Short tour of Courchevel's secret hamlets

10 points of interest

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  Water

  The Doron de Bozel

  Its name means “stream” in Savoyard patois, and it’s at the origin of a great many of the valley’s activities, including, hydroelectricity upstream and recreation (rafting and fishing) downstream.

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  History

  Le Fay hamlet

  This enchanting hamlet is one of the "Hameaux des Travers". The villages located at an altitude of between 860m and 970m on the North side of Saint-Bon Valley are so-called because they have been built across (travers in French) the northern slopes and were the first of the municipality's hamlets to be populated. Le Fay is the nearest hamlet to Bozel and set amidst woodland. It harbours a 17th century chapel dedicated to St Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, and to Our Lady of the Presentation. The hamlet's name perhaps refers to a place planted with fayards, a Savoyard term for beech trees.

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  History

  Le Grenier hamlet

  This is also one of the "Hameaux des Travers". It is one of the largest hamlets across the valley bottom. St Joseph's Chapel (17th century) stands at the village entrance. As you meander through its lanes, admire the myriad barn-stables and renovated houses. Families often had two properties: the village house for living in and the barn-stables for housing animals, and this is one of the distinctive features of this valley. The hamlet's name (loft) comes from the presence of these barns. There is a lovely view to admire over Bozel and Le Grand Bec (3,398m) mountain.

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  History

  Le Fontanil hamlet

  This is the only hamlet across the North side to have a rectangular central square. It was most likely created following the demolition of several houses and barn-stables. There is still a bachal (water basin) in this square, which gave villagers and their animals direct access to water. The hamlet also has a bread oven dating back to 1908 and is home to Notre-Dame de la Visitation Chapel. Built between 1857 and 1860 at the top of the village, it was knocked down then rebuilt at the bottom of the hamlet in 1987. Moving it meant that the road leading up to Courchevel could be widened.

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  History

  Le Grand and Le Petit Carrey hamlets

  As the first populated site in Saint-Bon, Le Grand Carrey has the oldest chapel in the municipality, dedicated to St Catherine (predates 1584). She is the patron saint of seamstresses, wool spinners, clothiers and barbers. Her feast day is on 25 November. It was in this hamlet, not far from the road used in Roman times to travel from Moûtiers to Bozel, that a pot filled with ancient bronze coins was discovered. A few metres further up, you'll reach Le Petit Carrey which still has its orchard and traces of old hayfields. With orchards situated so close to their villages, locals were able to eat fruit and nuts every day (apple, pear, plum, cherry and walnut trees) and harvest the hay that provided fodder for animals in winter.

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  History

  La Perrière Saint-Jean hamlet

  St Jean Baptiste's Church is included in the "Escapades Baroques des Alpes" initiative, aimed at showcasing Baroque heritage in the Alps. From this village, the lord governed the territory of La Perrière parish which was supervised by the Count-Archbishop of Tarentaise. The lord's residence can still be recognised today: look for a stately home bearing the date 1679.
  You'll perhaps be surprised to see a 1940 blockhouse on leaving the hamlet, which resembles the one opposite, in Montagny. These were structures along the Alpine Maginot Line to protect the upper Bozel Valley from Italian invasion via the Vanoise and Palet mountain passes, as well as the lower valley via the Petit Saint-Bernard pass.
  Church open to visitors in the afternoons.

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  History

  Villaflou hamlet

  Quintessential hamlet. Flowing through Villaflou, the old Roman estate of Fludualdus,is La Closettaz stream. The hamlet's guardian saint is St Anne, whose chapel stands opposite the renovated mill. The mill was used to grind grain for turning into flour (mainly rye, barley and oat flour).

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  History

  La Nouvaz hamlet

  The name of this hamlet refers to "newly cleared land". It is home to St Marguerite's Chapel, built in 1612 on land donated by residents. The hamlet's patron saint is celebrated on 20 July. Traditionally, she is the patron saint of pregnant women.
  In Latin, "Margaritae" means crown of pearls. You can have a peep inside through a gate. The façade on one of the houses in this hamlet is decorated with  milk churns and a hay or lumber cart.

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  History

  Le Freney hamlet

  Next to La Perrière is Le Freney (1,190m), which is surrounded by orchards and still harbours a chapel dedicated to St Anne (1680). She is the patron saint of joiners and carpenters. On her feast day, 26 July, artists have often portrayed her giving her daughter Mary reading lessons. The hamlet's name perhaps comes from a place planted with ash trees.
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  Know-how

  E-bike rental shop: Espace VTT

  ESPACE VTT 
  Alpinium 
  Le Praz 
  73120 COURCHEVEL

  
  +33 (0)6.18.08.18.41