This small mountain village, situated at an altitude of 764 meters on the road connecting Thônes to Saint-Jean-de-Sixt and La Clusaz , is made up of several hamlets strung along both sides of the Nom River. Located at the foot of the Beauregard Plateau and opposite Mont Lachat, the village offers numerous hiking opportunities.
Facing Mont Lachat
A mountain village
Its natural heritage is its greatest asset: beautiful forests, a river, and protected nature. The Saint-Laurent-des-Villards church is worth a visit for its classical organ, crafted from wood by a local craftsman according to 16th-century standards. Numerous crosses and oratories can be seen in the various hamlets of the commune.
A tour on the trails
Within magnificent forests, you can go mushroom picking or discover wonderful and wild brown trout fishing sites along the Nom river.
From Entre Deux Nants, a path leads to the large iron cross on Mont Lachat via Mont and Chalet de la Mare (1140 m elevation gain). Standing 13 m tall, it has overlooked this 2020 m mountain for over a century. At the summit, the orientation table allows you to appreciate the exceptional 360° panorama, which extends to the Aiguilles Rouges and Mont Blanc massifs (partially hidden by the Pointe d'Areu and Pointe Percée) and the Vanoise and Haute-Maurienne glaciers.
You can also reach the Beauregard plateau and its alpine pastures by passing through Les Ecotagnes.
In the land of white gold
In winter, the forests of Villards-sur-Thônes can be explored with snowshoes. You can go up to the chalet de la Mare under Mont Lachat. Consider calling on a mountain professional to accompany you on your outings.
And for a change of pace, head to the nearby Aravis resorts of Saint-Jean-de-Sixt , Le Grand-Bornand , La Clusaz , and Manigod . Just a few kilometers and less than 15 minutes away, you can enjoy a wide range of activities.
Not to be missed
Les Ecotagnes : two treehouses connected by walkways await you for a short stay surrounded by nature. A chance to fulfill your childhood dream!
The two bread ovens in the hamlets of Carouge and Plan de Borgeal are regularly used by local residents.
revelry
Every year at the end of July, the festival of Saint Lawrence , patron saint of the parish, is an opportunity for Villardins and visitors to get together and enjoy many traditional activities.
Every Friday in July and August, the traditional bowling game brings together enthusiasts and amateurs for a short-lived competition.
A note of history
Over 47 years of patient and passionate work, Louis Mermillod-Grossemain crafted, using local wood, the organ that graces the masses at the Church of Saint-Laurent-des-Villards. Begun in 1966, his life's work was completed in 2013. Well, almost… since this classical organ of 30 stops only has 29! Indeed, the tradition in organ building is to leave one stop for future generations.
