Villaron

The buildings of the Villaron are a testament to old construction techniques. The walls are actually made of two stone walls filled with other materials such as small stones, earth, moss… and rendered on the outside to improve the building’s insulation. The stonemasons identified their walls with specially arranged stones. The roofs were made of uneven lauze, resting on a wooden frame.Before the village stands the chapel of Saint Bernard, patron of mountaineers and climbers. In the heart of the village’s houses is the last washhouse of Bessans, where the cows came to water, and the inhabitants took their water supply. It is still possible to do so! A little further on is the 13th century chapel of Saint-Colomban, which has been rebuilt three times after being destroyed by the avalanches! In front of the chapel is the typical cross of Bessans, which tells the story of the passion of Christ. Then in the same alleyway, a discerning eye will spot on the left a face carved into a beam once representative of Bessans houses. It is time to leave the hamlet and return back to nature but on the descent, you can still stop for refreshment at the gîte, the old school, or come to see the 17th century bread oven...