Modane offers several ways to explore its history and landscape: the Museobar tells the story of the French-Italian border and steam railways; trails lead to Fort du Replaton and through Haute Maurienne Vanoise. Your options therefore include visits focused on culture, science and architectural history, as well as activities on foot or by bicycle.

Museobar: Borders, Railways and Mechanical Music

At the Museobar, the subject matter ranges from the history of the French-Italian border and the heyday of steam railways to the Fréjus rail tunnel. Customs, military life and Italian emigration are also part of the exhibition. A special focus is the music of locally made mechanical pianos. The museum also displays a collection of 14 mechanical instruments, most of which come from the departmental collection.

Visitor activities include self-guided tours and a game about the border. As the specific options may change, it is best to check before your visit. The Museobar thus combines historical themes with an introduction to mechanical music and instruments, rather than focusing on a single era or railway history alone.

A Different Perspective on Science

A museum associated with the Modane Underground Laboratory explains modern nuclear physics and the research currently carried out there. Topics include natural radioactivity, cosmic radiation, dark matter and the mass of the neutrino. This makes the visit quite different from the Museobar’s historical focus: here, modern physics takes centre stage. The two attractions therefore appeal to different interests, without requiring you to expect the same kind of museum visit.

Architectural History at the Rizerie des Alpes

The Rizerie des Alpes has been protected as a historic monument since 1987. The building was modelled on an ancient temple and surrounded by 16 Ionic columns. Since 6 October 2005, it has housed the exhibition centre for the Lyon–Turin rail link construction project. The architecture and its current use give the site two distinct historical associations: the temple form on the one hand, and the exhibition about the rail link project on the other. Visiting options may change; check which type of visit is currently available before planning your trip.

Fort du Replaton and Outdoor Trails

Fort du Replaton is a military structure of the Séré de Rivières type. It was built between 1886 and 1893 to defend the entrance to the railway tunnel above Modane at the end of the 19th century. The trail to the fort starts in Loutraz and offers unobstructed views of the Arc Valley and the lower-lying town of Modane. The Association of the Musée de la Traversée des Alpes (MTA) occasionally organises tours inside the fort. If an interior visit is important to you, check in advance whether one is scheduled; tours take place occasionally.

Another way to spend time outdoors is on the Chemin du petit bonheur. The trail is directly accessible from Modane railway station, making it convenient for hikers arriving by train. This mid-altitude trail links the villages of Haute Maurienne Vanoise through shady forests, panoramic views and well-preserved hamlets. You can walk or cycle the full route or just a section. Choosing the entire route or a stretch lets you tailor the outing to your plans, without assuming a particular walking or cycling time.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Belmont-Tramonet, Arbin, Villarembert, Termignon, La Rochette, La Motte-En-Bauges, Verrens-Arvey, Thoiry.

For the higher-level travel overview: Savoie.