Vanoise-Massiv Highlights

Vanoise massif: The Absolute Essentials

The Vanoise massif in the Savoie department showcases the architectural and natural diversity of the French Alps. This collection features the Col de l'Iseran, the highest paved pass in the Alps, and the 19th-century Barrière de l'Esseillon, a series of five Sardinian fortifications built to guard the road to Mont-Cenis. The region's religious heritage is represented by Baroque churches and mountain chapels like Notre-Dame des Vernettes, while the Chalet Lang provides a look at mid-century alpine modernism in Courchevel.

Vanoise massif: The Absolute Essentials — Karte

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A

Col de l'Iseran

Col de l'Iseran is a mountain pass in France, the highest paved pass in the Alps.

~Pyb / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Col de la Madeleine

Col de la Madeleine is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Savoie in France which connects La Chambre in Maurienne with…

Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Redoute Marie-Thérèse

A horseshoe-shaped fort built in the early 19th century as part of the Barrière de l'Esseillon defense line to protect the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Fort Marie-Christine

The highest of the five Esseillon forts, built between 1819 and 1834. It now serves as a gateway to the Vanoise National Park and houses a hostel.

Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Fort Victor-Emmanuel

The largest fortification in the Barrière de l'Esseillon, this cliffside complex was designed to house a garrison of 1,500 men.

Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Fort Charles-Félix

Named after the King of Sardinia, this fort was partially destroyed by French troops in 1860 and now stands as a dramatic ruin within the Esseillon defense system.

Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Landry, Savoie

Landry is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Thomas M / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Notre-Dame des Vernettes

An 18th-century Baroque pilgrimage chapel located at 1,816 meters, known for its ornate interior featuring gilded altarpieces and vibrant frescoes.

I

Château Montmayeur

Medieval castle ruins situated on a rocky outcrop, formerly the ancestral seat of the powerful Montmayeur family in the Tarentaise Valley.

J

Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption

A traditional stone and slate Catholic church located in the high-altitude village of Bonneval-sur-Arc.

K

Église Saint-Bon

A 17th-century Baroque church in Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, representing the historic heart of the Courchevel valley.

L

Église Saint-Théodule

A historic church in Montgellafrey featuring traditional Savoyard religious architecture.

M

Chapelle Notre-Dame de l'Assomption

A mountain chapel in Saint-Bon-Tarentaise dedicated to the Assumption, showcasing local religious heritage.

N

Chalet Lang

A protected historic monument in Courchevel 1850 designed by Denys Pradelle in 1950, illustrating mid-century modern alpine architecture.

O

Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption

A Catholic church in the Termignon area, characteristic of the regional religious architecture of the Vanoise.