Starting from Combloux, the Baroque trail is much more than a hike. It is a walk in the rhythm of chapels and villages, in a setting open to Mont Blanc, where religious art dialogues with alpine nature.
A path that connects history and landscape
The Baroque trail is about twenty kilometers of walking punctuated by churches, chapels, and oratories that mark the valley. From Combloux, the walker takes a route that seems woven between sacred art and the grandeur of the mountains. Each stop is an opportunity to raise one’s eyes, sometimes towards an onion-shaped bell tower, sometimes towards the Mont Blanc range dominating the horizon.
This route is not just a hike; it feels like a long breath. You walk slowly, stop often, and let yourself be enveloped by an atmosphere oscillating between silence, bells, and birdsong. Some places seem frozen for centuries, as if time had been put on pause.
The richness of Savoyard Baroque heritage
The 17th century was a period of religious renewal in the Northern Alps. Rural communities, driven by a lively faith, built or restored a multitude of Baroque buildings. The art deployed there, abundant and luminous, aimed to bring the sacred closer to mountain populations.
On the trail, you enter small chapels with gilded altars, observe frescoes telling biblical episodes, and find yourself imagining the processions of yesteryear. Parishioners, dressed in wool and linen, were already climbing these paths, praying at every stop. It takes only a moment to feel this invisible link between generations, a thread stretched between past and present.
A contemplative hike facing Mont Blanc
What makes this trail unique is the alliance between art and landscapes. Mont Blanc, ever-present, becomes a grandiose backdrop for churches and oratories. Sometimes it feels like the builders chose locations based on the perspectives offered on the mountain. Architecture and nature support each other.
I remember a stop at the church of Domancy: sitting on a bench, I watched the glaciers sparkle in the distance. The serenity of the place owed as much to the interior gilding as to the natural setting outside. This kind of pause gives the path an almost meditative dimension.
A route to be taken at your own pace
The Baroque trail can be done entirely, but also in sections. Many choose to cover only a few stages, according to their desire or available time. The route is punctuated by welcoming villages where you can stop: Combloux, Domancy, Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, Les Contamines-Montjoie… Each with its chapel, story, and atmosphere.
Those who walk the entire route often do so in two days, with a night in an inn or a hostel. It is not a race; it is a slow walk where every detour invites a pause. Even children find reasons to dream there: colorful frescoes, ornate altarpieces, bell towers silhouetted against the sky… All of this feeds the imagination.
- Walk accessible in several stages, suitable for families
- Churches and chapels open for visits according to seasons
- Soothing atmosphere, conducive to contemplation
Practical information
Access: Start of the route in Combloux, easily accessible by car from Sallanches (10 minutes) or Megève (15 minutes). Parking is available in the center of the village.
Altitude: The trail ranges between 800 and 1,200 meters in altitude, making it a route accessible all year round, depending on weather conditions.
Duration: Allow about 6 to 7 hours of walking for the whole route. It is possible to complete it in two days or in smaller sections.
Signage: The path is well marked, with signs indicating the stages and religious buildings to visit.
Complementary hikes: From Combloux, other routes extend the experience: the tour of the biotope water area, walks towards the Beauregard plateau, or trails heading to Megève.
A path that connects souls
Beyond the hike, this trail tells a human story. That of the mountaineers who built places of prayer amid the alpine pastures, that of today’s travelers who walk in their footsteps, and perhaps yours too, if you decide to venture there. You leave with more than just a simple mountain memory: a lasting sense of peace that goes far beyond the walk.
Photo sources: Marine-MARTIN-OT-Combloux – Les Contamines Tourisme
