La Rivière-Enverse is a rural commune between the Giffre and the Grand Massif. If you’re planning a trip where culture and local history help shape your choice of destination, there are several distinct highlights to choose from: the architectural history of Église Saint-Pierre and Chapelle de Cellières: Saint Grat, a Lourdes grotto, a sculpture trail along the Giffre, and cheese from the region.

Churches and chapels: different architectural histories

Église Saint-Pierre was built between 1763 and 1770 and consecrated in 1770. Its three-lobed floor plan gives the building the shape of a cloverleaf. The architect Pierre Cheneval, who came from Faucigny, was commissioned to design it. The construction period and consecration place the church in the late 18th century; its floor plan provides a striking architectural feature.

Chapelle de Cellières: Saint Grat has a different history. The first chapel was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt on a larger scale in 1818. It has a rustic style, and its canopy is reminiscent of the Baroque. Compared with Église Saint-Pierre, this reveals a different architectural vocabulary. The historical milestones also differ: the church is defined by its construction and consecration, while Saint Grat’s story centers on destruction and rebuilding.

Religious monuments and their surroundings

The Grotte de Lourdes des Vagnys adds a faithful replica of the Lourdes grotto to the religious buildings. Local residents built it on 15 August 1884; it is located on the RD4 departmental road. The exact date and the residents’ involvement give the monument a distinct connection to local history. The reference to the RD4 also helps pinpoint its location.

The grounds around Chapelle Notre Dame de l’annonciation dite des Nicodex have been laid out so visitors can sit and take in the monument and its surroundings. As the arrangement on site may change, check the current situation before your visit.

Art along the Giffre and regional produce

The Parcours d’art contemporain du Giffre, sentier art et nature offers a different focus. It presents public art sculptures as an open-air museum along a single trail. The route follows the Giffre between Taninges, La Rivière-Enverse and Morillon. The cultural experiences therefore differ too: the churches and chapels focus on individual buildings and their history, while the trail features sculptures along a route connecting three places.

Ferme Boisier sells cheese from its own farm and the region. The business also prepares fondue, raclette, cheese platters and gourmet gift baskets to order. The order requirement is important if you’d like to include any of these prepared offerings in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Saint-André-de-Boëge, Chens-sur-Léman, Neuvecelle, Tournon, Pringy, Vers, Yvoire, Morzine

For the full travel overview: Haute-Savoie.