Saint-François-de-Sales : the nature gateway to Savoie Grand Revard

Unspoilt nature and adventure in every season

At the heart of the Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park, Saint-François-de-Sales is a magnet for visitors, with its Creusates peat bog, peaceful forests and wide open spaces. In summer and winter alike, this Savoyard village is an ideal gateway to Savoie Grand Revard. Family walks, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, astronomy or nature festivals: here, you can experience the mountains in a different way, with scientific discoveries, fun activities and shared emotions.

©Chambery Carte Sgr

An exceptional peat bog, 12,000 years old

The Creusates peat bog in Saint-François-de-Sales is a veritable natural monument. Situated at an altitude of 1,320 metres, it was formed in a karstic depression resulting from a collapse, slowly filled in by clay and then colonised by sphagnum moss around 7,000 years ago. These mosses accumulated successive layers of organic matter, forming up to 11.5 metres of unbroken peat, making it one of the deepest peat bogs in the French Alps.

A veritable climatic archive, the peat preserves pollen and plant elements buried since the end of the last ice age, tracing 12,000 years of climate and landscape evolution. Listed as a Natura 2000 site and protected by a prefectoral biotope decree since 1985, the peat bog can be visited along a secure interpretation trail, punctuated by footbridges, an educational lookout point and explanatory panels, allowing visitors to explore this sensitive ecosystem gently, without being trampled.

Natura 2000 area Between science and contemplation

As part of the Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park, the commune of Saint-François-de-Sales is home to an environment rich in remarkable natural habitats: beech-fir forests, flower-filled clearings, wetlands, etc. The peat bog itself is home to rare plant species characteristic of boreal environments, and is a site of high ecological value.

To maintain this balance, two local farmers practise reasoned pastoralism, in conjunction with the Park and the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels de Savoie. By limiting the natural advance of the forest, they are actively helping to conserve biodiversity. Water management measures (a small dam) also help to maintain the wet conditions necessary for the balance of the site.

New facilities for all seasons

In response to the decline in winter snowfall, the commune embarked on an ambitious diversification project in 2025. Three themed trails, accessible all year round, invite visitors to discover :

sustainable forest management
sky and star gazing,
thepoetic ecosystem of the peat bog.

These trails are enhanced by wooden furniture, a family game booklet and an explorer’sbag, for a fun, sensory approach to the mountain. The Chalet des plantes, a meeting point for the curious, offers workshops on local plants, from wild cuisine to herbalism.

Peaceful snow, Nordic adventures

In winter, Saint-François-de-Sales is the ideal gateway to the Savoie Grand Revard Nordic ski area, one of the largest in France. From the friendly, well-equipped cross-country ski centre, winter sports enthusiasts can access a network of groomed trails for skating or alternating, while five signposted snowshoeroutes, such as the Champ des Creusates or the Piste du Trappeur, invite you to explore the forests and peat bogs in a gentle way. From family walks around the peat bog to the long traverse to La Féclaz, there’s something for everyone.

But it’s also here that you can enjoy a rare experience: a dog-sledding baptism, offered by the TERRES d’HISTOIRES association. Along an exclusive route, in a small group, you’ll be accompanied by a passionate musher, to meet the dogs and the great outdoors. Far from mass tourism, this activity focuses on emotion, proximity and sensitive discovery of the region.

Skiing, sliding and snow

Festival des Petits Baroudeurs 3 days of nature adventure for all the family

Every year in early July, Saint-François-de-Sales plays host to the Festival des Petits Baroudeurs, a family event organised by Chambéry Montagnes. For three days, the plateau is transformed into an exploration ground for children and their parents.

On the programme: donkey or husky trekking, tree climbing, nature yoga, via ferrata, singing in the forest, astronomy… In the evening, it’s time for evening gatherings around the fire, adventure stories, cheese aperitifs and grilled marshmallows. All in a friendly, caring atmosphere.

There are three packages to suit all tastes: