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The Chartreuse de Mélan is a place steeped in history, combining medieval sobriety and contemporary art. Discover its church, cloister and park of monumental contemporary art sculptures.
Age minimum : 6 ans
In the beautiful setting of the Giffre valley, the Chartreuse de Mélan is a place steeped in history, combining medieval sobriety and contemporary art. Exhibitions are held in the church, with its refined architecture and magnificent cloister. Around the building, with free access, contemporary sculptures bear witness to the multiple lives of the Carthusian monastery, once a female monastery, a religious college and then a departmental orphanage. The Department's team of cultural mediators offers a wide range of guided tours and fun activities from April to October. The contemporary sculpture park Open to the public, the large park around the Chartreuse de Mélan is home to a dozen monumental works. Each artist has endeavored to bear witness to the strong and moving history of the site or its surroundings.
Types
- Historic site and monument
Capacity
- Maximum group size:60
- Minimum group size: 10
Themes
- Historic patrimony
- Religious heritage
- Charterhouse
- Cloister
- Church
Comforts
Languages spoken
- English
- French
Services
- Educational visits
- Coach access
- Room hire
- Tourist brochures
- Guided tours
Furniture
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Public WC
- Exhibition space
- Car park
- Parking nearby
Accessibility
- Mental disability
- Accessible for wheelchairs with assistance
- Reserved space 330 cm wide < 100 m from the site
- Nombre de personne pouvant être accueillies simultanément en fauteuil roulant : 2
Services provided
Activities
- Qualifications of the service provider: PSMB guide
Visits
- Group visit duration: 60 min
- Group visit duration: 45 min
- Visits in: French
- Unguided group tours available permanently
- Guided group tours on request
- Languages information panels: French
- Documentation languages: English, French
Prices
Free of charge.
Group rate available for > 10 people.
Self-guided or guided tour of the exhibition by a cultural mediator. Free
Creative activities led by a cultural mediator. Free
For information and bookings, contact the mediators at the Chartreuse de Mélan.
Exhibition catalogues and books from the Culture 74 collection available for sale at reception.
Prices: exhibition catalogues €2; Culture 74 from €8 to €17 depending on the issue.
Guided historical tours of the Chartreuse de Mélan by the Savoie Mont Blanc Heritage Guides. Price: €3. Bookings at the Praz de Lys Sommand Tourism Office.
Means of payment
- Check
- Cash
Opening
Church and cloister :
April, May and October: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and Zone A school holidays.
June, July, August and September: Tuesday to Sunday
10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 6pm.
Weekly closing: Mondays (exceptionally open on bank holiday Mondays).
Winter closure of the site: from 3 November 2025 to 31 March 2026.
In the event of a Météo France warning
- for thunderstorms, strong winds or rain-flooding: site closed
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The monumental sculpture park is open all year round, free admission.