Author: Romain Boisaubert

Aurore Levivier's colourful stand, filled with mountain scents and floral fragrances, attracts visitors to the Tignes market on the Promenade de Tovière with a smile that says a lot about her passion. Meet her. Her "Altimousse" brand was born two years ago, almost by chance, after the birth of her child. I'd always liked to make my own soaps," she says, "I used to make them for family and friends... After I got pregnant, everyone told me: go ahead, make your own! Today, "Altimousse" has established itself as a small artisanal factory that combines expertise with respect for the environment. The raw materials are chosen...

Right on the edge of the lake, facing the mountains of Tignes, Lo Terrachu cultivates the art of welcoming with simplicity. In summer, the terrace is always busy: bikers passing through, regulars who have come here to take a breath of fresh air away from the valley, and holidaymakers looking for a friendly break all gather here for a no-fuss lunch, a musical aperitif or an impromptu barbecue evening. The restaurant, one of the oldest buildings in the resort, is run by an atypical duo. "Originally, I wasn't a chef at all," says Thibaut Pomarat, now the restaurant's sous-chef. A former snowpark builder and snow clearance machine driver, he is now the...

In Tignes, sport is more than just a tourist attraction: it's a veritable local culture. For a century, the Club des Sports has been training generations of young people, supporting top-level athletes and bringing life to the resort in both summer and winter. Founded in 1924 and celebrated in style last year for its centenary, the Tignes Sports Club has always been at the heart of local life. "Our mission is to train, support and revitalise the resort," explains Cyril Nocenti, the club's sports coordinator. With its 21 coaches and 250 young members, it remains a key player in the...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - You have to look up, follow the ridges, go past the wooded edge, and climb again until you reach the middle of the Transarc. Up there, between wooden footbridges and banked bends, a brand new playground has opened this summer 2025: a three-kilometre Mountain Kart track, designed to take you down the mountain in a whole new way. We tested this activity for you, which combines sliding, speed... and lots of laughs. At Arc 1800, the start area comes alive at 10am. A helmet, a quick briefing and off you go for a seated descent at...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Long before the boom in ski resorts and winter sports, the Bourg Saint Maurice valley had a completely different economy: agriculture and itinerant trade. "We often forget that our region was first and foremost a place of passage, strategic since ancient times," explains Jean-Marie Chevronnet, guide and lecturer for Les Arcs Bourg Saint Maurice Tourisme. "A Roman road already linked Vienne to the Italian Piedmont. Farming, centred on the Tarine cow, gave rise to a flagship product: Beaufort. This hard cheese, now a PDO, was made in gigantic wheels weighing between 80 and 90 kg. "It was...

Last summer, the Rocherousse plateau discovered its very first "Roule Ma Boule" course. It was an instant success, with 98 % of holidaymakers asking for more. Twelve months later, the resort has thought big: a course six times longer, integrated into the magical world of the Monde des 6 Lacs. The new course doesn't just offer a longer version of the experience: it tells a story. It's the story of a lammergeier and a dragon whose eggs have accidentally got mixed up. This playful plot, designed to appeal to young and old alike, is in keeping with the resort's family identity and the story of the World of...

When holiday budgets are tight, some destinations make all the difference. At l'Alpe d'Huez, there's no need to pull out your wallet for every activity: the resort offers more than twenty activities and leisure activities free of charge all summer long. In the heart of the Oisans region, l'Alpe d'Huez has established itself as a family and sports destination where you can enjoy activities without breaking the bank. The resort offers a wide range of open-air facilities, including a skate park, beach volleyball court, petanque area and flowtrail for mountain bikers. As for nature, the famous Ronde des Lacs can be reached by a free shuttle bus, and it's possible to venture out...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - With just a few months to go before the end of his first term in office, the mayor of Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs, Guillaume Desrues, looks back on a positive year, marked by a determined ecological and economic transition. From the diversification of tourism to the fight against property speculation, he looks back on the achievements and major challenges that still lie ahead for the municipality. Your first term of office is drawing to a close. What is your assessment of it? We wanted to mark a genuine period of transition. From the outset, we were convinced that we could no longer carry on as before, both in terms of...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In her workshop-boutique in the heart of Bourg Saint Maurice, Sarah Zafrane shapes each wax petal with the patience and precision of a goldsmith. In just two years, her brand, ZoéZenCandle, has become a unique address, where people come for much more than just a candle: a unique object, crafted on the spot and imbued with traditional know-how. "ZoéZenCandle has been around for five years, but the shop opened just over two years ago. It's my very first business," says Sarah, who has been based in Bourg Saint Maurice for seven years. The native of the Isère region found her...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In mid-July, the doors of the "Friche Artistique et Solidaire" officially opened in the Alpins district. The association, led by Laure Mugnier, Hervé Barrioz and James Midol-Monnet, has taken possession of two former military buildings to breathe new life into them through art, community work and civic involvement. "Last year, we tried out two months' worth of events, including concerts, exhibitions, family evenings and discovery workshops. The idea was simple: to see if there was a demand. The immediate response was yes," says James Midol-Monnet. This initial experiment has now led to a three-year agreement with the city. The aim is to transform...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Under the silent gaze of the former walls of the 7th Battalion of Alpine Chasseurs, the Alpins district is undergoing an unprecedented change. For a long time a simple space with an uncertain vocation, it is now becoming the scene of a double movement: that of a teeming cultural creation and a concrete response to the housing crisis affecting the Haute Tarentaise. The association "La Friche Artistique et Solidaire" has taken up residence in two buildings that have been preserved from the former barracks. A place to live and create, designed to host artists' workshops, residencies, performances and experiments. Here, everything comes together: theatre, dance, arts...

The village of Courchevel Le Praz is getting ready to immerse itself in the festive atmosphere of yesteryear. On 26 and 27 July, the traditional Fête de la Madelon will set the heart of this Savoyard hamlet beating with its heritage, music and conviviality. Celebrated since the Middle Ages in honour of Saint Mary Magdalene, the village's patron saint, the Madelon has become a highlight of local life over the centuries. Around its 15th-century chapel, the villagers would gather to honour their customs and share a special community moment. Having fallen into disuse, the festival has now been revived by the association La Route...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Some buildings are at one with their resort. Addresses that seem to have been there forever, integrated into the landscape like a familiar landmark. In Arc 1600, "La Cachette" is one of those places that saw the birth of the modern mountain. Built in 1971, at the height of the golden age of integrated architecture, it was conceived from the outset as a link between accommodation, a shopping mall and the resort's nerve centre. But like so many others, this beautiful Savoyard hotel had fallen asleep. Until the Friendly Hotels family, led by Laurent Chelle - himself...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In the heart of the main shopping street in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, between lively terraces, bakeries, sports shops and souvenir stands, a red and white shop front is a real eye-catcher. Since June 2023, David's butcher's shop has been there, with its well-stocked windows and home-made products. Behind the counter, David and Mélanie Excoffier run the shop with passion, like a matter of course. He is originally from Pralognan, not far from here. "I've been a butcher since I was 14 years old", he says straightforwardly. A trade learnt on the job, during an apprenticeship, pursued without ever deviating....

Les 2 Alpes is not just a legendary winter sports resort. In summer too, the Isère resort unfurls its 360-degree charms: peaks at 3,400 metres, crystal-clear rivers, spectacular events and a vibrant atmosphere. If you're still hesitating between the mountains and the sea, here are five (excellent) reasons to pack your bags and head up there this summer. 1. Cool off... naturally Here, splash therapy takes on its full meaning. High altitude lakes, open-air pools, torrents and waterfalls: water is everywhere. It trickles, leaps and sparkles. Away from the crowded beaches, you can plunge into...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Deputy Mayor in charge of tourism and the economy and President of the Tourist Office, Laurent Chelle unveils his strategy to boost the summer season and position the destination as a benchmark in the mountains for all seasons. Soft mobility, cultural events and respect for the environment: the commune is banking on a diversified and sustainable offer to attract visitors and residents alike. Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs is a major winter destination. What strategy are you adopting to develop the summer appeal? We've always had this medium-term vision: to make our region attractive all year round.

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Its graphic façade, with touches of black and orange, contrasts with the traditional lines of Savoyard chalets. Just a stone's throw from the Bourg Saint Maurice TGV station, on the site of the former alpine chasseur barracks, the Base Camp Lodge has its own distinctive identity. The first-born of the Base Camp group, inaugurated in 2019, the establishment embodies the impetus of a living, open, modern mountain. Since September 2024, Alexia Castaldi has been its Executive Director. A seasoned professional, she trained in Bourg from 2022 as a receptionist, then went on to...

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...