Welcome to the canton of chambre

The chief town of the canton, with its 1 163 inhabitants offers a wide range of activities and is located at the crossroads of  the famous mountain passes, the Madeleine and Glandon, as is near to the winter and summer resorts for skiing and other sports.

Over the years La Chambre has been developed respecting a certain harmony between commerce, industry, agriculture and has made its priority the quality of life, the town is abundant with flowers and was crowned with a Première Fleur in 2008 for its use of flowers in the « Villes et Villages fleuris » national competition.

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The Church dedicated to l’Assomption de la Vierge was built as a collegiate church in 1514 dedicated to Saint Marcel. It has an incredible Roman portal and, according to Raymond Oursel « this sculpure is a unique 12th century treasure  in Savoie and  already gothic in soul». Tours of the Church on Thursdays during July and August ; religious service at 18h30 on Saturdays. Its most recent restoration took place in 1995.

In the town centre the house la maison de la Tour contains a tower that dates from the 13th -14th century and the main part of the dwelling dates from the 17th - 18th century.

L’ancien couvent des Cordeliers- former convent, founded in 1345 is a large building half in ruins where you can still see the pointed windows.

LA CHAPELLE

Marks the upper side of the entrance to the canton of LA CHAMBRE, 10 Km from the chief town - chef lieu. Its 306 inhabitants are spread over five hamlets that are pleasantly set out on the sunny cone-shaped hill. This small, rural village which was home to 799 habitants in the 19th century, and only 219 in 1982 has managed to stop its decline and has become a much sought-after residential village for its tranquility and authenticity.

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The Church, built around 1700 is dedicated to Saint Philibert. Visits are not possible but its high side wall and square tower are very impressive.

Between Chef Lieu and the hamlet of Gondran you will come across the oratory , the oratoire de saint Antoine de Padoue, rebuilt in 1863 to replace an older building gave rise to a number of legends such as the discovery of skeletons in the remains!

In the hamlet Les Moulins, the Chapel Chapelle Saint-Bernard  was built during the 19th century to replace a monument built by the more pious inhabitants which escaped a landslide during the 15th century. A painting was preserved from the old chapel that depicts Saint Bernard de Menthon.

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Walking trails

This village is situated on the south-west side of the Lauzière massif on the edge of the mountainside which ends up on the right hand bank of the river Arc. It has 223 inhabitants, and this quiet village has managed to evolve whilst retaining its original identity.

A small  business park  houses a nightclub, the only one in the valley base, 2 garages, one MOT centre and craftsmen.

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The Church L'Eglise Saint Barthélémy, patron saint of all the corporations involved with the preparation of animal skins , leather works, is in a quadrilobe style of architecture (four-leaf clover forms) and was built in 1832.

Since 1975 renovation works undertaken include : electrifying of the church bells  (1975), floors and electrics updated  (1982), roofing and belltower  (1995), interiour and exterior paintwork (1999).

All these renovations enhance the artwork on display: Le martyre de Saint Barthélémy de juin 1713 attributed to the Gabriel DUFOUR workshop.

La Chapelle Notre Dame des Grâces complete renovation, located in the hamlet of la Martinière d'en Bas..

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An artificial lake that attracts fishermen, a tennis court, football ground forest walks above the village.

3km away the lake in St Rémy de Maurienne is open for swimming during July and August
The village is located  20 minutes from the ski resorts of St Colomban des Villards (domaine des Sybelles) and  St François Longchamp and is near to the National Park  Parc Naturel de la Vanoise.

Picturesque village clinging onto the Lauzière mountainside.  MONTGELLAFREY  is developping its tourism activity thanks to the succes of the ski resort of SAINT FRANCOIS LONGCHAMP , a third of whose land belongs to Montgellafrey.
The village has managed to retain all of its charm of old with a concentration of wooden attics, washhouses, chapels and the bread oven which is still in use.

Village particularity : see houses with « legs or columns ». This construction method was employed due to the nature of the land.

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First mentions of a church can be seen as from &158.Dedicated to Saint-Théodule, patron saint of winegrowers. On the wall of the church above the entrance there is a small niche that houses a statue of the Patron Saint with a glass in his hand. The oldest villager fills his glass after the church service on the 15th August during the patronal village fête.
You will find a representation of baroque art in all its splendour inside this church. One of the altars is adorned with a painting by Dufour. St Théodule was also said to protect from hail, lightening and storms. There is no other representation of him elsewhere in the Maurienne.

Chapels and oratories can be found in the various hamlets and many crosses have been erected over the centuries.

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In summer find walking trails of all levels leading to hamlets, forests, pastures, mountain passes and the mountain lake -  lac de la Grande Léchère, which is a very pleasant spot for fishing and picnics. The panoramic views are exceptional, the Aiguilles d’Arves, the Etendard glacier and the Cheval Noir and Belledonne mountain ranges.

This small, residential village at the base of the valley has 182 inhabitants and enjoys a microclimate that produces a rich vegetation. You might see some vines.

Just 1,5 km from La Chambre and shop area you wil find the village of  Notre Dame du Cruet which is a small, quiet village that is sheltered and sunny and a pleasant place to live.

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19th century church and bell dating from 1667 called Anne-Françoise is listed along with a painting by Jean-Baptiste GOMMARD (1682). Its wall bears a mural that represents le Bon pasteur - the good pastor.

A hundred metres along the road you will find an oven le four banal where, each year, the entertainments committee organises a village fayre with bread cooking - la cuisson du pain de pays.

The chapel - La chapelle du Cuchet dominates the village providing an astonishing viewpoint of La Chambre.

Below the chapel on the rock face you can see a few remains of the walls of an old château  des seigneurs de La Chambre.

Philippe De Mario has written about these lords of La Chambre in a book that is on sale from the Tourist Office in La Chambre.

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Interesting: the path of the ruins of the feudal château  which will lead you to the Chapel - la chapelle du Cuchet : fantastic views and orientation tables.
Activities :

fishing in the torrents and other activities 2 km away
(tennis, pétanque…. and 6 km away - man-made lake with swimming)

This small, medium altitude village is very green and is surrounded by woods. At one time the village was renowned for its specialisation in brushing of chammy leather and chimney sweeping throughout the Alps.

Nowadays, due to its proximity to the « SYBELLES » ski area and the resort of  SAINT COLOMBAN DES VILLARDS, this small, picturesque village is home to 89 inhabitants and has many second homes which bring it to life during the summer and winter seasons.

The proximity of alpine skiing and ski trekking in the Merlet means all the pleasures of winter sports can be had in SAINT ALBAN DES VILLARDS.

During the summer you can enjoy the various walking trails of all levels and the diversity means something for everyone from family trails to technical hiking. The village flowers are to be admired during the summer season.

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Large church built undoubtably during the 19th century to accommodate for all of the village's 1500 inhabitants.
The inside of this church displays some beautiful paintings which deserve to be restored, but no project is as yet in the pipeline. The belltower houses the largest bell in the Maurienne valley. The presbytery next to the church displays a sun dial.

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Winter is a ski trekkers paradise whatever your level. In the topological guide of the Vallée des Villards 60 circuits are listed and in St Alban des Villards alone 15 of these are to be found in the combe du Merlet which can be skied between December and mid-April.

Summer: walking is the main activity for summer that is accessible for everyone. For those who enjoy fishing come and catch some trout in our torrents (licence required). Just a short distance from the road to the mythical Glandon and Croix de Fer passes,  cycling enthusiasts might like to try to reach the top at 2000 m in altitude.

Just next to LA CHAMBRE this village was known as the Antichambre during the revolutiion and SAINT AVRE  took on its current name in 1792.

St Avre has 752 inhabitants and lies on the right-hand bank of the arc and rubs shoulders with the villages of LA CHAMBRE and SAINT MARTIN SUR LA CHAMBRE in a very pleasant setting. Its population is constantly on the increase and is considered a residential sector thanks to its sun record.

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The church houses a rather curious belltower and the walls would benefit from a restoration to give it new shine. The furniture dates from the end of the 17th century and two golden, wooden statues date from 1680 which depict Saint Pierre and Saint Avre.

The bread oven lies just a short distance from the church which has been restored to allow the baking of traditional bread at Easter which is sold by the village entertainments committee.

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Pétanque ground and outdoor boulodrome,  short walking trails at the base of the mountain.
Floral curiosity : flower fountains.

Not to be missed : Farm La Ferme Cartier which produces the famous Beaufort and tomme de Savoie cheeses. Tours by appointment.

The destiny of the large village of  SAINT-ETIENNE DE CUINES,  home to 1250 inhabitants and located at the entrance to the very attractive vallée des Villards and the Glandon pass  was ever-evolving in the distant past under the rule of  the powerful Cuines family. Originally a farming and pastoral centre, this village was to witness a economic upturn after 1884 following the transformation of a mill into a pasta manufacturer's « Les pâtes La Lune » which was known world wide.. The Bozon-Verduraz factory employed as many as 700 workers at one point.

Nowadays the village has become chiefly residential and in the hamlets, on the road des Côtes, the setting is peaceful and many people have restored old farms, ancestral dwellings or barns to use a holiday home.

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The church was done up in sarde neo-classiquecal style in 1845 and houses a bronze bell dating from 1560. Religious services on Saturdays every other month.

The fortified house La Maison forte de Gruyère : despite its current state of ruin this house still possesses a large, round tower and a second, smaller square one that are linked by a wing to the fortified house, la maison forte de Gruyère.

The fortified house La Maison forte du Châtelet  dating from the 17th century which looks out over the village centre is a large, square house with a four-sided roof and some beautiful terraces which form suspended gardens.

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Fishing in the lake, clay tennis court, weight-training, athletics, aïkido, judo, gym, football, photographic club..
Walking trails from some of the hamlets.

Perfect altitude for cycling tours.

Village and tourist centre with 1 000 beds and over 150 year round inhabitants. Medium altitude village (1300 m) which survives through agriculture and winter and summer tourism.

In winter lovers of forest skiing will enjoy the cross-country area  « Zone Nordique du Grand Coin » and its 40 Km of marked trails where you will find typical hamlets such as Les Mottes, Les Rieux and the col du Chaussy.

If you want to experience an even wilder side of the mountains in winter try the snowshoe trails: towards the lac du Loup, the Ste Marguerite plateau , and the higher slopes up to Saint François Longchamp.

HERITAGE:

Chapel - La Chapelle de Notre Dame de Beaurevers, is one of the most important mariage sanctuaries in Savoie in a setting that overlooks the La Chambre basin with views over the Glandon valley. This really must not be missed. It was rebuilt in 1768 in the form of a cross with byzantine platform allure and its interior is in baroque style and is a true wonder: tours possible every Friday during July and August: details from the Tourist Office.

There are a number of rural chapels in the  villages. The church in chef lieu was modified in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Architectural particularity: houses with columns. This method of construction has been imposed by the nature of the land which is full of schist stone that is not very stable in some areas. The roof is held up by 6 to 8 wooden posts called columns.

ACTIVITIES :

• Walking trails, mountain biking trails, fishing, take-off spot for site for paragliding, boules areas
• In winter, cross-country skiing in the « Zone Nordique du Grand Coin : 40 km of trails » , snowshoe trails
• Traditional fêtes : St Antoine in January, the pastures fête in Ste Marguerite in early August and 15th August with village costume parade

SAINT-REMY-DE-MAURIENNE, village rated green tourism « Station verte de vacances », high quality tourism with 2-star campsite and leisure facilities. Active business zone in southern part of village.

18 hamlets and localities extend over the foothills of the Belledonne chain with well-exposed mountain sides facing east and overlooked by the high peaks of the Grands-Moulins (2495 m), the tête de la Perrière (2355 m) and the  Grand-Miceau (2619 m). Many forest trails and marked tracks, (map on site) in the forest and pastures all over the mountains.

The man-made lakes provide a place to relax for fishing, summer swimming and family picnics  in safety. One of the man-made lakes has a water jet that measures 39 metres high and can be seen from a distance.

The village has a small shopping gallery with butcher's, grocer's, tobacconist's-newsagent's, fising tackle, hairdresser's, local farm produce.

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19th century neo-gothic church. Inside you will find splendid trompe l’œil paintings in tones of blue and grey that were restored in 1987 and can rival those of the Cathedral in Chambéry.

In the centre of chef lieu, the chapel la  chapelle de Notre dame d’Auxiliaire also dates from the 19th century and has a golden statue in wood representing the Virgin holding baby Jesus sucking his thumb (rare). Contact the presbytery for visits.

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Walking trails of all levels : from short walks round the hamlets and lakes to physical hikes in the coombs and towards the summits.
Fishing, swimming with lifeguard (July/August), physical training circuit, tennis, football pitch and pétanque