Lac du Carmel lies at the foot of the former Chartreuse du Reposoir, now a Carmelite monastery, and offers views of Pointe Percée. The lake and monastic heritage provide two concrete starting points for planning your trip: the history of the charterhouse and the landscape around Col de la Colombière.
Monastic history and buildings
The Chartreuse du Reposoir was founded in 1151 by Carthusian monks. The former charterhouse, now a Carmelite monastery, is classified as a historic monument. Its architectural heritage includes a large and a small cloister in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The Chapelle du Bienheureux Jean d’Espagne was built in 1891 on the foundations of the first monastery’s 12th-century church.
Porte d'Age also tells the story of the Carthusians: the restored ruin was a former farm that served as an entrance to the Carthusian area. Every year on June 25, parishioners from Le Reposoir make a pilgrimage to the Chapelle du Bienheureux Jean d’Espagne.
For a deeper insight, Les Jeudis du Patrimoine offers guided tours with a Guide du Patrimoine Savoie Mont-Blanc by reservation. The educational program for children and teenagers covers five topics: coats of arms and heraldic symbols, medieval architecture, the organization of a monastery, sundials, and the history and architecture of a fortified house.
Hiking trails, nature and mountain pass
The Tour du Carmel par le Châble hike is easy to access and passes a lake and through woodland; along the way, there are mountain panoramas around Le Reposoir. One section has a steep climb, which you should take into account when choosing your route. The seasonal access period runs from April 1 to November 15.
The Les Balcons du Reposoir circular hike is currently temporarily closed. It runs mostly through woodland and offers views of the monastery rooftops and surrounding peaks. Check whether the loop has reopened before planning your visit.
The route to the Grotte de Montarquis starts from Col de la Colombière and passes through a wild karst depression with abundant wildlife. Exploring inside the cave is reserved for cavers. Access to the route depends on the seasonal opening of the pass road to Col de la Colombière, which is closed in winter.
Col de la Colombière is a pass leading to the Aravis range and its winter sports resorts; from there, enjoy panoramic views of the Aravis range and the Bargy chain. For cyclists, a stage of the Route des Grandes Alpes runs from Cluses through Le Reposoir to the pass. Check seasonal route conditions before planning this stage.
Plan your journey and accommodation
From the A40 motorway, take exit 18 at Scionzier, then follow the road toward Le Reposoir and Col de la Colombière for nine kilometres. You can use this information when deciding whether to focus on cultural history, a particular hike or a cycling stage.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Le Reposoir, it helps to set a clear priority: would you mainly like to explore the monastic heritage, or plan a seasonal hike or cycling stage? If you’re focusing on outdoor activities, take the season and access conditions for your chosen route into account; tours must be booked in advance.
Discover more destinations: Megève, Ayse, Évian-Les-Bains, Villard, Dingy-Saint-Clair, Les Praz-De-Chamonix, Viry, Habère-Lullin.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.
