Valley guide
Saint-Marcel is a small hamlet above Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, in the Belleville valley — the valley of Saint-Martin, Les Menuires and Val Thorens, at the heart of Les 3 Vallées. Here is what helps a week go smoothly.
Les 3 Vallées links Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Val Thorens into one ski area. You can buy a pass for the whole area, or a cheaper one covering the Belleville valley only. Buying online before you arrive saves queuing on arrival day.
Ski schools in the valley include the ESF, the French national ski school, along with independent schools. Over Christmas and in February, book lessons and equipment hire a few weeks ahead. Back at the chalet, the ski room with boot dryers keeps everything ready for the morning.
Savoie is the home of fondue, raclette and tartiflette — and the long table and fully equipped kitchen are made for cooking them together. Saint-Martin-de-Belleville has shops and restaurants for evenings off. Tip: do a big shop in the valley on the way up so the first evening is easy.
From June the valley turns green: walking trails, mountain biking and alpine lakes, then long evenings on the terrace and in the garden.
The nearest train station is Moûtiers, at the foot of the valley. The closest airports are Chambéry, Geneva and Lyon. In winter, mountain roads require winter tyres or snow chains in the car (1 November to 31 March).
Choose one week or several — the whole chalet is yours, Sunday to Sunday.
