The hameau du Monal, at 1874m above Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, is an alpine hamlet listed as a protected site since 1987. Stone and dark-wood chalets, gently sloping alpine pastures, and sweeping views of Mont Pourri and its glaciers: the approach hike has become one of the easiest and most photographed walks in Haute-Tarentaise.
Monal in practice
- Altitude: protected hamlet at 1874m, above Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise.
- Car access: from 1st July to 31st August, the road to l’Échaillon car park is closed to private vehicles; the hamlet can only be reached on foot.
- Shorter option: from l’Échaillon car park (shuttle in summer), 2km walk.
- Free shuttle: from Les Mélèzes car park (Sainte-Foy station) to l’Échaillon, in summer, Monday to Friday.
- On site: no toilets or restaurant at the hamlet.
A protected hamlet, still inhabited
Monal is not an open-air museum. It is an inhabited alpine hamlet during the summer season. The buildings, chalets with slate roofs, stone-built shepherd’s huts, date from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the site’s protected status imposes strict conditions on any restoration work.
The hamlet’s average altitude is around 1874m, set on a grassy terrace facing the Mont Pourri massif.
How to get there
Two starting points structure access on foot.
From the l’Échaillon car park, served by the shuttle in summer, 2km of walking leads to the hamlet. This is the shorter option, accessible to families.
Les Hêtres car park, at Bonconseil Dessus at the top of the Sainte-Foy station, serves as a longer starting point. You should follow the forest road to the hamlet of l’Échaillon, then continue on this road to Monal. Allow approximately 2 hours 30 minutes for 8km and 400m of elevation gain, with no technical difficulty.
Car access to l’Échaillon is closed to private vehicles from 1st July to 31st August. A free shuttle runs from Les Mélèzes car park during the summer season for walkers who do not wish to walk the entire forest road on foot.
When to visit
The season runs from June to October. The peak for photography falls in autumn, when the larches turn golden and the first blankets of snow settle on Mont Pourri in the background. This is the site’s visual signature, and one of the reasons why Monal is over-represented on mountain Instagram accounts.
In summer, the hamlet can be busy mid-morning; it is better to set out early to enjoy raking light and fewer crowds.
What there is to see
The hamlet itself is the main attraction: traditional buildings in stone and wood and a fountain. Saint-Clair chapel overlooks the ensemble. For those venturing further, the path continues to the Vallon du Clou, a protected alpine pasture at 2220m.
Planning a stay at Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise
AEC Collection selects and represents premium chalets and apartments at Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise and in the upper valley. The timetable and conditions for the Les Mélèzes, l’Échaillon shuttle should be verified with the Sainte-Foy tourist office.
