Mairie de Pontamafrey-Montpascal

Mairie de Pontamafrey-Montpascal in La Tour-en-Maurienne is the old town hall of a village tucked into the heart of the Maurienne valley, in France's Savoie department. Since 2019 the settlement itself has operated as a delegated commune within the larger La Tour-en-Maurienne, but the mairie building still serves as a local administrative point and a useful landmark for anyone exploring this stretch of the French Alps.

Where exactly is Pontamafrey-Montpascal?

The village sits within the canton and arrondissement of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, surrounded by classic Alpine terrain. Its two historic halves occupy very different ground: Pontamafrey stretches along the banks of the Arc river on the valley floor, while Montpascal sits much higher, overlooking the slope that separates the Col du Chaussy pass from the Grand Coin mountain. That contrast between valley floor and high mountainside within a single settlement is typical of many Maurienne villages.

How did this village come to be?

The name Pontamafrey shows up in records as far back as the 14th century. Montpascal, meanwhile, was once known by its Latin name Mons Pascalis and, until the 11th century, functioned mainly as a high-altitude pasture: residents of the neighbouring villages of Montvernier and Le Châtel would drive their cattle up there starting at Easter, once the grass at altitude began to grow again — hence "Pascalis." The two villages were administratively joined in 1972 and fully merged into a single commune in 2001. The next chapter came in 2019, when Pontamafrey-Montpascal joined the neighbouring communes of Hermillon and Le Châtel to form the new commune of La Tour-en-Maurienne, at which point the old mairie became a delegated town hall.

Around the turn of the 20th century, the valley underwent a significant economic shift: a hydroelectric power plant harnessing the Arc river went into operation here in 1908, followed by a further wave of hydropower development along the Arc and Isère in the 1970s. That electricity is what drew industrial operations into the valley and shaped its economy for decades.

What draws visitors here, especially cyclists?

The former commune's territory includes the Col du Chaussy, a mountain pass at 1,533 metres and one of the more demanding climbs in the region. The ascent from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne runs 19.3 km with 972 metres of elevation gain — roughly two hours in the saddle for an average rider. The pass gained wider recognition in 2015, when the Tour de France peloton rode over it during stage 19 of that year's race.

Along the way, cyclists pass the famous Lacets de Montvernier, a road carved into the mountainside with eighteen tight hairpin bends and one of the most photographed roads in the Alps. Until 2012 the climb ended with riders having to turn back the way they came; once an additional stretch of forest road toward Montaimont was paved, it became possible to complete the full loop without retracing the route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pontamafrey-Montpascal still its own commune? No. Since 1 January 2019 it has operated as a delegated commune within La Tour-en-Maurienne, formed from the merger of three former communes.

Where does the name Montpascal come from? From the Latin Mons Pascalis, referring to a high-altitude pasture where cattle were driven up starting at Easter.

Is this a good destination for cyclists? Yes — the Col du Chaussy and the nearby Lacets de Montvernier are well known among road cyclists and were featured in the Tour de France.

Where exactly is the village located? In the Maurienne valley in Savoie, within the canton of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, along the Arc river and on the slope leading up toward the Col du Chaussy.