Montgellafrey (73130)

HOW TO GET HERE

A43 motorway exit n°26 –  Direction  LA CHAMBRE. North-west exit at the roundabout go right and follow MONTGELLAFREY

PRESENTATION

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.

ACCOMMODATION

In the village centre there are 4 village-run gîtes: 1 gîte for 12 rated 2 épis and 3 gîtes for 6 rated 3 épis aux Gîtes de France  - see accommodation page

HERITAGE

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.

ACTIVITIES

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.

TRADITION

Fête du pain-  bread fête  on the Sunday following the 15th August every year. In the morning there is a walking event the  « Challenge Michel CHEVESSEND » leaving LA CHAMBRE and finishing up in the  village, bread cooked in the oven and various entertainments with evening meal in the village square in front of the bread oven.