information about the route
a balcony overlooking the Maurienne
The Lauze Cross
Breathtaking viewsbreath
In winter, the village takes on a whole new look and invites you to explore it in a different way. Put on your snowshoes and let us guide you to one of the most beautiful, unspoilt viewpoints over the Maurienne Valley.
Accessible directly from the village centre, this trail promises an authentic escape into the heart of nature, just a few minutes from the comforts of the resort.
An easy walk, ideal for young and old alike, where a change of scenery is guaranteed without having to venture far.
The route
Fromthe Tourist Office, take the road directly opposite, then turnright to walk alongside the tennis courts. Continue slightly to the right to walk through the residential area; you ’ll pass the Beausoleil Hotel, which will be on your right. Walk up the street, then turn right onto the main road and follow it for about 200 metres.
Then turn left onto a road that climbs and, after a few bends, leads onto a track crossing a stream.
At the next junction, turn left and follow the track, skirting the area marked with yellow and black cairns at the bottom. Finally, turn right to reach the cross, the highlight of the walk and a stunning viewpoint over the valley.
Turn round and retrace your steps to the crossroads, then take the flat track on the rightwhich leads to the bottom of the Grand Truc chairlift.
Follow the ski run on the left until you reach the groomed footpath to Champ l’Eriscal. Then turn left to head back down to the main road, and return via the same route to the Tourist Office.
dogs
Dogs are permitted, provided they are kept on a lead throughout the walk.
highlights of the walk
The Lauze Cross: a panoramic viewbreathtaking
The highlight of this walk: a wooden cross standing atop an unspoilt, authentic promontory, offering breathtaking views across the entire Maurienne Valley, with the hamlet of La Rochette nestled below. Before you, the majestic Aiguilles d’Arves stand proudly on the horizon, whilst at your feet lies the La Toussuire plateau. It’s the perfect spot for a contemplative break, with a flask of hot tea in hand, before setting off back down the path. A moment frozen in time, to be savoured to the full.
But where does the name ‘Croix de la Lauze’ actually come from? Lauzes are flat slabs of schist, traditionally used for roofing in our Alpine valleys. Thicker and more durable than slate, they bear witness to ancestral local craftsmanship, honed by generations of mountain builders to withstand the weight of snow and the rigours of winter. A little anecdote to slip into the conversation once you’ve reached the cross, to impress your walking companions!
A stroll throughresort and mountain
Part of the charm of this route lies in its close proximity to the heart of the resort: in just a few minutes, we leave the hustle and bustle of the village behind to immerse ourselves in the hushed silence of the snow-covered mountains. Along the way, the walk takes you past a river: do take the time to stop and listen to the gentle sound of the water flowing, a soothing contrast to the silence of the snow.
A little further on, you’ll come across two alpine chalets nestled near the cross: for a moment, let yourself be carried away by their history and imagine life in days gone by, governed by the seasons and the mountains. This route offers a wonderful variety of landscapes in a very short walk, ideal at the end of the day or for a family outing to get away from it all without straying too far, and to return to the comforts of the village in no time at all once the walk is over.
