Nestled in a bucolic valley at an altitude of 1874 meters, the small village of Le Monal seems straight out of a postcard.
This hamlet covering an area of 90 hectares, classified as a historical monument in 1987 for its landscape and architectural interest, is only accessible in winter by ski touring or snowshoeing.
Starting from the place called “les Pigettes” on the edge of the departmental road, a few minutes drive from Val d’Isère, this hike without any particular difficulty is accessible to most people.
The attraction of this day does not lie in the physical commitment but in the discovery and contemplation of this magnificent part of the right bank of the Isere.
Facing due south and sunny even in December, the arrival by the small path leading us to the Monal, will leave you with an imperishable memory.
With its stone mountain chalets dating back to the 18th century, its houses with columns typical of the region and its chapel built in 1550, this hamlet overlooking the glaciers of Mount Pourri offers a breathtaking landscape.
And peace and quiet is guaranteed!
Only a few houses are set here and there, certainly on the site of a monastery that has now disappeared.
The natural environment made of stone and wood can be found entirely in the way of construction and makes this site a typical demonstration of the rural and pastoral civilization of the last centuries.
Water is also richly present in the pits and streams that meander between the cottages.
With the snow at the beginning of winter, the Monal is more than ever cut off from the world.
It is only this spring, free of its white mantle, that the hamlet will come back to life…
