Le Monal, Alpine pasture and hamlet in Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, France

Le Monal is a hamlet of stone houses with slate roofs at 1870 metres in the Tarentaise valley, above Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise. The tightly grouped buildings stand among larch woods and hay meadows, facing the glaciers of the Vanoise massif.

Le Monal grew as a seasonal pasture settlement of Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, where herders brought cattle and goats up from the valley in summer. Its stone houses and barns, roofed with local slate, were built to shelter people and livestock through the grazing months. The hamlet later fell into disuse before being restored in the late 20th century.

Shepherds and cheesemakers use the pastures here during specific seasons to care for herds and produce traditional dairy goods. The craft of alpine herding remains deeply rooted in local identity and continues to this day.

Le Monal is reached on foot only, by a trail climbing through larch woods from the parking area below; allow time for the ascent. Snow can linger on the path well into spring, so check conditions before setting out and carry water, as there are no shops in the hamlet.

Le Monal is one of the last hamlets in the valley where the roofs are still covered with local stone slabs, called lauzes, rather than corrugated metal. Look for the flat, grey slabs stacked on the low buildings, a roofing method tied to the absence of slate quarries nearby.