Day 46 Orsieres to Bourg-Saint-Pierre – 16th July

Distance: 12.3 km – Elevation +830 m -70 m

Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 30 degrees

I am not a great one for sleeping close to the floor and as we were the only pilgrims I was able to use a spare mattress, one on top of the other, and consequently, I slept surprisingly well. After leaving our donations of 15 euros in the provided box we left at just past 7.30 a.m. The church was closed when we arrived yesterday but was now open being prepared for morning mass so I took the opportunity to enter as I particularly wanted to visit the exhibit retracing the life of Maurice Tornay. Jean-Pierre had gone ahead to the village post office as he was expecting a parcel from his son.

I joined Jean-Pierre around 8.15 am at the post office and from there we started our day’s walk to Bourg-Saint-Pierre. Today’s walk was going to be around 15 kilometres with a height gain of 1000 metres and would in general terms follow the course of the Dranse d´Entremont.

It was a beautiful morning as we left and initially, it was a steady steady climb out of the town and then much steeper until we reached Montatuay. After Montatuay the path continues to climb but levels out a little and is mostly less strenuous. We walked through woodland and pastures where the more open aspect continued to provide spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and with the beautiful cascades, formed from the fast-flowing mountain streams, it was a wonderful day’s walk despite the tiring continuous climb.

We arrived in Bourg-Saint-Pierre at 1.30 pm and found our way to the Auberge les Charmettes to arrange our accommodation. After a light lunch, we rested in our rooms and later explored this delightful small mountain village.  We walked to the village outskirts to view the Moulin du Valsorey, a 15th-century watermill which, nestles in the gorge of the fast-flowing mountain waters of the Valsorey. After, I sat and reflected in the Church of St-Pierre which is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance, before returning to the auberge for supper.