Pont Coppet, a weekly market and buildings from different centuries offer visitors a range of ways to plan a trip to Sales. At the bridge, a striking design meets a historic transport route; the churches and chapel tell the story of several construction and restoration phases. The market provides a regular date, while the village centre offers views over the Albanais plain. If you are planning a stay, you can focus on cultural history, the market and the landscape as separate highlights.
Pont Coppet: design and transport history
The Pont Coppet as a whole was listed as a historic monument by decree on 4 November 2015. It was built by order of Charles-Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, to improve the connection between Chambéry and Geneva. The construction shortened the route between Rumilly and Vallières by more than one lieue, or about five kilometres. The bridge’s history can therefore be understood not only through its design, but also through its importance as part of a historic route.
The bridge is built of stone and has a single semicircular arch. For route planning, Circuit 3 – La Salésienne offers a specific option: it includes a two-kilometre out-and-back detour to Pont Coppet. The bridge is accessible to pedestrians and bicycles. Both its design and this quantified route option can help you plan a visit.
Churches and building history
The Eglise Saint-Pierre has undergone several construction phases. Between 1645 and 1650, it was rebuilt on the site of a dilapidated medieval Romanesque sanctuary. In 1864, the church was demolished and rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style. The rebuilding of 1645–1650 on the site of the dilapidated medieval Romanesque sanctuary was followed in 1864 by the demolition of the church and its Neo-Gothic reconstruction.
The residents of the hamlet built La Chapelle du Pessey at the end of the 19th century. The chapel received stained-glass windows in 1977; its second restoration took two years and was completed in 2009. Le Puits du Mollard was also built in the 19th century. Visitors interested in local history will find, alongside the bridge, other buildings with their own distinct stories from different periods.
Visits and activities
The L'île verte equestrian centre offers visits and activities by prior arrangement. Bear this condition in mind when planning your visit.
Weekly market and location
The Sales weekly market takes place every Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm at Place de la Mairie. Around ten vendors offer cheese, artisan bread and honey; seasonal fruit and vegetables are also available. Individual vendors may vary. If the market is a deciding factor for your trip, check the date and current offerings before your visit.
The rivers also help explain the commune’s location. To the north, the Fier forms the boundary of Sales and separates the commune from Vallières. To the west and southwest, the Chéran borders Sales; its left bank touches Rumilly. The village centre offers lovely views over the Albanais plain. The river boundaries and the view describe different aspects: the commune’s location and the outlook over the landscape.
Route option or market day?
The route and the market answer different questions when planning your day. The Circuit 3 detour to Pont Coppet is two kilometres long and includes the return journey; the weekly market ties a visit to Tuesday between 4 and 7 pm. This can help you decide whether a specific route option or a regular weekly market date is more important for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Villard, Châtillon-sur-Cluses, Nâves-Parmelan, Manigod, Les Clefs, Lathuile, Saint-Jean-De-Sixt, Lovagny
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Savoie.
