Author: Romain Boisaubert

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In the midst of a summer that is already well underway, the resort of Les Arcs is showing definite dynamism, buoyed by new activities, encouraging visitor numbers and a clear determination to extend the summer season. Éric Chevalier, Director of the Bourg-Saint-Maurice - Les Arcs Tourist Office, is at the helm of this growing momentum, and gives us an overview of a destination that is embracing its four-season approach. "We feel that we're returning to a certain normality, after a very complicated summer in 2024, with dull weather, the Olympic Games and legislative elections. The beginning of July got off to a good start. The...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - At first glance, the façade is discreet, almost hidden behind the sunny terrace. But as soon as you step through the door, you're in for a world tour. Since December 2023, "NAWI Restaurant" in Arc 1600 has been offering a unique culinary experience: resort cuisine unlike any other, the result of a deliberate blending of Benin, Savoyard traditions and recipes from around the world. At the helm is Nadège Le Mazier, a pastry chef by training, a self-taught chef and a one-woman band in both the kitchen and the dining room. "I'm...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Established seven years ago in Arc 1600, "La Pierre Blanche" is much more than a pastry shop: it's a landmark for the locals, a warm stop-off for holidaymakers, and the life project of Louise Truptil and her husband, both of whom fell in love with the mountains. It's one of the first smells that greets you as you leave the funicular. The smell of warm bread, melted butter on a brioche, steaming coffee being served at seven o'clock in the morning. "But it wasn't easy at first... We'd just had...

Briançon (Serre Chevalier) - When the verses of La Fontaine resonate between the old stones of the Cité Vauban, a whole area of heritage comes to life, sublimated by the magic of the stage. From 25 July to 14 August 2025, the ramparts of the Porte d'Embrun will host fifteen exceptional performances of the musical comedy Oh! La Fontaine. A show for the general public that has become an essential part of the summer cultural scene in the Hautes-Alpes. LIRE AUSSI : Serre Chevalier: artists, programme, prices... Everything you need to know about Arty Colors 2025 Each evening, spectators are invited to take their seats at the foot of the...

Les Karellis - Nestling between two mountains in the heart of the Maurienne valley, the resort of Les Karellis continues to transform itself with discretion and ambition. At the heart of this transformation is a new living space: "Aquarellis", a brand new aquatic area, designed to offer a fun, family-friendly and soothing experience, summer and winter alike. The first holidaymakers in July were able to dive right in. A large pool, slides, a paddling pool for the little ones and a vast wellness area now complete the resort's offer. Here, water becomes an extension of the landscape, another way of living...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Nestling in Arc 1800, not far from the ski lifts, "Le Dream Spot" has all the makings of a must-visit spot. Not because of its size - around forty covers in the dining room, a sun-drenched terrace - but because of the soul that goes into it. Johnny Carlier and his wife come from the Gers and have been here for four years after a long break on the Atlantic coast. "We spent seasons here in the 2000s, and we always missed the mountains. So we came back. And this return to their Alpine roots has not...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - On the rue Capitaine Desserteaux, the warm smell of fresh waffles mingles with the fruity flavours of traditional ice creams. Behind the discreet front of the "Dôme des Glaciers" lies much more than just a summer sweet shop: it's a genuine mountain workshop, rooted in the seasons, the land and a taste for things well done. The adventure began with Frédéric Vogel and Valérie Lelong-Favre, both from Haute-Savoie, but who moved to Bourg-Saint-Maurice several years ago. Frédéric, a ski patroller in winter, started farming fruit seven years ago...

Pralognan-la-Vanoise - A new chapter is opening up for this iconic Savoyard resort, nestling at the foot of the Vanoise National Park. The town council has just entrusted the development and operation of its mountain resort to Compagnie des Alpes (CDA), a major player in alpine tourism, for the next twenty-five years. Dominique Thillaud, the group's managing director, hailed "the trust placed in us by an exceptional region" and said it was "a source of great pride" for his teams. For the CDA, this public service contract strengthens an already solid portfolio of emblematic resorts, by integrating a site with a unique profile, still firmly rooted in the...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Just at the top of the Varet cable car, where the view of Mont Blanc is lost and the Aiguille Rouge cable car rises like a promise of ascent, a coffee shop unlike any other has discreetly made its mark on the Arc 2000 landscape. Its name: "B.o.B", for "Beautiful Organic Break". As soon as you step out onto the terrace, the charm takes hold. The panorama is total, the light cuts through the peaks, and you can already see the intelligence of the place: here, everything has been thought out to combine speed, quality and hospitality, in a setting open to the...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - You can barely make it out, a thread stretching between the crests of the Col de la Chal and the heights of Arc 2000. But all you have to do is raise your eyes to the sky, or put your ear to the ground, to hear the muffled cries of the daredevils who take the plunge. Here, at an altitude of 2600 metres, in the heart of the Haute-Tarentaise, the Aiguille Rouge zip line offers a unique aerial experience, combining alpine thrills and technical prowess. "It's 1,800 metres long, starting at a 30-degree angle. That's huge for a zip line: you're on a maximum gradient...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - There are places that sum up the history of a resort. In Arc 1800, the Hôtel du Golf is not just an accommodation establishment: it's an institution, an emblematic address, built at the very beginning of the Les Arcs adventure. It was the resort's first hotel, opened in 1972, and has continued to evolve with the times ever since. Today, with the summer season in full swing, a smooth handover is taking place between Stéphane Guichet, manager for the last four years, and Mahir Devinck, who will officially take over in September. Located right in the centre of...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In the shadow of the mountain peaks, between 1600 and 3200 metres altitude, summer is invented differently. Far from the hustle and bustle of the coast, the three resorts of Les Arcs are a veritable city of leisure in the heart of the mountains, where pure air mingles with the joyful cries of children, and where the paths, pools, suspended walkways and inflatable structures become the terrain for an XXL family adventure. At the heart of this resort, which was designed from the outset to offer an intense summer experience, more than 30 different activities will be on offer in 2025, led by "HERO Les Arcs" and its 150 instructors...

At the gateway to Switzerland, nestling in the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, Les Rousses is planning a summer 2025 that reflects its image: active, refreshing, lively - and resolutely committed. The first French resort to be awarded the Flocon Vert label, Les Rousses harmoniously combines responsible tourism, a living heritage and nature immersion, between high-altitude lakes and panoramic peaks. Two high altitude jewels to refresh yourself The lakes of Les Rousses (1,050 m) and Lamoura (1,100 m) offer perfect days out for families, with supervised swimming, a water sports centre (canoe, kayak, pedalo, single or giant paddle), games, picnic areas and restaurants at...

With its breathtaking scenery, exceptional biodiversity and legendary trails, the Parc national des Écrins is much more than just a natural area: it's a world apart. Situated between the northern and southern Alps, it offers 740 kilometres of trails, peaks over 3,000 metres and spectacular valleys for those who want to experience the mountains in their most authentic form. Here's why you absolutely must (re)discover it this summer. 1. A paradise for hiking in all its forms From long family walks to challenging climbs...

In the heart of the 3 Valleys, where the forests open out onto infinite horizons, Méribel is home to an unsuspected treasure. The Plan de Tuéda nature reserve, a jewel box of biodiversity nestling between the eponymous lake and the Gébroulaz glacier, is much more than a protected site: it's a permanent invitation to marvel. Created in 1990, this unspoilt oasis extends over 1,100 hectares of varied landscape, home to 545 plant species and almost 400 animal species. Here, black grouse meet the discreet flight of spotted nutcrackers, while alpine newts, viviparous lizards, rare butterflies and cordula dragonflies live...

While the big Alpine resorts attract the crowds every winter, some mountain villages have managed to retain their authenticity and charm of yesteryear. With their stone and wood chalets, picturesque lanes and breathtaking scenery, these villages offer an immersion in Alpine history and culture. Here are ten must-see nuggets. 1. Bonneval-sur-Arc, the pearl at the end of the world Perched at an altitude of over 1,700 metres in the Haute-Maurienne, Bonneval-sur-Arc seems frozen in time. Its stone houses with lauze roofs, cobbled streets and unspoilt atmosphere have earned it a place among the world's most beautiful villages.

On Thursday 24 July, the Tour de France comes to Courchevel. The famous Savoyard resort is preparing to welcome the finish of the 18th stage of the 112th edition of the Grande Boucle, with an unprecedented ascent of the Col de la Loze on the Courchevel side. A first, and not the least: 26.2 kilometres of climbing at an average gradient of 6.5 %, without the slightest respite. One of the most eagerly awaited moments of this Tour, to be experienced from the summits... or from the shores of a lake. A historic day at an altitude of 2,304 metres This dreaded climb - which could...

At Tignes, summer isn't lived by halves. The Savoyard resort continues to diversify its range of winter sports, adventure and outdoor activities to appeal to experienced sportsmen and women, curious families and thrill-seekers alike. On the programme this season: zip-lines, all-terrain scooters, a panoramic funicular railway and even a brand new Olympic plain. Here's a rundown of the new features you won't want to miss. ALSO READ: "We broke a new visitor record this winter": Frédéric Porte (Tignes) in Le Petit Montagnard 1. L'Aventure Park: a suspended course for soaring to new heights This is the summer's star attraction. Inaugurated...

Gone are the days of lining up parasols on the hot sand and waiting hours for a table by the beach. This summer, people are turning their attention to higher ground. According to a ranking by comparison site Likibu, the destination most coveted by the French for the summer of 2025 is not a seaside resort... but the roof of Europe itself. With over 1.1 million searches, Mont Blanc is the cool, wild escape of the season. There are no crowds here, just peaks covered in snow even in July, fat grass underfoot, and that unique feeling of being tiny in front of...

A major project is about to transform access to the Les Arcs ski area from Villaroger. From December 2025, a new gondola will link Le Replat (1,200 m) to the summit of Plan des Violettes (2,119 m) in less than seven minutes. A considerable time saving, made possible by an investment of 19 million euros, and signalling Villaroger's entry into a new era. The new lift, comprising forty ten-seater cabins with external ski racks, will replace the old fixed-grip chairlifts at Replat and Plan des Violettes, which were deemed too slow and uncomfortable. It will offer a...