Sardière Monolith Circular Trail and Sculpture Trail

Park in the village centre or at the Plan de Croix car park in Aussois. ¹

(S/E) From the Fontaine de la Place, at the junction of Rue de l’Église and Rue Saint-Nicolas, head down Rue Saint-Nicolas, passing the communal oven and then a wash house on the right.

At the junction of Rue Saint-Nicolas and Route de la Buidonnière, at the bottom of the descent, turn left, pass the car park and take a track that continues down in the same direction to the Saint-Pierre stream. Cross the stream and keep strictly to the left at the fork to climb back up to the D83. Avoid the road by skirting it to the right along the dog-sled track. Arrive at the Croix d’Aussois car park.

(1) Do not follow the road but take the cross-country ski trail on the right: this is permitted on the side opposite the ski tracks, at the edge, so as not to disturb skiers who are skating.

(2) At the ‘1ère Combe’ sign, a few metres from the Via Ferrata and the climbing rocks, leave the cross-country ski trail and take a path climbing to the left (monolith: 50 minutes). The path climbs gently through the conifers.

(3) Ignore the path on the right, which will be used on the return journey, and head straight on.

(4) At the next junction, do the same and continue climbing to the Milieu crossroads.

(5) Once at this junction (signposted ‘Monolith: 15 mins’), take the path opposite which descends very steeply. You will reach the Crosaz Ravet stream car park. Head straight ahead to reach the monolith.

(6) From the monolith, return to the Crosaz Ravet stream junction. Then turn left onto the cross-country ski trail, heading towards Aussois.

(7) On the right, a sign points to the Sentier des Sculptures. Follow this path as it winds its way up through the pine trees and sculptures. You will reach the path you took on the way there.

(3) At the sign for the Sentier des Sculptures, take this path to the right. You will reach the second fork signposted for the Sentier des Sculptures.

(4) Head up to the left to discover more sculptures.

(8) The Sculpture Trail ends where it joins a track. Take this forest track to the left, which descends slightly. Walk to the Jomier chalets, which you will soon see below the track.

(9) Once you reach the top of the chalets, turn left and head straight down through an open area, then a wooded section, to the Croix d’Aussois car park.

(1) From there, head right along the path taken on the way there and join the (S/E).

¹ You can start from the Plan de Croix car park rather than the village centre.

Important: this route on your phone will be particularly useful after a snowfall or if too many tracks in the snow leave you unsure.

No shelter along the route.

At the start, drinking water is available at the fountain on the Place and at the wash house on Rue Saint-Nicolas.

Alternative route: on the return journey, 1 km after the start of the ski trail which begins at the Crosaz Ravet stream car park. At point (7), hikers wishing to return as quickly as possible and avoid a climb should continue along the cross-country ski trail to the Croix d’Aussois car park (1). The hike is then classified as Easy.

The Sardière monolith is a stone spire.
The Arche d'Oé is a museum that depicts the lives of the villagers. It houses a large number of antique objects.