Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Administrative commune in Tarentaise Valley, France.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a commune in the Tarentaise Valley in the Savoie department of France, situated at about 744 meters elevation. The town marks the final major settlement along the valley before the landscape rises into the higher Alps.
Originally known as Bergintrum, the settlement held importance as a crossing point on the Gallic side of the Alpes Graiae, lying between the ancient centers of Mediolanum and Vienna. The commune underwent significant name changes during the French Revolution era that reflected the shifting political landscape.
The commune has two places of worship that shape local religious life: a Catholic church on Grande Rue and a Protestant chapel on Avenue Maréchal Leclerc. These buildings reflect the diversity of faith communities that have settled in this valley.
The town is most easily reached by traveling up from the valley and provides lodging and supplies for visitors heading to nearby ski areas. A rack railway connects the town center directly to the higher ski area at Arc 1600.
Between 1794 and 1815, the commune was renamed Nargue-Sarde to reflect the radical political changes of the Revolution. This temporary name change shows how deeply the transformations of that era affected local communities across France.
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