Some appointments stand the test of time. On July 25th and 26th, the village of Courchevel Le Praz hosts one of the valley's most iconic festivals: the Festival of the Madelon. For one weekend, locals, artisans, producers, and visitors come together by the lake and in the alleyways to bring to life traditions deeply rooted in local history.
The beating heart of the event is the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine chapel. Dating from the 15th century, it houses remarkable Baroque works, testaments to the village's rich religious and artistic heritage. It is in honour of Saint Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of the place, that the festival has been celebrated since the Middle Ages, perpetuating a long popular tradition.
Behind this longevity are inhabitants committed to transmitting local memory, particularly within the association La Route des Tommes, which focuses on recounting life in the past and the transalpine exchanges that shaped the region.
Soup's on! A collective ritual
The absolute symbol of the Madelon, the popular soup mobilises volunteers from the day before. It simmers in an impressive 600-litre cauldron, set up in front of the chapel.
Broad beans, split peas, seasonal vegetables, potatoes, sausages, bacon and ham hocks make up this recipe passed down through generations. Stirred relentlessly for hours, it is then served in bread bowls, perpetuating an ancestral practice.
Volunteers and local residents are taking part in this collective preparation, which goes far beyond a simple meal. When the soup is shared, the festival truly comes into its own: a time for meeting and conviviality where visitors and locals come together around a unifying ritual.
Accordions, Alpine horns, dances under the lanterns
While tradition is at the heart of the Madelon festival, it remains a joyous celebration. As night falls, concerts and traditional music bring the village to life. Accordions, Alpine horns and festive groups make the streets of Le Praz resonate, where people dance and sing under the lanterns. It's a warm, intergenerational moment where heritage is experienced as much as it is celebrated.
La Madelonne also revives a little-known part of Savoyard history: that of the muleteer caravans that, until the beginning of the 20th century, crossed the Alps to sell their cheeses in Italy. A memory now carried by the La Route des Tommes association, present at the festival.
Every September, she undertakes an iconic journey along this transalpine route once trodden by ancients. Carried out on foot and with mules, this trip pays homage to a time when the mountains were first and foremost a space of work, exchange and solidarity.
Find out more :
- Dates : Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July
- Location: Courchevel Le Praz, by the lake and in the village lanes
- Not to be missed: the soup kitchen prepared in a 600-litre cauldron, in front of the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine chapel
- Animations : concerts, traditional music and evening dance