Notre-Dame-du-Pré is especially well suited to mountain hiking; numerous other mountain trails and tracks are also open to hikers. Options include the easy Notre-Dame-du-Pré–Montmagny loop, viewpoints, the remote hamlet of Hauteville, and Mont Jovet, the highest point in the commune. Summer weekends also bring starlit bivouac nights, alongside cultural and historical details such as the Baroque Église Notre-Dame. You can tailor your activities to the type of tour, the scenery, and your interest in local history.
Hiking from a Loop to a Summit
The Notre-Dame-du-Pré–Montmagny trail is an easy circular hike that starts at Place du Village. Along the way, it passes the Pierre à Cupules, a stone with round and linear cup marks that are at least 3,000 years old. This makes the loop both a specific type of hike and a route to a very ancient cultural landmark. Seasonal conditions may affect access; check conditions before setting out.
The Bois du Torrond viewpoint is also on this trail. After about a 20-minute walk, it offers a wide view across the Tarentaise and of the villages below: Montgirod, Centron, and Villette. The Pierre à Cupules is a single cultural landmark along the trail; at Bois du Torrond, the landscape and the three villages take center stage. The two stops therefore offer different highlights along the same hike.
The Hauteville loop starts at the car park at Place du Village in the main village. The remote hamlet of Hauteville can only be reached on foot.
Summits, Panoramas, and Nature
At 2,558 metres, Mont Jovet is the highest point in the commune. Every summer weekend, the commune’s mountain guides and leaders organize starlit bivouac nights on its summit, where visitors can experience the sunset and sunrise at this altitude. The Montmagny loop is described as easy; the starlit nights, by contrast, focus on bivouacking at the summit and the evening and morning skies.
The Panorama sur le Mont-Blanc viewpoint offers an exceptional view of the village of Notre-Dame-du-Pré, with the Lauzière mountain range to the west and Mont Blanc to the north in the background. Weather and trail conditions may affect your visit; take both into account when planning.
Cascade de Lachail also has a distinctive natural feature: the waters of the Nant Gelé flow into it and can sometimes be turbulent. The commune’s territory borders the adjoining zone of Vanoise National Park.
Church and Local History
The Église Notre-Dame is a Baroque church dating from the 17th century. It was preceded by a smaller building dedicated to Mary, dating from the 12th century. This sequence traces the transition from a smaller Marian building to the later Baroque church.
In Notre-Dame-du-Pré, you can see a polychrome altarpiece carved by Pierre-Antoine Marauet after 1847.
Getting There
To get there from Moûtiers, follow signs for Aime. After Saint-Marcel, take the second exit on the right towards Les Plaines–Notre-Dame-du-Pré.
Discover more destinations: Montailleur, Francin, Mercury, La Tania, La Bauche, Presle, Jongieux, Saint-Baldoph
For the regional travel overview: Savoie.
