It might not have crossed your mind that the beautiful resort of St Martin de Belleville in France is an ideal spot to spend your summer holiday in the Alps. This breathtaking ski resort within the 3 Valleys has opened its doors and is welcoming guests to come and enjoy the splendour that this wonderful area has to offer in the summer months.
Yes, you can now enjoy the best of both worlds with skiing the famous 3 Valleys in the winter and hiking, mountain biking and fishing along with a numerous number of other activities in the summer. If you would like to escape England for the beauty, sunshine and idyllic mountains of France then St Martin de Belleville is the resort to head to this family summer holiday.
I was lucky enough to catch up with one of our luxury partners who offers summer and winter chalets in the beautiful resort of St Martin de Belleville. Having lived in the Three Valleys for many years now I thought it best we speak with Ruth about why St Martin de Belleville is the ideal resort to head to on your summer vacation, and to see if we can get some insiders tips while we’re at it.
What do you love most about St Martin de Belleville in the summer?
The Belleville Valley and the charming village of St Martin de Belleville are breath-taking in the summer months with an abundance of flora and fauna, stunning walking routes atop mountains and through woodlands, rustic refuges for homecooked lunches and pure mountain air. The village in the summer is very pretty with carved out tree trunks filled with flowers and the Mairie and local buildings covered in baskets of local flowers.
The mountains and pastures are as green as can be and you can’t tire of the views. Unlike some ski resorts that are lifeless in the summer St Martin is a thriving agricultural community so has a real buzz about it in the summer with villagers and holiday makers enjoying summer village life.
How would you spend a perfect summer’s day?
For me, the perfect day would start with an early morning run into the village to collect croissants and a flute from the local bakery and then breakfast on the terrace as the sun comes up over the mountains taking in the breath-taking scenery surrounded by friends and family. We would then don our walking boots and head out from the village on foot up one on the many mountain walking tracks; starting our hike along the river and through woodland and then moving up to the open pastures to a peak.
We’d then stop for lunch at a local refuge where delicious homemade food is prepared perhaps starting with a salad, then local Savoyard dish and finished with a blueberry tart with berries picked that day all washed down with a glass of rose or local wine. We would then perhaps have a sunbathe for an hour or so as we digested lunch before continuing on our track to take us back to the village.
I’d then pop into the village and visit the local butcher and delicatessens to purchase ingredients for a BBQ that evening and then head home to lounge in a deckchair with a glass of champagne whilst my husband created a feast on the BBQ. The end of the day would be spent chatting on the terrace under a starlight sky.
What group profile would you say is best suited to a summer holiday in St Martin de Belleville?
St Martin suits both families looking for plenty to keep the adults and the kids occupied and happy as well as couples looking to get away from the bustle of everyday life and recharge for a week or so. The activities and things to do are endless with mountain biking and road cycling, yoga, in-chalet massages, tree top walkways, via ferrata, swimming pools and spa complexes, cable cars and chair lifts to take you up mountains for walks and lunches, tennis, crazy golf to name a few. The great thing is you can do as much or as little as you like.
What is your favourite activity on offer in and around St Martin de Belleville?
It’s hard to choose one activity as there are such a lot on offer but I would choose between taking the local bubble and chairs lifts to the top of the Belleville Valley and then either making my way down on foot with picnic on my back or being on a mountain bike and flying down the ridges and tracks with the wind in my face – both get the heart rate pumping and offer endless views.
La Bouitte is obviously the most famous restaurant in St Martin but which other restaurants would you recommend and why?
My particular favourite is Le Montagnard, right in the heart of the village in an old barn. This family run traditional and charming restaurant goes from strength to strength each year and offers fantastic welcoming service, delicious refined French cooking and some fantastic wines – in the summer you can request one of the outdoor tables right by the pasture and overlooking the church and enjoy lunch or dinner alfresco.
Which chalet would you recommend to enjoy a BBQ party?
Aralia would be perfect. It has a sunny terrace which gets the last of the days sun with uninterrupted views across and up the Belleville valley towards Val Thorens. It has a hot tub with Bluetooth sound system so you can enjoy your favourite music as you have a soak pre-BBQ and then plenty of space for sitting down together to enjoy the BBQ.
If you had one tip for first time visitors to the area what would it be?
Although there are some fantastic restaurants in the village centre, don’t underestimate the amazing dining experience you can enjoy at one of the many off the beaten track refuges you can find dotted around the mountains. Some are even accessible by car so you don’t have to be super fit to get yourself there.
If you would like to visit the beautiful and charming resort of St Martin de Belleville for your summer holidays then get in touch as we have a selection of luxury chalets on offer that will provide you with the perfect summer chalet experience.
Chalets Aralia and Aphylla, St Martin de Belleville
If you’re looking for a beautiful summer chalet in St Martin de Belleville, where you can enjoy the spectacular views and a BBQ on the terrace in the afternoon sunshine surrounded by your friends, then look no further. Both of these luxurious chalets are ideal for your next summer holiday in the Alps and offer guests a spectacular fully catered summer Alps holiday from only £750 per person.
If you love your yoga and would like a change of scenery, where you can breath in the fresh mountain air enjoying the beautiful views below whilst doing your downward dog then Chalet Aralia or Chalet Aphylla would be perfect for you. Make sure to contact us about the specific yoga holidays which are available for a number of weeks this summer.
If you fancy exploring the beautiful St Martin de Belleville mountains this summer and would like to talk with one of the friendly Alps In Luxury team about the luxury summer chalets we have on offer, please give us a call on +44 01202 203659 or drop us an email.
