Tour du Chavalard
From Jorasse, follow the path to the Petit Pré mountain pasture (1,998 m). The path climbs pleasantly to reach Grand Pré d'Euloi, a charming grassy combe. You'll be accompanied by pastures and pebbles as far as Fenestral. At the pass, enjoy a breathtaking view to the south-west of the majestic Mont Blanc massif. To the north-east, the Muverans, the faithful guardians of Ovronnaz, greet you.
The route then takes you to the shores of the upper Fully lake, then to the mountain pasture, the colony and the Sorniot hut. The Chavalard, a limestone citadel and home to the ibex and lammergeier, stands like a sentinel to protect this attractive valley.
After a glance at the lower Lac de Sorniot, the route skirts the southern flank of the Grand Chavalard. This veritable balcony overlooking the Rhône plain carves out a spacious passageway between steep slopes, alpine meadows and rock faces. The final stage takes place on the east face of the Grand Chavalard, overlooking the avalanche-prone Etra couloir. Nestled between the Grand'Garde-La Seya ridge and the Chavalard, this route takes you back to the Lui d'Août and Petit Pré mountain pastures. Follow the Chemin du Tour in the opposite direction back to Jorasse, and finally to Ovronnaz.
Access to the Tour via the Jorasse chairlift.
Car park at the start of the chairlift.
Catering: Jorasse mountain restaurant, Fenestral hut, Sorniot hut, Lui d'Août gîte.
Features
Duration
6h00 (no break)
Length
15.70 km
Difficulty
Medium / T2-T3
Height difference
+1127 m / -1127 m
Minimum altitude
1661 m
Maximum altitude
2453 m
Starting point
Jorasse arrival of the chairlift
Point of arrival
Jorasse arrival of the chairlift
Period
June to October depending on snow conditions
Did you know ?
Fenestral is a building that began life as a military facility. In 1956, Fully's Chavalard ski club reinvented it to meet its needs. Faced with its dilapidated and cramped condition, a new hut, the 2nd Fenestral, was built in 1980. The evolution continues with the 3rd Fenestral in 2015, the result of a necessary modernisation.
You can also explore the history of Lac Supérieur de Fully, an impressive gravity dam built in 1912 to meet the need for hydropower. Skillfully operated by Forces Motrices de Fully, this lake symbolises human ingenuity and the sustainable use of resources.
