In Hannibal’s footsteps in the Ambin valley
© P. Huchette
Did the Carthiginian general’s elephants really pass through here? The Ambin valley runs through gypsum fields and forest, leading up to the gentle high mountain pastures of Petit-Mont-Cenis.
The valley is at its most radiant and colourful in autumn, when the larches scatter their golden needles on the ground and the first snows powder the Mont Froid, Étache and Bellecombe peaks. Built beside the ancient road to Rome, the little Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre-d’Extravache seems to stand in defiance of the summit of the Dent-Parrachée in the background.
What is known as the oldest church of the Maurienne region is said to have been founded by disciples of Saint Peter. The Romanesque construction, which dates back to the 11th century, was partly destroyed by a fire in 1803. The stark bell tower and the perfect circle of the chevet form a strong contrast with the ruins of the crumbling nave. In the apse, traces of frescos dating back to the 17th century have been preserved.
Around 218 B.C., after a considerable detour, Hannibal and his men crossed the Alps, with 37 elephants, preparing to attack the Romans on their own territory. It is still uncertain where, but there is general agreement in favour of the Clappier pass.
If you happen to stay at the Lavis-Trafford chalet, you will appreciate the library there, with its collection related to the research undertaken by Dr. Marc-Antoine de Lavis-Trafford. This British subject fell in love with the Maurienne Mountains, and expended his efforts in the 1920s in an attempt to prove that Hannibal had crossed the Alps with his elephants at the nearby Clappier pass. According to the current owner “German archaeology lovers still come up here to check the reliability of his findings".
Contact us
Val d’Ambin, sur la route d’Hannibal
Place de la cathédrale
73300 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
See the access map
A secluded stay: Chalet Lavis-Trafford
Discover
HOTEL RESTAURANT DU NORD
Discover
Topic : Art and cultural heritage
Published on : 2008/04/02
Tags : in hannibal footsteps in the ambin valley
No comments yet
Your opinion on this gem
Your comments, your rating.
Got a question, something to add or correct ?
Leave a message for the author.