The Monolith
Unusual, even bizarre!
Nature and time have sculpted this Cargneule rock, a compact and hard dolomitic limestone that has withstood the erosion it has undergone at this site.
A breathtaking natural wonder created by geology, which people travel from far and wide to see and which ranks among the tallest monoliths on the planet.
Since mountaineers are naturally inclined to climb any rock that comes their way, the Monolith was first climbed in 1957 by Michel Paquier.
Climbing it has become a must for climbers who love difficulty and thrills.
The Monolith site is a mine of curiosities and a landmark! In this forest, families work on their wood harvesting for wood heating, search for morel mushrooms in the spring, and enjoy pleasant walks all year round!
Enter the Vanoise National Park
It was also at this unique spot at the foot of the Vanoise Massif that, on June 26, 1965, the inauguration ceremony for Vanoise National Park took place—the first of France’s national parks established to protect exceptional flora and fauna.
The four-kilometer route from the villageAussois Sardières Monolith (which is actually located in the municipality of Val Cenis Sollières-Sardières) is accessible year-round and by any means of transportation: car (from May to November), bicycle, mountain bike, scooter, fatbike, on foot, or on skis.
A must for winter walks
In winter, the road becomes a cross-country ski trail and leads to the village of Sardières, where you’ll find some of the Nordic ski trails, the cross-country ski center, a picnic area, and a snack bar.
The Monolithe Nordic ski area between Aussois and Sardières offers cross-country skiing and skating on 39 kms of marked and groomed trails. Ideal for beginners, but also for training.
For a day-long snowshoe hike, the Piste Blanche is the perfect choice! Starting at the CroixAussois 1 km from the villageAussois Sardières), this 7.5-km trail features a 215-meter elevation gain. It is groomed, marked, and open to the public.
What better way to recharge your batteries than in the midst of nature's bounty: the white of the snow, the blue of the sky, the green of the forest, the silence and gentle warmth of the sun's rays, the ideal altitude of 1,500m...
When art marries nature
In recent years, in the Monolith Forest, it’s not uncommon to come across a man on a mountain bike, with a chainsaw in his backpack… But where is he going? What is he doing?
He is not a lumberjack but an artist who gives free rein to his creativity by using natural wood right on the spot.
Serge Couvert, a sculptor from Aussoye, creates sculptures of trees inspired by the themes of family and happiness.
What a real pleasure it is to follow the “Sculpture Trail,” this land art route where each work bears an evocative name: “Fraternity,” “Liberty,” “Panic at the Summit,” “A Moai in Winter,” “Tototte”…
An original hike featuring visual and sensory discovery that lets the mind wander through the forest.
Whether on foot, by mountain bike, or on snowshoes along the forest trails, you’ll discover the Arponts Plateau (with its alpine chalets and vast meadow that you reach after passing through Jomier), followed by the Source de la Fournette and the Chappe telegraph (part of the first mechanically operated aerial and optical telegraph system that functioned from station to station).