The Domaine de Découverte de la Vallée d'Aulps consists of the vestiges of the abbey, the monastic farm which houses the interpretation centre (museum) and the monastic enclosure. 

The interpretation centre consists of
-A permanent exhibition
-A temporary exhibition  
-A tea room
-A shop

In addition to the exhibitions, you can walk in the monastic enclosure and the vestiges of abbey, a commented visiting map will be given to you at the reception to direct you in your discovery.
You can also take part in a guided tour of the grounds (2 € in supplement of the entry price) with one of the guides of the museum. Available in English during July and August on Wednesday at 5pm.

The visit starts in the gateway with the room of 'the witnesses of the past' and the discovery of the model of the grounds. 

On the first floor, the permanent exhibition is made up 5 parts which will introduce you to the world of the Abbey Sainte-Marie of the Alps.

 Part 1: The beginning of the Aulps Abbey

A chronology places local events in with Savoy and French history. The personality of the famous Saint Guerin, second abbot of Aulps and bishop of Sion, is revealed through his attributes.

 Part 2: Organization of the community

What were the activities of the monks of the abbey, who were the Abbot and others, their role and how was the community organized?

 Part 3: The Abbey and Savoy

This part enables you to discover the noble families which endowed the Abbey, computer terminals introduce you to the history of donations of property and enable you to discover these places, still visible today, which belonged to the abbey. A historical board describes the history of the state of Savoy, independent from the Middle Ages to its annexation to France in 1860.

 Part 4: The cistercian order - destruction of the Abbey

Via a film, the life of a monk is retraced, from his entry into the Abbey to his death and day to day ritual living in a monastry are described. This room also enables you to get to know the order of Cîteaux, on which the Aulps Abbey depended. It is also here that the brutal end of the Abbey is revealed.

 Period 5: Medicinal plants, yesterday and today

This last part of the visit is devoted to the monastic heritage related to medicinal plants. The first space describes the monks’ knowledge at the time, the second, presents medicinal plants still in use nowadays and reveals the “secrets” of these and connections with the botanical garden in the grounds.