There are several ways to explore Avrieux during your stay: the Forts of Esseillon, historic religious buildings, Cascade Saint-Benoît and Via ferrata du Diable. First deciding between cultural history, nature and climbing activities can help you organize your plans more clearly. Each destination and experience has a different focus, rather than automatically forming a single itinerary.
Forts and sightseeing
Fort Marie-Thérèse has housed the Centre d’Interprétation du Patrimoine Fortifié since 2007. Guided and self-guided visits are available at Redoute Marie-Thérèse; visiting arrangements may vary seasonally. So if you want to plan your stay around a visit, check the current visiting conditions in advance.
The Forts of Esseillon are accessible by car year-round via the RD1006. There is a car park in front of Redoute Marie-Thérèse. Road and parking conditions may change seasonally. Another route to the forts is via Avrieux and Cascade Saint-Benoît along the former road between Avrieux and Aussois; seasonal road closures should be taken into account. When planning your journey, it is worth keeping an eye on the relevant conditions.
Via ferrata and zip line
Via ferrata du Diable offers seven routes for different ability levels. It is accessible year-round, but weather or safety measures may affect access. So check the current conditions before setting out. The route also comprises seven separate sections, forming a circuit with a total length of 3,760 metres. These details describe different aspects of the activity: the routes for different ability levels and the full circuit with its sections.
The Tyrolienne des Anges is part of Parc du Diable. The zip line is 240 metres long and 150 metres high. This makes it easier to define your options: the via ferrata is described as a circuit with several sections, while the Tyrolienne is a separate activity with specified length and height measurements. Plan around the activity you actually want to do, and check its conditions in advance.
Cascade Saint-Benoît and the Arc
Cascade Saint-Benoît has waterfalls around 50 metres high and a designated picnic area. A remarkable natural site, it is appreciated for its beauty, freshness and tranquility. At the Cascade, visitors should stay on marked paths to protect the delicate flora and limit erosion. If you plan to take a break there, respecting the paths is part of the visit.
The Arc is a non-state river in the first category, home to brown trout and offering opportunities for recreational fishing. This makes a trip to the river quite different from a visit to the Cascade: fishing is the main activity here, while the waterfall and picnic area go hand in hand there. Fishing regulations and conditions may vary; find out about the applicable rules before fishing.
Church and chapel
The religious buildings also offer different points of interest for those interested in culture. The Baroque Église Saint-Thomas Becket in Avrieux was designed and decorated over several decades by Piedmontese and local artists. At Chapelle Saint-Benoît, the painted decoration was created by Abbé Damé between 1680 and 1722.
Chapelle de pèlerinage Saint-Benoît and the adjoining residential building were classified as historic monuments by decree on January 17, 1991. Together with the Interpretation Centre at Fort Marie-Thérèse, these buildings offer different ways to explore art and cultural history: from the church’s Baroque design and the chapel’s painted decoration to the interpretation of the fortified heritage.
Choosing your stay
Choose a hotel suited to the part of the trip you most want to focus on, and check the conditions in advance for visits or activities that vary seasonally.
Discover more destinations: Presle, Saint-Pierre-De-Genebroz, Montricher-Albanne, La Trinité, Dullin, Saint-Sorlin-Darves, Entremont-Le-Vieux, Arith.
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