A stay in Les Échelles brings together outdoor activities and cultural highlights: signposted walking trails, the history of the Commanderie and attractions centered on water. Comparing walking times can help you choose a hike; the other topics offer distinct points of interest.

Walking times and historic sites

The Voie Royale is an 8.6-kilometer out-and-back route. The stated walking time is around 2 hours and 15 minutes, with an elevation change of 213 meters. It connects Rivièr'Alp with the historic cave site of Saint Christophe and includes six historic sites. The route can be completed on foot or by bicycle. The walking time and elevation change provide two concrete points of reference for planning; the bicycle option adds a choice of transport.

Near Les Échelles, the Voie Sarde at Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte is a free out-and-back walking route with a walking time of 1.5 hours. In a direct comparison of times, it is the shorter option than the Voie Royale, which takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes. Saint-Christophe-la-Grotte also offers guided visits to the caves and the Voie Sarde. This gives you a choice between walking a route independently and taking a guided tour.

Water as a theme for discovery

Rivièr'Alp is a nature and leisure area in a natural park covering more than 7 hectares. Water is also at the heart of the themed trail “Le secret des hydromachines”: dams, valves and channels accompany you along the route. The treasure hunt of the same name features six challenges in which you discover mechanisms powered by water. The activity combines a themed trail with tasks focused on water as a source of power.

The Maison du Guiers offers another perspective on water. It is open to visitors daily and free of charge, and houses a free scenographic exhibition area about the Guiers, as well as the 3D-relay of the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park. The exhibition area and the 3D-relay offer different thematic focuses under one roof.

Local history and historic routes

The village of Les Échelles was built on the site of a former Roman settlement. A later chapter in the village’s history is the former Commanderie des Échelles, which has been listed as a historic monument (Monument historique) since 1930. The present-day building was completed in 1632 under the significant influence of Commander Dandelot de Groslée, a representative of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem. The two dates mark different milestones: 1632, the building’s completion; 1930, its listing as a monument.

The “Sur les pas de Béatrice de Savoie” route leads from the Commanderie to the panoramic viewpoint at the Chapelle de la Madeleine. It offers a distinct route between a historic building and a viewpoint. The two routes cover different themes and lead to different destinations.

When looking for a hotel in Les Échelles, you can choose the focus of your stay based on whether a hike with a stated walking time, architectural history or water-related attractions matters most to you.

Discover more destinations: Apremont, Villarembert, Saint-Etienne-De-Cuines, Praranger, Saint-Martin-Sur-La-Chambre, Saint-Baldoph, Gerbaix, Crest-Voland.

For the regional travel overview: Savoie.