The Ultimate Guide to St Martin de Belleville

Acting as a hidden gateway to the Three Valleys, St-Martin-de-Belleville is a traditional village which has developed into a mini-resort, just down the valley from its offspring Les Menuires. Whilst Les Menuires is purpose-built with towering apartment blocks, St Martin is anything but. Centred around an old church, the village is visually attractive with ancient wood-and-stone clad buildings and traditional-style chalets lining the narrow streets. Tempting visitors back time and time again, St-Martin-de-Belleville has an authentic soul whilst offering an inspiring, yet never ostentatious, level of luxury.

The Belleville valley is renowned for being one of the most reliable in the whole of the Three Valleys when it comes to snow cover. Access to the vast 600 km ski area is via a speedy gondola, so you can reach the heart of the Three Valleys in no time at all, whilst enjoying a quiet, traditional Savoyard experience away from the hustle and bustle of larger ski resorts. Well-suited to families, there is little in the way of après-ski here so bear in mind this is not a resort for party goers…!

Situated in the Belleville valley along with Les Menuires and Val Thorens, St-Martin-de-Belleville offers something for skiers and boarders of all levels. At the foot of the slopes is a dedicated beginner slope with blue runs to progress to just above. With its famous rollers, one of the most popular runs is Jerusalem, taking you from the Meribel ridge back down into the resort. For the more experienced, there’s a fantastic patrolled off-piste section ‘Liberty Ride’ above the resort, and of course, acres of terrain to explore further afield in the Three Valleys.

In fact, St-Martin-de-Belleville is one of the best connected resorts in the Three Valleys. It takes less than 15 minutes to reach the ridge separating St-Martin-de-Belleville and Meribel. From here, you can ski back down to the resort on a variety of blues and reds, down to Les Menuires, or into Meribel and on to Courchevel. The sheer volume of skiing on offer is staggering.

Aside from skiing, there are plenty of alternative activities to enjoy during your stay from snowshoe treks at night to dog sled rides and microlight flights.

For a small village, St-Martin-de-Belleville has a surprising number of excellent dining options. On the mountain enjoy wonderful views from Le Corberleys, a traditional family-run restaurant serving a variety of Savoyard dishes. Perched at 2,300 metres, Maya Altitude on the Tougnète chairlift serves high-end brasserie fare. Enjoy dishes prepared on a charcoal grill or in a Tandoor oven. Located on the Biolley piste on the way back to Saint Martin, La Loy is a popular spot to stop for a drink or a delicious snack. The menu is centred around regional produce with classics such as tartiflette, charcuterie and steak frites on offer.

In town, the centrally-located La Voute is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. Open daily for lunch and dinner, the menu varies from pizza and burgers to snails in garlic butter and frog leg fricassee if you’re feeling adventurous! For a cosy dinner, Le Montagnard serves innovative Savoyard dishes in a historical setting. Another favourite for lunch and dinner is Au Toré, a family-friendly restaurant in the LODJI Hotel with spectacular views from the terrace. s. A relative newcomer to the scene, Le Simple & Meilleur has a bistro, tapas bar and a lounge bar, perfect for an aperitif.