St Martin De Belleville and The Three Valleys
By Fiona Ferrer
Where is St Martin De Belleville?
St Martin De Belleville is one of the ski resorts which make up the world-famous “Three Valleys” in France (the other resorts are Courchevel, La Tania, Meribel, Brides-les-Bains, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and Orelle).
The Three Valleys claim to be the largest ski area in the world and with over 600km of pistes and 183 ski lifts it’s a claim which is hard to dispute.
St Martin De Belleville – the village
St Martin de Belleville is the village you always hoped you’d find but never believed could really exist and, as the only traditional Savoyard ski-in, ski-out village in the Three Valleys, it's one of the Alps' best kept secrets.
Here you'll find snow-laden roofs, a pretty town square, Baroque church, bars with open fires and farm shops full of local cheeses and delicious herb-covered saucisson. It’s still a working village and if you peep through the door of one of the solid stone Savoyard farmhouses you’ll see the farmer’s cows munching on hay, wintering under the vaulted ceilings of the farmhouse.
“It’s ideal for us because it’s quiet and unspoilt with nice restaurants and bars. It’s not a noisy scene, we’ve been there, done that”, said Barry our new chalet friend.
And as for the skiing… the ski-in, ski-out village has its own mix of blue and red slopes, fast lifts and great access to the rest of the Three Valleys. With 400 snow cannons you're pretty much guaranteed good snow for the whole season.
St Martin is great for:
- Those looking for a pretty, traditional village
- Easy ski-in, ski-out access from the heart of the village
- People who enjoy a low-key après ski scene
- Beginners – long gentle blues run into the village
- Intermediate and advanced skiers - good reds running into the village as well as easy access to the Three Valleys
- Restaurants – a good selection, we loved the Restaurant Montagnard for its delicious raclette and the vintage ski equipment on the walls (including a pair of old socks suspended above our table)
- The Alpine Club chalets – we stayed in La Maison
- If you're looking for Michelin stars head for La Bouitte in the next village.
Don’t leave without:
- doing a hosted ski with Helen, The Alpine Club owner. There’s nothing better than putting your piste map away and exploring the mountains with someone who knows every twist and turn
- experiencing Cap Horn
- having a few drinks in St Martin De Belleville’s Piano Bar
- eating raclette and tartiflatte
- skiing the ‘sunshine route’ – follow the sun symbols on the piste map to catch the sun all day
