The Monal village

Le Monal The ancient farming hamlet of Le Monal is a listed site due to its architectural, historical and geographical significance. It occupies a privileged position nestled in a bowl at the mouth of the Clou valley, surrounded by the larch forest, facing the massif of Mont Pourri and it’s glaciers. The site comprises 3 groups of chalets arranged around the St Clair chapel surrounded by 3 ponds and several mountain streams. Most of the buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries and many still have milk stores.

These are small stone huts straddling a stream, which served as refrigerators allowing the milk to be kept fresh. Le Monal was gradually abandoned during the 20th century as people moved down out of the High Tarentaise to find work in the towns in the valley.

Its listed status has ensured that the restoration work has respected the local traditions in every way.