chapels, each dedicated to a protective saint:

Le Champ : Notre-Dame de Fourvière (the Virgin Mary, inspired by the devotion of the city of Lyon, associated with vows, gratitude and deliverance in times of crisis) – Altitude : 1,128 m
La Rochette : Notre-Dame de la Pitié (the Virgin Mary, associated with compassion and maternal suffering) – Altitude : 1,093 m
Le Griotteray : Saint Joseph (patron saint of workers, especially carpenters and joiners) – Altitude : 1,223 m
Le Solliet : Saint Barbara (patron saint of firefighters, sailors and miners) – Altitude : 1,273 m
Le Villaret : Saint Andrew (protector of fishermen and paralysed people) – Altitude : 1,343 m
Le Crey : Notre-Dame de Liesse (the Virgin Mary, who brings joy and deliverance after suffering) – Altitude : 1,317 m
Les Moulins : Saint Martin (patron saint of soldiers and travellers) – Altitude : 1,401 m
Le Mousselard : Saint Bartholomew (patron saint of tanners, butchers, artists and bookbinders) – Altitude : 1,361 m
Les Laix : Saint Roch (patron saint of surgeons, gravediggers, pharmacists, pilgrims, travellers, the disabled, prisoners and antique dealers) – Altitude : 1,437 m
Le Châtelard : Saint Alexis (symbol of humility and a life devoted to God) – Altitude : 1,503 m
Le Châtelard : Saint Michael (patron of France, aviators, paratroopers, pastry chefs and cooks) – Altitude : 1,489 m
La Combaz : Saint James (patron saint of millers, drapers, hatmakers, pharmacists and hikers) – Altitude : 1,510 m
Hauteville : Saint Anne (associated with birth, family heritage and the protection of homes) – Altitude : 1,556 m
La Rosière : Saint Joan of Arc (symbol of courage, faith and national resistance) – Altitude : 1,793 m
La Rosière : Chapel of John Paul II (patron of youth and families), the most recent – Altitude : 1,852 m

There is also a single church in the commune:

Montvalezan : Church of Saint John the Baptist (Patron saint of innkeepers, chimney sweeps, cutlers, notaries, and tanners)– Altitude : 1,162 m

A heritage shaped by history and landscapes

These chapels are not only religious buildings; they also serve as landmarks in the mountain landscape. Often located on elevated ground or at the heart of hamlets, they punctuate paths and hiking routes.

Some, such as the chapel of Le Châtelard, even offer remarkable views over the Tarentaise valley.

Explore on foot

Several routes allow you to discover this heritage in a gentle way, including:

circular walks linking villages and chapels
historic paths once used by schoolchildren and local residents
trails offering panoramic views over the valley and surrounding peaks

It’s an ideal way to experience a living mountain landscape, where nature, culture and history come together.

Learn more