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Tarentaise - Saint-Martin de Belleville

The resort

Saint Martin de Belleville is composed of 22 hamlets along the highly scenic Vallee de Belleville and, with its traditional-style wood and stone buildings, offers a real dose of Savoie charm. The surrounding area has a particularly rich natural and architectural heritage. The summer months see a series of festivities that haven't changed for decades where simple pursuits such as bread baking in the village oven and trout fishing competitions are celebrated.

Situated in the vast adventure sports domain of Les Trois Vallees, St Martin – together with the resorts of Les Menuires and Val Thorens – has 50 marked pedestrian paths for walkers to choose from, a total of 250km leading through forests and high pastures up to lofty mountain tops. The lifts will take you to the Mont de la Chambre at 2850 metres or the Tougnète summit at 2434 metres. With both, there are spectacular views out over the Alps. The Evasion 3 Vallees one or seven-day pass covers the lift system in St Martin and several other key stations and provides particularly good value for money; a week’s pass for adults costs 36 Euros.

This corner of the Alps is really one giant outdoor playground and it’s possible to participate in pretty much any sport and activity you can think of: ice climbing, via ferrata, biking, canyoning, fishing at a high altitude lake, hydrospeed or white water swimming… In the afternoons in Saint-Martin, applied arts workshops are organised where, among other things, you can learn to paint on silk or wood and make mosaics. Try and find the time to go out into the valley to one of a number of Alpine chalets where you can see cheeses like Beaufort and Tomme de Savoie being made on site. At the chalet “La Chasse”, it’s even possible to join in the milking! There’s also a restored mountain mill where you can see how the renovated mechanism works.

Savoie’s mouthwatering cuisine is a big part of the attraction of any holiday in the region and Bellevilloise delicacies include country ham cooked in white wine, served with polenta, and special sausages called “Pomonniers”. Then there are the crisp Savoyard wines, the aromatic mountain honey and the spiced gingerbread to sample too. You could also book yourself on a cooking course with well-known local chef René Meilleur who runs the acclaimed La Bouitte restaurant in St-Marcel.

In the nearby resort of Les Menuires, just five minutes’ away by car from Saint Martin, it’s possible to go summer skiing (depending on snow conditions) and summer sledging as well as have a go at quad biking, horse riding, tennis, archery and judo.

Places of interest in Saint Martin

· Vallee de Belleville – the valley is a major stopover on the Chemins du Baroque cultural itinerary. The two most important churches are the 17th century Notre Dame de la Vie sanctuary, an important place of pilgrimage, and the lovely parish church in Saint Martin. In the summer months, classical, Baroque and gospel concerts are held there.

· Once a week, local volunteers give guided visits of the valley's villages. For amateurs of history and patrimony, this is an opportunity to get to know the valley better, via olden day life, pastoral traditions and local anecdotes.

· Worth a look is taking the Cime Caron cable car in Val Thorens which has ‘The most beautiful view in the Alps’ according to the Green Michelin Guide. Apart from having amazing views, it is also interesting to take a ride in this huge cable car (one of the largest in the world). Interesting to see how it all works.

· St Martin and its villages have lots of rural heritage, a visit to the museum is a must.

Childcare in St Martin

Garderie Les Mini-pouss. Tel: 0033 479 00 20 57. Open all year. Welcomes children from 3mnths to 6 yrs.

Centre aéré Les P’tites Canailles – Tel: 0033 479 08 96 28. Open in summer. Welcomes children from 4yrs to 12yrs.

Childcare available in nearby Les Menuires:

Piou-Piou Club

00 33 4 79 00 63 79

18 months+. Opens 9h – 17h30. Mon-Fri.

Nursery, outdoor play area, mini club (sledging, ball games, painting etc)

Courses for children 3-6yrs:”Chez les P’tits Loups”, play dough, plaster, games, cable car rides, picnic, summer sledging, swimming, quad etc…

Nursery/mini club from 18mnths to 3 yrs

Half day = €22

Full day without meal = €29

6 half days = €94

5 days = €115

Piou Piou course 3-6 yrs

Half day = €22

Full day without meal - €29

6 half days - €115

5 days = €144

Possibility of meal.

Guide prices 2010

Amenities in Saint-Martin

Between them, Saint Martin de Belleville and Les Menuires have a good selection of shops and services. These include banks, chemists, a doctor's surgery, grocery shops, hairdressers, laundrettes, sport shops and fashion shops. There is also a cinema in Les Menuires.

Eating Out and Entertainment in Saint-Martin

In Les Menuires there are 34 restaurants, 7 bars and 2 nightclubs, whereas Saint Martin de Belleville offers a quieter atmosphere and has a selection of 20 restaurants and bars. Restaurants in Les Menuires include La Perdrix Blanche and La Trattoria with its French ambience. In St Martin, there’s L'Eterlou and the British-run piano bar Pourquoi Pas.

Contacts for activities for Saint-Martin

Bureau des Guides et Accompagnateurs des Belleville, Les Menuires, tel: +33 479 010 415, www.guides-menuires.com 23 “high-mountain and middle-mountain” guides can organize all mountain activities and mountaineering including day-long hikes, ice and rock climbing schools, mountain routes for all level of difficulty, trips to La Vanoise National Park, outings with a night spent in an alpine refuge, etc. Also canyoning and via ferrata for beginners and improvers.

Mountain biking – Compagnie des Guides, tel : +33 479 010 415. Excursions accompanied by a qualified guide, mountain bike rental and return with a minibus.

Le Capricorne VTT, tel: +33 479 010 415, mountain bike outings and rentals.

Altana motorbike and quad school, tel: +33 611 832 836, accompanied tours in la Vallée des

Belleville area, on and off-road. Equipment provided. Quad biking for children.

The network of 50 marked routes, totalling 300km, will delight leisure and competitive cyclists. Mountain bikers can ride along 21 marked routes, 120km in total. Access via the ski lifts in the 3 resorts of Saint Martin, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. They are “VTT/FCC Area”, official label issued by the Federation Francaise de Cyclisme to approved ATB centres.

You can buy an ‘Evasion’ lift pass for the week that covers all lifts open in summer at Les Menuires, St Martin and Val Thorens. Adult price is €42/wk and child’s price is €21/wk (2010 prices).

View here for St Martin mountain biking trail map

White water activities – Bureau des Guides in Les Menuires

(0033 479 01 04 15).

Hydrospeed, canyoning, rafting, hot dog, kayak-rafting on Isere or Doron river. Beginner canyoning from €39, improver from €58 and both from €90.

Forest adventure circuit

Located in Saint Martin de Belleville, tel: 0033 6 87 42 99 50. This fun adventure park is located below the "Les Grangeraies" area and has a specific circuit for younger children aged 5 to 8 as well as one for older children and adults. 10h – 19h everyday.

Large circuit adult - €19

Child 12-16yrs - €16

Kids circuit 5-8yrs - €11

Summer sledging – Lugeland, Les Menuires, tel: +33 479 006 275. There is a major summer sledging run in Les Bruyères. Two 750m runs: black (rapid) and blue (slow), let you choose between high thrills and tranquil descents. You can reach the runs in just 5 minutes using the Reberty bucket lift. When using the runs, the specially designed sledges let you glide, brake and accelerate to match your mood. Your speed is controlled by a foot brake. For youngsters from 7 to 77!

From €4.90 for 1 run.

Walking – St Martin, Les Menuires, Val Thorens offer a selection of 50 marked pedestrian paths, 300km in total. Maps available at TO.

Heath circuit – starts from St Martin and is 3.5km long. Equipped with warming up and exercise modules.

Fishing – Over 10 high altitude lakes and numerous rivers. Fishing permits can be bought in St Martin.

Paragliding – Sports Club, tel: +33 6 14 26 35 89, tandem flights led by qualified guides in Les Menuires or Val Thorens from 5pm-18.30pm everyday.

First flight from €75

Tennis court in Saint Martin. From 9hr – 19hr. 1 hour from €8.

Outdoor heated pool open in nearby Les Menuires. 11h – 19h. 1 admission - €3.50 child under 12, €4.60 per adult. Weekly pass available

Judo training courses run in Les Menuires for 7 July – 22 August 2008. Adults and children, 1 lesson = €5

Watersports

In Les Menuires or Val Thorens

Bureau des Guides des Belleville – www.guides-belleville.com

All activities with a qualified guide.

Beginner canyoning from €39 for children 6-12yrs and €47 for adults.

Advanced canyoning from €58 for adults

Raft and canyoning from €89 for adults

Quad, buggy and motorbike outings

In Les Menuires and Val Thorens

Qualified guides and equipment loan.

Beginner 1 hour, €41 for moto and €41 for quad buggy

2 hours ramble, €64 for moto and €80 for quad buggy

Half day ramble with mountain snack, €130 for moto, €165 for quad buggy

Minigolf

From 9hr – 19hr. 18 holes. 1 round from €4.

Health circuit

For young and old alike. Starting from St Martin, 3.5km long, it is equipped with warming up and exercise modules. Circuit time: about 1hr30.

Saint Martin Museum

Situated in heart of the village in an ancient Belleville farm. See 150yrs of history from 19th century to the tourist boom in the 60’s. €3 per adult, under 16’s are free.