What to see
- The Opinel museum: the story of the wooden-handled knife invented in 1890 by Joseph Opinel, in the town where the brand is still based. Free entry for the self-guided visit, paid guided tours by reservation; shop. Closed on Sundays.
- The Cathedral of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and its 15th-century cloister, the detached bell tower and the crypt.
- The Saturday morning market and the shops in the centre: local valley cheeses (Beaufort), charcuterie.
- For cyclists: Saint-Jean is the foot of the Croix-de-Fer, Glandon and Madeleine passes, and a stage town of the major tours.
Practical information
- By road: 40 minutes via the A43 from Modane.
- Free parking in the town centre in several places; the museum is a five-minute walk from the centre.
- Museum opening times: check the Opinel website before you come, especially in winter.