Culture
10 village resorts to discover this summer
This summer, are you looking for a family holiday in an environmentally-preserved setting with magnificent scenery, a place where charming tourism rhymes with harmony? Here are 10 village resorts where you can spend your holidays this summer!
Haute-Savoie
#1 – Le Grand-Bornand
Nestling in the Aravis massif, the village resort of Le Grand-Bornand boasts an exceptional architectural and historical heritage. In summer, breathtaking panoramas await you, as do a host of sporting activities, from climbing the mountain passes to trying your hand at cliff-climbing.
Savoie
#2 – The village resort of Aussois
At the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, in the heart of the Haute-Maurienne, the village resort of Aussois lies on a sunny hillside. In summer, within easy reach of the marmots and ibex, it’s time to wear out your hiking boots on the trails, via ferrata, giant zip lines, climbing routes… or venture behind the walls of the Esseillon forts.
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
#3 – The village resort of Val d’Allos
Val d’Allos le Seignus boasts Alpine peaks in the mild Haute-Provence climate. Right in the heart of the Mercantour, Lac d’Allos, the jewel in the crown of the village, is the largest natural lake at an altitude of 2,228 metres, covering 54 hectares and 48 metres in depth. A real bonus for the summer! For the little ones, the resort offers pushchair hire.
Savoie
#4 – Sainte Foy Tarentaise
On the border with Italy, close to the Mont and Rocher Blanc passes, the resort of Sainte Foy Tarentaise offers the charm of its centuries-old hamlets. 11,000 hectares of contrasting terrain between 890 m and 3,746 m at La Grande Sassière. It’s an ideal place to stay in summer, when you can explore the mountain pastures and discover a rich cultural heritage.
Pyrénées-Orientales
#5 – The village resort of Les Angles
On the Capcir plateau in the north of the Pyrénées-Orientales, on the highest cultivated plain in Europe, lies the village of Les Angles, dominated by the Péric and Madres peaks. This is a land of hiking, horse-riding and dog-sledding, even in summer, in the Matte forest. In the resort, an eventful month of August awaits you with the “Festicatal’Angles”, packed with traditional Catalan festivals, as well as the shepherds’ meeting at the end of August.
Savoie
#6 – The village resort of Arêches-Beaufort
Well known for its cheese, Beaufort, and the famous Pierra Menta, the resort of Arêches is full of possibilities in summer. Hikes with 360° panoramic views of Mont Blanc, tastings of delicious local produce and typical Beaufortain architecture: it’s what Roger Frison-Roche called the “little French Tyrol”.
Haut-Rhin
#7 – The village resort of Lac Blanc
The Lac Blanc resort clings to the Alsatian side of the Vosges mountains. In the natural heart of the Ballon des Vosges, nature invites you to get away from it all, particularly in summer. As well as the glacial cirque of Lac Blanc, the typical villages of the Kaysersberg and Orbey valleys offer the charm and tradition of authentic Alsace. A must-try is the barefoot trail at Lac Blanc, where you can rediscover the feeling of being at one with nature.
Isère
#8 – The village resort of Vaujany
An authentic mountain village, Vaujany has plenty to offer in summer. Facing the Grandes Rousses massif, the resort offers an ideal summer setting for families.
Savoie
#9 – Saint-Sorlin d’Arves
Saint-Sorlin d’Arves is a picturesque village resort in the Maurienne, at the foot of the Col de la Croix de Fer and facing the Etendard glacier. In summer, cycling fans can enjoy the mountain bike pack or the week-long cyclo holiday, usually between the Tour de France and the Arvan Villards cyclosportive.
