Granier lies at an altitude of 1,250 metres on sunlit slopes, with views across the valley and surrounding peaks. Historic religious buildings, trails to alpine pastures and the Nordic area of Prachanié reveal different sides of the village. When looking for accommodation in Granier, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your stay: village history, a trail to an alpine pasture or winter activities will each shape your trip differently.
Churches, Chapels and Village Details
The Church of Saint Barthélémy was built between 1535 and 1537. It contains three Baroque altarpieces, which have been classified as historic monuments since 1992. The construction period and the later classification represent two distinct historical layers of this building. The Chapel of Bonvillard also has a precisely documented history: it was founded in 1544 and is dedicated to Saint James the Greater and Saint Pantaléon. Its altarpiece dates from 1730. The foundation year and the date of the altarpiece therefore represent different stages in the building’s history and decoration.
Sundials on the façades of some houses also form part of the village’s character. They complement the large religious buildings with smaller details to look out for as you view the house façades.
High-Altitude Sites and Trails to Alpine Pastures
The Chapel of Saint-Guérin, also known as Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, lies at an altitude of 1,940 metres and is the highest chapel in the municipality. It overlooks the waterfall on the Plan Pichu alpine pasture. This gives the historic chapel a distinctive connection to the landscape.
The Sentier du Plateau de Plan Pichu is a circular trail leading to the Plan Pichu alpine pasture and its Beaufort-making hut. The trail is rated easy. A botanical nature trail also runs along part of the Sentier, so it does not follow the entire circular route. If you want to assess a route by its rating and course, you can consider these details separately; the alpine pasture destination is also marked by the Beaufort-making hut.
Prachanié: Cross-Country Skiing and Other Winter Activities
The Prachanié Nordic area has a five-kilometre cross-country ski trail. There are also snowshoe trails and a starting point for ski touring.
The Buvette de Prachanié serves light meals, homemade pastries, crêpes, and hot and cold drinks seasonally. The sunny terrace offers views across the valley. If you plan to stop there, check the opening hours in advance, as it operates seasonally and hours may change.
Alpine Pastures, Animals and Special Events
On the Thiabord/Verraret alpine pasture, traditional chalets form small hamlets. There you can see flocks of sheep and mares from Granier. This seasonal pastoral activity gives the alpine pasture an agricultural character as well as its buildings.
At the Bergerie de Bonvillard, visitors can watch the sheep being milked every evening from 5 p.m. As visitor arrangements may change, confirm the current details before your visit. The “Le berger et le coffre maudit” escape game can be played independently throughout the year; arrangements for the accompanying booklet may change and should be checked in advance.
The Trail de Combe Bénite gives runners the chance to discover Granier’s alpine pastures. The event has been held every year in September since 2009. If you want to include the race in your travel plans, check the dates for your travel year.
Practical Planning
There is no organised public transport from Granier. This practical information may change, so check locally before travelling. Plan for transport early if you want to combine several of Granier’s different attractions.
Discover more destinations: La Tania, Crest-Voland, Saint-Alban-Leysse, Mâcot-La-Plagne, Aigueblanche, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Saint-Pierre-D'albigny, Saint-Martin-Sur-La-Chambre
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