Crest-Voland combines a local ski area with hiking trails, climbing opportunities and historic buildings. The Crest-Voland Cohennoz ski area offers 34 kilometers of ski slopes. Hikes take you to the wildlife of a peat bog, while walking tours explore local history and traditional architecture. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your trip: winter sports, nature or local history.
Winter Sports and Outdoor Trails
The hiking options have different highlights. The Sentier des Arpelières is a family-friendly hike where you can discover the wildlife of a peat bog. At Mont Lachat, an easy 1.2-kilometer stroller-friendly trail takes about 45 minutes. The difference is clear when choosing a route: the Sentier focuses on the peat bog’s wildlife and its suitability for families, while Mont Lachat offers an easy route with a stated length and approximate duration. The trail is accessible by chairlift; lift access may depend on the season. Take this condition into account when planning.
Another outdoor attraction is Le rocher d'escalade des Mottets, a freely accessible adventure climbing site. From Crest-Voland, access is via a trail that descends toward Ugine. The condition and maintenance of the equipment may vary. Escaladventure du Nant Rouge offers a different kind of experience: this adventure course, open year-round, runs through the Nant Rouge canyon. This sets it apart for seasonal planning from the chairlift access at Mont Lachat, which may depend on the season.
Churches and Local History
The Eglise de Crest-Voland was built between 1863 and 1866 on the site of an earlier building dating from the 16th century. Its Neo-Gothic architecture is complemented by stained-glass windows installed in 1913, along with white Carrara marble altars and a ten-bell carillon. These dates point to several points in time: the earlier building, the 19th-century church and the windows from 1913. This allows you to consider the building’s history and its features together.
The Chapelle du Crest adds a different timeline to the history of church architecture: it has existed since 1677 and was rebuilt around 1850. Its features include a polygonal bell tower, a Neoclassical altar and a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. Compared with the Eglise, this makes it possible to distinguish between the chapel’s history and the construction period of the church, from 1863 to 1866. Both places of worship bring their own architectural and artistic features into view.
The Moulin Ainoz represents another aspect of Crest-Voland Cohennoz’s history: it was a mill and also the site of a thriving wooden-handle manufacturing business. The heirs restored the historic mill to make it accessible to the public. The combination of milling and manufacturing also brings production and craftsmanship into the local history.
Walks Through the Hamlets
The Tour du Village de Crest-Voland walk passes through hamlets where local history and traditional architecture come together. The Tour des Secrest No. 11 has a different route focus: it runs from the hamlet of Cernix to the main village of Cohennoz. This lets you choose between a walk focused on hamlets and architecture and a route with specifically named endpoints. Depending on whether you are interested in architecture, history or hiking, these tours offer different ways to plan your time in Crest-Voland.
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Go to the broader travel overview: Savoie.
