La Perrière appeals to travellers interested in local history and heritage, while also offering a tangible connection to winter sports. Churches and mountain hamlets tell different stories about the area, while the origins of La Tania represent a more recent development. You can shape your stay around your own interests without combining these themes into a set itinerary.
From La Tania to the ski area
At the end of the 1980s, the former commune of La Perrière decided to create a winter sports resort near the hamlet of La Tagna. The resort opened on 22 December 1990 under the name La Tania. Its construction connected the La Perrière valley to the ski area, giving skiers access to the slopes of Courchevel and Méribel.
This connection provides two specific points of interest related to winter sports: the history of the resort and the valley’s link to the ski area. Visitors interested in how winter sports resorts developed will find a relevant local connection here; those whose focus is more on heritage can explore the churches and hamlets. These themes reflect different aspects of La Perrière without forming a single itinerary.
Churches and chapels
The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste was rebuilt in the 17th century. Notable features include an important altarpiece dedicated to John the Baptist, with depictions of Saints Grat and Guérin. The choir stalls also feature an unusual depiction of the Holy Trinity. These details give a visit to the church a specific art-historical focus: alongside the altarpiece, take a closer look at the depiction on the choir stalls.
The Sainte-Marguerite Chapel in La Nouvaz was built in 1612 on land donated by the villagers in 1598. Its Baroque altarpiece and colourful statues offer a distinct historical perspective on religious art. La Nouvaz lies at an altitude of 1,180 metres in the area of the former commune of La Perrière. Its location and construction history make the hamlet another point of interest in the area’s cultural history.
Hamlets, paths and places of remembrance
Villarnard is considered a traditional mountain hamlet and a former alpine-pasture hamlet in the area of the former commune of La Perrière. The Chemin de Villarnard leads there; the hamlet is considered part of the local heritage. An exhibition about life in the hamlet up to 1950 is housed in the former school. The subject matter ranges from former alpine farming to a specific insight into local life in the 20th century.
You can take the shuttle back from the Perrière Saint Jean stop on line I after walking the Chemin de Villarnard. If you plan to return this way, check the timetable in advance. The Chemin du Moulin connects the hamlets of Villaflou and La Nouvaz; a mill has been preserved in Villaflou. The known destinations distinguish the two paths: the Chemin de Villarnard leads to a mountain hamlet considered part of the heritage, while the Chemin du Moulin connects Villaflou and La Nouvaz.
The Association Le Patrimoine preserves and restores the former school, communal bread oven and washhouse in Villarnard. The school is therefore linked both to the exhibition about life in the hamlet up to 1950 and to the preservation of communal buildings. Each year in midsummer, Villarnard hosts Rencontres du Patrimoine, a festive weekend with a rural and cultural character. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the event dates in advance.
Choose a focus for your stay
La Perrière offers two different starting points when choosing what to explore: the history of winter sports and access to the slopes on the one hand, and church art, mountain hamlets and places of remembrance on the other. Those particularly interested in Villarnard can explore the exhibition, historic buildings and event as different aspects of the hamlet. Those more interested in art history will find distinct features and building histories at the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the Sainte-Marguerite Chapel.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-De-Chevelu, Saint-Marcel, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Valmeinier, Francin, Sainte-Hélène-Du-Lac, Saint-Pancrace, Montalbert.
For the broader travel overview: Savoie.
