Short tour of Courchevel's secret hamlets

Its name means “stream” in Savoyard patois, and it’s at the origin of a great many of the valley’s activities, including, hydroelectricity upstream and recreation (rafting and fishing) downstream.

Espace VTT BozelOuverture en septembre 2020.

This enchanting hamlet is one of the "Hameaux des Travers". The villages located at an altitude of between 860m and 970m on the North side of Saint-Bon Valley are so-called because they have been built across (travers in French) the northern slopes and were the first of the municipality's hamlets to be populated. Le Fay is the nearest hamlet to Bozel and set amidst woodland. It harbours a 17th century chapel dedicated to St Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, and to Our Lady of the Presentation. The hamlet's name perhaps refers to a place planted with fayards, a Savoyard term for beech trees.

This is also one of the "Hameaux des Travers". It is one of the largest hamlets across the valley bottom. St Joseph's Chapel (17th century) stands at the village entrance. As you meander through its lanes, admire the myriad barn-stables and renovated houses. Families often had two properties: the village house for living in and the barn-stables for housing animals, and this is one of the distinctive features of this valley. The hamlet's name (loft) comes from the presence of these barns. There is a lovely view to admire over Bozel and Le Grand Bec (3,398m) mountain.

This is the only hamlet across the North side to have a rectangular central square. It was most likely created following the demolition of several houses and barn-stables. There is still a bachal (water basin) in this square, which gave villagers and their animals direct access to water. The hamlet also has a bread oven dating back to 1908 and is home to Notre-Dame de la Visitation Chapel. Built between 1857 and 1860 at the top of the village, it was knocked down then rebuilt at the bottom of the hamlet in 1987. Moving it meant that the road leading up to Courchevel could be widened.

As the first populated site in Saint-Bon, Le Grand Carrey has the oldest chapel in the municipality, dedicated to St Catherine (predates 1584). She is the patron saint of seamstresses, wool spinners, clothiers and barbers. Her feast day is on 25 November. It was in this hamlet, not far from the road used in Roman times to travel from Moûtiers to Bozel, that a pot filled with ancient bronze coins was discovered. A few metres further up, you'll reach Le Petit Carrey which still has its orchard and traces of old hayfields. With orchards situated so close to their villages, locals were able to eat fruit and nuts every day (apple, pear, plum, cherry and walnut trees) and harvest the hay that provided fodder for animals in winter.

St Jean Baptiste's Church is included in the "Escapades Baroques des Alpes" initiative, aimed at showcasing Baroque heritage in the Alps. From this village, the lord governed the territory of La Perrière parish which was supervised by the Count-Archbishop of Tarentaise. The lord's residence can still be recognised today: look for a stately home bearing the date 1679.You'll perhaps be surprised to see a 1940 blockhouse on leaving the hamlet, which resembles the one opposite, in Montagny. These were structures along the Alpine Maginot Line to protect the upper Bozel Valley from Italian invasion via the Vanoise and Palet mountain passes, as well as the lower valley via the Petit Saint-Bernard pass. Church open to visitors in the afternoons.

Quintessential hamlet. Flowing through Villaflou, the old Roman estate of Fludualdus,is La Closettaz stream. The hamlet's guardian saint is St Anne, whose chapel stands opposite the renovated mill. The mill was used to grind grain for turning into flour (mainly rye, barley and oat flour).

The name of this hamlet refers to "newly cleared land". It is home to St Marguerite's Chapel, built in 1612 on land donated by residents. The hamlet's patron saint is celebrated on 20 July. Traditionally, she is the patron saint of pregnant women.In Latin, "Margaritae" means crown of pearls. You can have a peep inside through a gate. The façade on one of the houses in this hamlet is decorated with  milk churns and a hay or lumber cart.

Next to La Perrière is Le Freney (1,190m), which is surrounded by orchards and still harbours a chapel dedicated to St Anne (1680). She is the patron saint of joiners and carpenters. On her feast day, 26 July, artists have often portrayed her giving her daughter Mary reading lessons. The hamlet's name perhaps comes from a place planted with ash trees.

ESPACE VTT Alpinium Le Praz 73120 COURCHEVEL +33 (0)6.18.08.18.41

Le Praz is situated at the highest point of your route, at the first level of ski resorts in Courchevel Valley. A pretty little village, typical of the Savoie region and steeped in history, it is the only village to be built on a projecting ledge and used to be one of the most active farming sites of the whole municipality. A gondola connects it to the slopes of the 3 Vallées ski area. It has retained an authentic, charming atmosphere with picturesque chalets, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Chapel, narrow lanes and surrounding spruce forest. Rue des Beauforts is a street where a few traditional houses can still be spied as well as an old cheese dairy going by the same name. What's distinctive about the village are the Olympic ski jumps around it, which were used during the 1992 Winter Olympics. There are four in total, 25m, 60m, 90m and 120m, which makes it the best equipped ski jumping facility in France. The 120m jump is even unique in France. Major competitions are still hosted here, not least the Ski Jumping World Cup, and it is also a training centre for French and international teams. There is a permanent exhibition on display for learning more about the history of the site and this sport. You can even go up to the top of the Olympic jumps by climbing the steps. And why not treat yourself to a relaxing few hours around the laid-out banks of Le Praz natural lake, which is ideal for walks or fishing!

Saint-Bon is divided into two distinct districts, separated by the B road running through it: Saint-Bon-Le-Haut and Saint-Bon-Le-Bas. Set off to see the Baroque church of Saint-Bon and go for a wander around the little streets in search of Place du Mollard (where you'll be rewarded with a sweeping view over the valley), the village's old communal oven (which now houses the still), the old mill, the old cheese dairy and holiday homes mostly dating back to the 19th century. Admire the unassuming architecture of the houses and barn-stables built by local families who skilfully adapted their working tools to the harsh terrain, and made their living almost entirely from farming and livestock rearing right up until the mid 20th century.Dating back to 1870, Saint-Bon Town Hall is a unique example of Sardinian neoclassical civil architecture in the Tarentaise area. Built in the 17th century, the Baroque church of Saint-Bon has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1972 and is included on the "Chemins du Baroque®" route, which illustrates the wealth of Baroque art in Savoie.