Let’s work together to restore the Croix du Bonhomme refuge

Situated near the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, in the commune of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the Croix du Bonhomme mountain refuge occupies a strategic position on the routes of the Tour du Mont-Blanc, the Grande Traversée des Alpes and the Tour du Beaufortain.

Perched with a view of the Mont Blanc and Vanoise massifs, it offers walkers a magnificent panorama and has been an essential stop for mountain enthusiasts for over a century.

Built in 1924 by the Touring Club de France, the refuge originally consisted solely of the stone building that still stands there today. Quarried directly on site, this stone is a testament to the architecture characteristic of the period. Seriously damaged during the Second World War, the refuge was left to fall into ruin before being rebuilt thanks to the efforts of volunteers from 1965 onwards.

In 1992, a stone and timber extension was built around the original building to increase its capacity and improve comfort.

Today, despite its vital role in the network of Alpine refuges, the building is dilapidated : it lacks adequate thermal comfort, its facilities are ageing, its layout is ill-suited to modern needs, working conditions for the wardens are difficult, and its environmental performance needs to be improved.

Without renovation work, this iconic refuge is at risk of closing.

TheFrench Federation of Alpine and Mountain Clubs, which owns the building, is therefore undertaking an ambitious renovation project with the aim of:

Improving the building’s integration into an exceptional landscape by harmonising its architecture and proportions whilst maintaining a consistent footprint;

Preserving the historic tower, a true symbol of the refuge;

Rebuilding the most dilapidated extensions;

Improve comfort and safety for users;

Provide better living and working conditions for the wardens;

Reduce the building’s environmental footprint through the installation of dry toilets, a constructed wetland system and the use of renewable energy (photovoltaic and solar thermal);

To enable the refuge to cater for ski touring, given the growth in this activity from Les Contamines and the Beaufortain region;

To ensure the refuge can continue to welcome hikers, mountaineers, ski tourers, groups and school trips for decades to come.

The aim is clear: to preserve the spirit and history of this iconic refuge whilst equipping it to meet the environmental, technical and human challenges of the future.

Renovating a high-altitude mountain refuge is an exceptional challenge.

The logistical constraints inherent in a construction site at an altitude of over 2,400 metres, combined with the project’s environmental and architectural ambitions, explain the scale of the investment required.

The total cost of the project is estimated at nearly 4.55 million euros.

Despite the support of numerous public partners and the significant financial commitment from the FFCAM, we need your support to raise the funds required to bring this ambitious project to fruition.

Your donation will make a tangible contribution to :

preserving an iconic refuge in the Mont Blanc massif;

enhancing safety and improving facilities for hikers, mountaineers and ski tourers;

sustainably improving the building’s environmental footprint;

providing better living and working conditions for the wardens;

ensuring the long-term survival of a vital mountain refuge and safety haven for future generations.