10 reasons to come to Les Contamines-Montjoie
Welcome to the heart of our mountains, at the foot of Mont-Blanc!
For those of you who didn't know, Aurel, Mini-Léonie and I fell in love with Les Contamines-Montjoie (Haute-Savoie - 74) 6 years ago now.
Since our arrival, we have been able to discover a whole bunch of heavenly corners that we would like you to discover.
Les Contamines-Montjoie is our little corner of paradise and who knows, maybe it will also become yours for a weekend in a van, campervan, campsite (or even at a hotel! )
1. Be calm, cool, surrounded by mountains |
One of the main reasons to visit Les Contamines-Montjoie is to fully enjoy nature and the mountains . Located in the heart of the Mont-Blanc massif.
Les Contamines-Montjoie offers breathtaking alpine landscapes , with majestic peaks , high-altitude lakes and waterfalls , green forests , and exceptional panoramas .
The local residents will all tell you that there is nothing better than getting up high and looking for quiet, cool corners far from the urban hustle and bustle and the heat.
And they are right, there is nothing better than lying in the grass near a wild lake , lost in the middle of the mountains listening to the songs of birds (and the cries of marmots) to relax while enjoying the freshness of the altitude.
2. Discover the highest nature reserve in France |
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3. Enjoy the Parc du Pontet with its lakes and translucent waters |
Mini-Léonie's favorite place (and our playground!). Arriving at Parc du Pontet, you are immediately seduced by the beauty of the place . Towering mountains loom in the background, creating a spectacular and calming backdrop.
Parc du Pontet is the largest leisure park in the Pays du Mont-Blanc . Located at the foot of the nature reserve , this space offers you a moment of relaxation as well as activities to do with your family (we'll tell you about it later :)).
At Parc du Pontet, there is something for all ages and tastes : you can enjoy many activities such as climbing , tree climbing , mini-golf , swimming in Lake Pontet, pedal boats , horse riding , and many other surprises to discover.
The park is carefully landscaped to provide both relaxation areas and spaces dedicated to activities . I promise, everyone will find what they’re looking for!
- Aurel's favorite corner: the freely available barbecues (with wood available) - (it's his American side that comes out) and the pétanque court.
- Ori's favorite spot: the Duchère climbing rock and the lake for a little refreshing splash.
- Léonie's favorite spot : her heart swings between pony rides or tree climbing!
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4. Sleep peacefully while being surrounded by mountains |
If you want to find a place to sleep with your vehicle , nothing better than going to Camping du Pontet *** .
Located right next to the Pontet leisure park as well as the La Gorge cable cars, you can leave directly from the campsite on foot if you want to go hiking in the surrounding area . Free shuttles are also available if you want to go for a walk in the village.
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5. Take magnificent hikes in the Alpine landscapes |
Whenever we have a little time, we like to go hiking , discover the surrounding areas and enjoy nature!
And Mini-Léonie begins to ask us when she will be able to climb to the top of these mountains ! We must believe that the succession is assured ;)
We share with you our 5 favorite hikes to do during the day around Les Contamines-Montjoie.
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Lake Jovet:
Through this hike , you will be able to take the Roman road which will take you to a natural bridge as well as the Roman Bridge . At the end of this passage, the charming mountain pasture of Nant-Borrant then La Balme where you can stop for a break to hydrate before arriving at Lake Jovet .
5 minutes from this lake , you can see a second lake , smaller and wilder, around which you will have the chance to see marmots and ibexes running in the mountain meadows.__________________________________
Difficulty: Hard (Red)-
La Colombaz:
This hike will take you straight to the “ Auberge de Colombaz ” restaurant which will offer you a breathtaking view of Mont-Blanc .
You can hike through the mountain pastures of Haute-Savoie admiring the Dômes de Miage and the Aiguille de Bionnassay .
If you want to take advantage of this moment and have lunch at the Auberge de Colombaz, we advise you to book in advance .
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Difficulty: Easy (Blue)Departure: Baptieu or Lay car park
- Lake L’Étape:
If you decide to go up to Colombaz , you can also continue on the path which leads to the L'Étape restaurant , located in the heart of the Contamines estate. This establishment offers different types of accommodation so you can wake up facing the Mont Blanc massif.
Arriving at the restaurant, the little adventurers will be lucky enough to find a play area especially for them . Rest assured parents, a relaxation area / deckchairs is waiting for you!
Also remember to bring your swimsuit because the restaurant has a lake where young and old can come and cool off (! The water is rather… refreshing ;))
You can of course take advantage of this place to taste delicious, typically Savoyard dishes (you will be surprised to see how much we love cheese!)
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Difficulty: Easy (Blue)- The Auberge du Truc:
No no, we reassure you, we have not forgotten the name of the restaurant at the time of writing this blog article, it is indeed called “ Truc ” since it is located on the Truc plateau .
This mountain pasture has existed for several generations and has belonged to the same family since 1936 ! And who says mountain pastures, says… cows ! You can therefore enjoy a good glass of fresh milk and watch the cows being milked at the alpine farm next door from 5:30 p.m.
When you arrive at the top, you will enjoy a view with a 360° panorama of the Dômes de Miage and the Aravis Range . And if the view makes you want to go there so much, you can extend your hike to the Chalets de Miage , and cross the heart of the Val Montjoie reserve .
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Difficulty: Hard (Red)- Other hikes:
This list of hikes is endless in the region. We have shared with you our favorite and most accessible hikes from Les Contamines-Montjoie.
You can of course find other hikes right here:
And here: Ideas for hikes, nature hikes, etc.
6. Taste good local dishes and products! |
In our previous blog post, we advised you to ask local residents for the best restaurants, luckily, this time we are the guides! :)
We will share with you the list of places where we like to go for a drink , an aperitif or to enjoy a good time at the restaurant and buy good local products (long live cheese and charcuterie!)
| Fast food / Bakery |
- Fresh air :
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Access: 222 Chemin des Hameaux du Lay
Price: €
- Frosted Vanilla :
This pastry shop, located in the heart of Les Contamines , also has a tea room and offers delicious cakes and pastries prepared on site. __________________________________
Access: 40 Rte de Saint-Gervais- At Délices de Montjoie:
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Access: 29 Rte de Notre Dame de la Gorge| Restaurants |
- L’O à la Bouche:
This gourmet restaurant welcomes you in a warm atmosphere to taste their homemade dishes with dishes that are as creative as they are delicious!
Price : €€
- Casa Roca :
Located in the center of the village , the Casa Roca wine bar - restaurant offers delicious homemade dishes as well as aperitif boards with local products. A haven for bon vivants , the atmosphere is warm and friendly .
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Access: 497 route de Notre-Dame de La Gorge
- The DOE :
This new Spa Restaurant located near the Nordic area offers a refined menu in a modern and warm place. A new Spa has just opened which promises to be magnificent!
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Access: 94 Chemin du Praz- The Black Bear:
This family restaurant offers delicious Savoyard meals as well as pizzas to eat in or take away. A shaded terrace offers you a splendid view of the Dômes de Miage .
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Access: 263 Rte du Plan du Moulin- The Chalet du Lac:
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Access: 524 Chemin du Praz| Local products |
- Alp'n House:
Discover this store full of good things to eat. You will be able to find 100% local products such as cold meats , honey , cheese , drinks , etc.
The little extra: the jams are made on site.
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Access: 238 Rte de Notre Dame de la Gorge
7. Discover a traditional Haut-Savoyard village |
After talking to you about outdoor activities outside the village, it's time to tell you a little more about Les Contamines-Montjoie, a Haut-Savoyard village with a history dating back to the Middle Ages . Initially a small agricultural hamlet , it evolved with the arrival of Alpine tourism in the 19th century , attracting skiing and hiking enthusiasts while retaining its Savoyard traditions.
The splendid church of Contamines-Montjoie , located in the center of the village, also houses a magnificent garden, named the Samivel garden in honor of an artist - mountaineer who had a profound impact on the village. His most beautiful watercolors are exhibited there.
Consider stopping by the Church of Notre-Dame de La Gorge (classified as a historic monument). This church marks the end of the urban road and the beginning of the mountain trails . And for the most curious, a pretty little chapel is hidden in the cliff a few meters further on.
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Learn more about the Church of Notre-Dame de La Gorge
8. Take advantage of the activities organized by the Tourist Office |
Les Contamines Montjoie comes alive every school holiday to introduce you to new activities, entertainment and shows .
And this summer, you won't be bored! On the program: micro family adventures, concerts, village festivals, shows, guided tours, etc.
9. Introduce children to the mountains with its many activities |
If you want to take a family road trip to Contamines Montjoie , we of course think of Mini-Baroudeurs ! Here are some activities that they might enjoy and that will delight the whole family:
- Contamines equestrian center :
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Access: Pontet leisure center- Nash Mountain Games :
With Nash Mountain Games , you can take advantage of several structures available to you to enjoy activities with your family.
On the program: Inflatable structures, Elasto Trampoline, Mini-golf, Pedalos, Kayaks and paddles, Giant trampoline, Electric quads for children, etc.
- Pontet Leisure Park:
- Archery (nature course)
- Duchère climbing rock
- Addiction
- The Pontet ponies
- Pontet swimming lake
- Tennis
- Roller ski and roller track
- Summer Biathlon
- Contamines Media Library:
The Contamines media library collects more than 9,500 books and offers a reading corner for Mini-Vanlifeurs as well as numerous board games .
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Access: 78 chemin des écoles- The Saint-Gervais-les-Bains swimming pool:
Come and cool off at the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains aquatic center suitable for families thanks to its 25 m swimming pool , its 43m2 fun pool combined with a paddling pool with water games for Mini-Adventurers and a swimming pool outdoor for sunny days!
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Access: 798 avenue de Miage, 74170 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains- La Chevrevrie:
Come visit the Au Cœur de Montjoie goat farm with its numerous goats , young goats and billy goats . You can discover the process of making homemade cheese and taste their specialty “Trous de marmottes”. Sale of fresh cheeses and yogurts at the goat farm .
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Access: 359 Chemin du Vivier, 74170 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains- Sabotdance Farm :
Bérangère and Floren t welcome you to their farm and their store to help you discover their passion for mountain agriculture .
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Access: 2964 route de Notre-Dame de la Gorge
10. Take a trip to Casambu, the 100% Vanlife, bivouac and camping store |
Come discover our great store dedicated to outdoor adventures, road trips and Vanlife . You will find lots of very practical, compact and quality accessories there (and it seems that the founders of Casambu are super nice (yes, we are very objective ;))!
In short, we will be delighted to meet you and talk with you about your adventures and travels!
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