In Les Allues, village history meets paths through several hamlets, where traces of earlier ways of life remain: a circular route passes former mills, while other routes link villages or lead to cultural landmarks. The season matters when planning, as weather and snow affect several routes; the gondola lift also operates seasonally.
Getting Here and Finding Your Way
Moûtiers is the nearest SNCF railway station. Seasonal shuttle buses and taxis connect it to Méribel in just a few minutes. In Les Allues, the Olympe gondola lift links the village to the Méribel ski area. Its lower station is 500 metres from the village centre; free shuttle buses also serve the centre. Gondola and ski operations are seasonal, so bear this in mind when planning your trip.
Village Life and Heritage
The village of Les Allues showcases traditional Savoyard architecture. Its streetscape includes old barns, narrow lanes and a communal bread oven. The Église Saint-Martin des Allues was built at the end of the 17th century and houses important Baroque art treasures. It is also a site of Savoyard heritage with its own history and architecture. The winter sports resort of Méribel-les-Allues holds the “Architecture contemporaine remarquable” label.
In the hamlet of Le Raffort, on the road between Les Allues and MĂ©ribel, stands the Scierie et Moulin du Raffort: a sawmill and mill housed under one roof. The site can be viewed from the outside year-round, free of charge; please check its current opening status before visiting. Information panels explain the historic hydraulic mechanisms. Here, you can gain insight into traditional milling technology while viewing a surviving structure.
Routes with Different Highlights
The Chemin des Moulins is a short circular route starting from Les Allues. It passes former mills used for grain, hemp or Greilla. The trail starts at the Les Allues shuttle stop. Weather and snow conditions should be taken into account on this route.
The Boucle des Allues passes through Les Allues, Hauteville and Villaret, and takes in a mill, chapels, a communal bread oven, a basin and a cultural centre. Another village route, the Circuit des Villages, goes through Le Raffort, Nantgerel, Chandon, Vanthier, Le Cruet, Les Allues and Le Villaret, then returns through the forest to La Gittaz. Weather conditions are important here too. The two routes have different highlights: the Boucle focuses on cultural and architectural landmarks, while the Circuit follows the sequence of villages listed above and returns through the forest.
The Sentier de la Poésie runs between Le Cruet and Le Villard, as well as the centre of Les Allues. In its winter version, it starts at the Les Allues or Le Cruet shuttle stop and features 25 poems and their authors. Shuttle services and winter trail maintenance may vary; bear this in mind when choosing your starting point. The route is also subject to seasonal conditions.
Seasonal Traditions
At the FĂŞte du Four, visitors can watch bread being baked in a stone wood-fired oven. The festival takes place during the winter season in the village of Les Allues; programme details may vary. Another seasonal highlight is a Savoyard cultural event held each year in Les Allues at the beginning of August. It includes a procession with floats and costumes; exact dates vary from year to year.
If you’re planning your stay around specific routes or events, you can weigh up their different highlights when choosing when to travel. Village architecture, mills and poetry each offer a different perspective on local culture.
Discover more destinations: Méribel, Aiton, Avrieux, Saint-Baldoph, Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, Traize, Val-D'isère, Mâcot-La-Plagne
For the main travel overview: Savoie.
