Practical information | Site Officiel de la Chartreuse en Savoie et Isère, au coeur de Rhone Alpes : hébergement et sejour de ski, randonnée

Access to Cirque de St Même

The Cirque de St Même is located in the pretty little town of St Pierre d’Entremont, straddling the departments of Isère and Savoie. To get there, 3 routes that alone are worth the detour:

Via the Col du Granier: ideal route if you are arriving from Chambéry. Once the Col du Granier crosses (stop at the Col to admire the view of Mont Blanc), descend into the Entremonts valley, cross the village of Entremont le Vieux, then at St Pierre d’Entremont, take the direction of the Cirque de St Even.

Via the Pas du Frou: from the Guiers valley (St Laurent du Pont, Les Echelles, Entre Deux Guiers), take the direction of St Pierre d’Entremont. The road takes the Frou gorges (spectacular) to reach the village in about twenty minutes.

Via the Col de Porte: to be preferred if you are arriving from Grenoble. After crossing the village of Sappey en Chartreuse, you will reach the Col de Porte, the starting point for many hikes, in particular to reach 3 mythical summits of Chartreuse (Chamechaude, the highest point; Charmant Som and Pinéa). You will then descend to the resort of St Pierre de Chartreuse (ski resort in winter, base camp for many nature activities in summer) then the Col du Cucheron which will descend to St Pierre d’Entremont.

Chamechaude depuis l'oratoire d'Orgeval au Charmant Som

Note: in the village of St Pierre d’Entremont, you will find all the shops to prepare a delicious picnic with local products: bakery, butcher, cheese shop, grocery store, … Take the opportunity to taste our local specialties!

Astuce

So that your car trip is also a discovery, we suggest that you take a different route to go and return. Do not hesitate to make one or more stops in the places and villages crossed, you will not be disappointed!

Car parks

On the spot
Near

On site, a 200-space car park is open all year round.

The Cirque de St Même is a haven of greenery and freshness but its high attendance endangers its natural balance. For these reasons, a toll is set up on certain days in order to regulate access.

Toll opening period (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Sundays and public holidays in spring, Saturdays / Sundays in June and September, and every day in July / August.
Price: € 3.50 per car / € 2 per motorcycle.

If the Cirque car park is full, it is possible to park in the village of St Pierre d’Entremont (note: these car parks can also be full). You will then have to reach the Cirque on foot, approximately 1h30 of walk (4 km). Several car parks are available in the village (near shops but also near the school, this is where there will be the most spaces).

School car park (preferred): 100 spaces (add 10-15 min of walking to reach the route)
Parking at the tourist office: 20 spaces
Post office parking: 20 spaces
Parking in front of the Guerre butcher’s shop: 20 spaces

Equipment on site

One or more people present in the car park (on days when the toll is in place) to provide you with information
Public toilets are at your disposal (in the car park)
In the Cirque, you can eat at the Auberge du Cirque de St Even (hotel-restaurant) or at the snack bar.
2 routes are signposted: the waterfall trail (duration 1h30 / red markings / be well shod / not difficult but steep) and the walk from the bottom of the Cirque (duration 30min / green markings / very easy). Note, in winter, the waterfall trail is not recommended.
Other hikes are available near the Cirque

COVID-19 regulations & measures

The Cirque de St Même is a natural outdoor site, so it is not required to wear a mask. However, it is compulsory at the hostel and it is requested to respect social distancing (minimum 1 m between each person).

Regulations:

Motorhomes are not allowed from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Dogs are allowed inside the Cirque, up to the waterfalls
Fires are prohibited
Camping and bivouacs are prohibited

Note: The site is managed by the Communauté de Communes Cœur de Chartreuse but it is located on private plots, some of which are exploited by foresters. This space must therefore be shared and respected. Stay on the authorized paths and spaces, do not cross the fences in place.

Préconisations Auberge Covid 19 2 Scaled

Cirque Saint Meme Chartreuse Tourisme Agence Les Conteurs 46

Vous aimerez aussi

Cool off at the Cirque de St Même