BELLEVILLE VALLEY

Based at 1400m and directly linked into the vast Three Valleys network by an 8 person gondola, St Martin de Belleville offers unlimited, world-class skiing. I love it. The village is picture perfect, unspoiled and authentic making St Martin de Belleville the perfect ski resort if you are looking for a taste of authentic France combined with state of the art skiing. It is noted for its pretty, traditional architecture and stunning Alpine scenery, and it’s interesting to note that the commune have had the foresight to bury all the electric and phone cabling which means that not only does it have a clean uncluttered look, but you are unlikely to lose power when the snow hits!

 

Clusters of traditional chalets and original Savoyard farmhouses are dominated by the close mountains with chamois and wild boars roaming free in the surrounding forests. The scenery is stunning.

 

As an added bonus Val Thorens, officially the highest resort in Europe, is situated at the top of the valley offering great skiing from mid-November to mid-May and offers some certainty in these times when we are unsure of the outcome of global warming. St Martin also has some of the best and clearest runs in the Three Valleys; with skiing for all levels back down to the village and red run Jerusalem a firm favourite with many, and the confidence inspiring off-piste powder fields have to be experienced to be believed.

 

I believe that the skiing is the best anywhere, forget the rest of the Three Valleys, the Belleville valley alone is enough to satisfy most skiers and certainly in itself bigger than your average resort. I love it because of the variety; you can cruise the blues and reds, you can pound the moguls, you can experience amazing off-piste skiing that I can’t begin to describe ...... and then, well add in the rest of the Three Valleys and the sky is literally the limit!

 

In the height of summer during July and August the valley is host to walkers, nature lovers and adventure seekers who arrive to enjoy the traditional and less traditional mountain activities along with the colourful mountain meadows and beauty of the contrasting vibrant green against snow capped mountains. It is also a near neighbour to the Vanoise Park, a protected area of outstanding natural beauty.

 

St Martin de Belleville has a lower key nightlife than its glitzy neighbours. Having said that, the valley boasts two Michelin starred restaurants, one being situated three minutes from the village, the other in Val Thorens. St Martin itself has several friendly bars and restaurants which retain a mountain village atmosphere with prices to match. It seems ideal for ski and mountain lovers looking for an authentic atmosphere a little apart from the crowds, and out of season it still has life and enough year round residents to stop it feeling like a ghost town.