Saint-Etienne-de-Cuines (73130)

HOW TO GET HERE

A43 motorway exit n°26 – follow the vallée des Villards direction at the first roundabout.

PRESENTATION

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.

At your service: a small shopping centre with chemist's, tobacconist's-newsagent's, Baker's, Butcher's, supermarket and 2 restaurants including the « Le Plein Sud » www.lepleinsud.fr

ACCOMMODATION

One hotel, the « Auberge du Glandon » in the centre of the village, Gîtes de France rated 3 épis, and apartments to let (see accommodation page).

HERITAGE

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.

ACTIVITIES

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.