Lourtier: Hiking Trails, Chapels and Glacier History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Lourtier, you can plan your trip around the village’s specific attractions: hiking trails and cycling routes start in Lourtier or pass through the village, while chapels and the Maison des Glaciers offer a cultural and historical focus. Whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or explore the village’s history, you can take this into account when choosing your destination.

Hiking between glacier views and old granaries

The Col des Avouillons route leads from Lourtier to the Cabane Brunet and offers views of the Corbassière Glacier at the foot of the Grand Combin. On the descent, it continues as far as the Bisse de Corbassière and then passes through the hamlets of Fionnay and Plamproz. The Les Greniers route follows a different course: from Lourtier, it climbs through grassy areas, over scree and through the forest. Its destination is an alpine pasture at the foot of the Bec des Rosses, where the ruins of old granaries remain.

The Boucle du Petit Combin is a circular route starting in Lourtier. It crosses a moraine dotted with small mountain lakes and offers views of the Petit Combin. The Tour des Lacs, in turn, passes more than 14 mountain lakes at the foot of this mountain. These routes highlight two different landscape features: the moraine on the Boucle du Petit Combin and the lakes along the Tour des Lacs.

There is also a specific option for a hike from Fionnay: the Fionnay–Lourtier route follows a forest path and takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes on foot. This is an estimate and applies to this route.

Snowshoe route, cycling routes and bus service

The Lourtier–Posodziet–Champsec snowshoe route starts in Lourtier and crosses varied alpine landscapes to the clearing at Posodziet. From there, it offers sweeping views of the Verbier plateau. Snow and trail conditions vary by season; check the route conditions before planning your trip.

The cycling routes feature different types of road sections. The Enduro-02 route reaches Lourtier on an unpaved road and then continues to Champsec on a paved road. The La Chaux–Lourtier route reaches the village after a descent along the stream bank or its embankment. The Mauvoisin Dam Trophy cycling route also passes through Lourtier. At the village exit, this route recommends using the road on the right bank of the Dranse in summer to avoid two tunnels, including one that is very long.

TMR buses serve the Le Châble–Lourtier–Fionnay–Mauvoisin route in both directions. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable before setting out. The bus service, hiking trails and different road sections offer a range of options for planning your trip, with each route having its own character.

Chapels and glacier history

The Maison des Glaciers is dedicated to Jean-Pierre Perraudin, a pioneer of glacial theory. His former home became the Maison des Glaciers in 1993. The exhibition covers life in the past, the Giétro outburst and glacial theory, as well as natural hazards, the observation of the alpine environment and memories. Alongside the landscapes, it focuses on the history of life in the region and the study of glaciers.

Several chapels add to this cultural and historical focus. The Chapelle des Morgnes in Lourtier is dedicated to Saint George and was built in 1659. The chapel in Lourtier-d’en-haut dates from 1832 and is dedicated to Saint John before the Latin Gate. The Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil chapel was inaugurated in 1932, based on plans by the Italian architect Alberto Sartoris. Their different dates and dedications give each of these sites its own historical significance.

Lourtier’s religious heritage also includes the Fregnoley Chapel. Its oratory was built between 1920 and 1930 by two brothers from the Luisier family and is now named for Saint Joseph. A single annual Mass is celebrated there on 1 May. Alongside the routes, these cultural sites can be another consideration when choosing a hotel in Lourtier if you’d like to combine your stay with an exploration of local and religious history.

Discover more destinations: Prarreyer.

See the wider travel overview: Bagnes.