Short tour of Courchevel's secret hamlets

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.

ESPACE VTT 
Alpinium 
Le Praz 
73120 COURCHEVEL

+33 (0)6.18.08.18.41

Le Praz is situated at the highest point of your route, at the first level of ski resorts in Courchevel Valley.
A pretty little village, typical of the Savoie region and steeped in history, it is the only village to be built on a projecting ledge and used to be one of the most active farming sites of the whole municipality. A gondola connects it to the slopes of the 3 Vallées ski area. It has retained an authentic, charming atmosphere with picturesque chalets, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Chapel, narrow lanes and surrounding spruce forest. Rue des Beauforts is a street where a few traditional houses can still be spied as well as an old cheese dairy going by the same name. What's distinctive about the village are the Olympic ski jumps around it, which were used during the 1992 Winter Olympics. There are four in total, 25m, 60m, 90m and 120m, which makes it the best equipped ski jumping facility in France. The 120m jump is even unique in France. Major competitions are still hosted here, not least the Ski Jumping World Cup, and it is also a training centre for French and international teams. There is a permanent exhibition on display for learning more about the history of the site and this sport. You can even go up to the top of the Olympic jumps by climbing the steps. And why not treat yourself to a relaxing few hours around the laid-out banks of Le Praz natural lake, which is ideal for walks or fishing!

Saint-Bon is divided into two distinct districts, separated by the B road running through it: Saint-Bon-Le-Haut and Saint-Bon-Le-Bas.
Set off to see the Baroque church of Saint-Bon and go for a wander around the little streets in search of Place du Mollard (where you'll be rewarded with a sweeping view over the valley), the village's old communal oven (which now houses the still), the old mill, the old cheese dairy and holiday homes mostly dating back to the 19th century. Admire the unassuming architecture of the houses and barn-stables built by local families who skilfully adapted their working tools to the harsh terrain, and made their living almost entirely from farming and livestock rearing right up until the mid 20th century.
Dating back to 1870, Saint-Bon Town Hall is a unique example of Sardinian neoclassical civil architecture in the Tarentaise area. Built in the 17th century, the Baroque church of Saint-Bon has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1972 and is included on the "Chemins du Baroque®" route, which illustrates the wealth of Baroque art in Savoie.