0
St Martin de Belleville Ski Resort
If you’re looking for serious charm, you’ll find St. Martin is the easily most quaint, idyllic and traditionally French resort in the 3 Valleys which has upheld the character of its history dating back to as early as the sixteenth century.
The pretty old parish church in the centre and seventeenth century Notre Dame de la Vie sanctuary on the outskirts are striking monuments to the village’s heritage and instead of bulky hotels you’ll find chalets converted from old farm buildings.
This picturesque little postcard village was finally linked by ski lifts in 1983 and nowadays is calm and low-key, with all the necessary facilities you’d find in a more built-up resort.
Many skiers flock to the village for lunch since the restaurants here are especially revered for their high quality, especially two Michelin starred La Bouitte.
There’s a good selection of bars and with the après most suited to those who like a quiet fireside sherry, the resort is terrific for groups, families and couples who fancy a relaxed stay in the mountains.
An 8-seater gondola journey up the mountain followed by a speedy chairlift provide a gateway to an absolute wealth of skiing and snowboarding opportunities across the 3 Valleys.
Slopes running straight down into the centre means doorstep skiing is potential.
There’s enough in the St. Martin/Les Menuires area to keep beginners occupied but intermediates and experts might want to consider upgrading to a comprehensive 3 Valleys pass so that they can ski right down to Meribel from the Tougnete summit, then over to Courchevel or the snow-sure glacial slopes in Val Thorens.
This amounts to a whopping total of 600km worth of pistes to explore in the biggest linked ski area in the world – need we say more?
Stats & FAQ
Location: France, Alps
Established: 1983
Open: December - April
Downhill: 160km
View our detailed St Martin de Belleville snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our St Martin de Belleville snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva | 140mins, 183km |
| Lyon | 140mins, 180km |
| Chambery | 80mins, 104km |
|
|
| Top Altitude: | 2850m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1450m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1450m |
| Longest run: | 8km |
| Slope Orientation: | SE E N W |
| Vertical Drop: | 1400m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1400m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | in Val Thorens |
Snow Report
Web Cam
|
|
| Downhill Runs: | 160km |
| Beginner slopes: | 53% |
| Intermediate: | 36% |
| Advanced slopes: | 9% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €217 (adult 6-day) |
| Nearby resorts: Les Menuires, Val Thorens, Meribel, Courchevel, La Tania, Brides les Bains, Three Valleys | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in St Martin de Belleville
As part of the largest ski resort in the world, naturally the skiing potential is ginormous (and the views are stunning too).
There’s a nursery area at the foot of the village which features a free lift for the benefit of first timers.
Ski lessons with English-speaking instructors are available to book for ages 3 years and up. Beginners can then try out the wide blue runs above the village like the ‘Biolley’ down from the first gondola.
Intermediates are beyond spoilt for choice here, with a humongous array of blues and reds over and across the valleys.
There’s an outstanding choice of red runs down from the Saulire summit above Meribel. Closer to home, the ‘Jerusalem’ which winds its way down towards the village might just be the best rollercoaster red in the 3 Valleys.
Meanwhile, advanced skiers will revel in the quality black runs they find across the mountain range. There are seven black runs in the St. Martin/Les Menuires area; test the moguls down the 2km ‘Leo Lacroix’ or try your might down the sharp runs from the Point de la Masse at 2804m altitude.
As you might expect given the expansive terrain, off-piste opportunities are marvellous, with fresh powder lingering untouched for weeks on end. Make the most of it and hire a local mountain guide with insider knowledge to show you to the very best snow in safety.
Snowboarders will be more than happy here too considering the majority of terrain is navigated by modern chairlifts.
There are great snowparks to try over in Les Menuires, such as the B.K Park for all abilities and the waving runs down the Acticross. If you cross over to Meribel you’ll find airbags, a Boardercross and more – hit the rails and get yourself filmed jumping big air kickers at the Moon Park.
St Martin de Belleville Apres Ski
Kick off après in Le Dahlia at the bottom of the lifts with a great choice of beverages, from beers to mulled wine - they also screen international sports games. L'Eterlou at the foot of the lifts and The Joker Bar in the centre are good alternatives for a cheeky drink or two at happy hour. Looking for a classy way to relax? Warm up by the fire in the modern Porquoi Pas and try a bottle from their wine cellar.
The star attraction of the restaurants here is the two Michelin starred La Bouitte where you can enjoy delicious French specialties in their warm wooden chalet. There are a bunch of huts for a mountain lunch stop; Le Corbeleys is at the top of the gondola and serves homemade regional dishes. For tasty Savoyard fondue and raclette, Le Montagnard is another smashing eatery. A classic pizzeria is La Voûte, and Le Billig is good for crepes and other snacks.
There are some great options for non-skiers - a spa in the village has a swimming pool, hot tubs, saunas and bookable treatments and another in nearby hamlet Saint Marcel offers therapies based on the local environment and hot stone massages. You can find out about the rich history of the St. Martin in the village museum. Try something new and go dog sledding along paths to the Burdin Mill or take off snowshoeing up the mountain for stunning views. You can also reach a sport centre and cinema over in Les Menuires.
Best time to go
Best time to ski St Martin de Belleville
Best time to visit & ski St Martin de Belleville
With access to such a huge range slopes at admirable altitudes there is rarely a bad time to ski from December to April. The slopes in Les Menuires lie above altitudes of 1850m to provide conditions which are seldom a let-down. The tourist office presents their own ‘Ski Guarantee’ logo because of how sure they are of the conditions and at towering summits up to 2850m altitude it’s not hard to see why.
You also have Meribel to explore which has 80% of its pistes above 1,800m. If that’s not all convincing enough you have skiiable access to Val Thorens from St. Martin, renowned for being the highest resort in Europe – it doesn’t get much more snow-sure than that!
Different orientations of slopes means you can enjoy sunny skiing in the day before finding the shaded north facing runs in the afternoon. History shows that snow depths are usually at their absolute peak between February and March, so you can probably expect plenty of fresh snowfall around these dates.
Peak Dates
Stay in the authentic village of St Martin De Belleville at Christmas and enjoy a white Christmas on the slopes. You’ll be enchanted by the Christmas-card sceneries and a wonderful vibe for this festive occasion.
Escape to the Alps for New Year in St Martin De Belleville and enjoy the peace of this winter wonderland. Head over to Les Menuires to catch the midnight fireworks and ski in the New Year in these amazing mountains.
Spend your February Half Term in St Martin De Belleville and enjoy lodging in the most traditional spot of the 3 Valleys. Snow conditions should be top notch at this time of year so you can enjoy magnificent skiing in a week on the mountains.
Things should be nice and sunny for the end of season at Easter in St Martin De Belleville. Save some Easter egg for the slopes where the scenery should be looking glamorous as ever.
Families in St Martin de Belleville
Families are sure to enjoy the tranquillity of this friendly little village.
The ESF ski school will take on kids from ages 3 and up in their ‘Piou Piou’ clubs. Children are safely looked after by English speaking instructors as they have fun sledging, playing games and learning to ski in groups down the gentle greens in the village. Private tuition is also available for both adults and children to get beginners up the slopes in no time – book lessons as a family if you all want to learn and improve together.
For a real fun factor there’s a brilliant 4km toboggan run down the Les Menuires slopes called the Roc’n Bob. Other snowparks in the area are good for young freestyle enthusiasts – the Walibi Gliss is built around a cartoon mascot with themed musical challenges and novice-friendly obstacles.
We have some fantastic properties just a minute away from the ski school, meaning you won’t have to carry equipment very far at all. Look for a hotel with excellent facilities that will cater for your meals so you can relax and put your feet up. Alternatively you can save a bit of money if you don’t mind preparing your own meals in a self-catered apartment, some of which come with luxury facilities as well.
Our holiday packages with flights, transfers and channel crossings keep things all together to make booking your holiday nice and simple. We fly from over two dozen locations across the UK – select your most convenient airport in the search below. Why not give our friendly holiday experts a call - we’ll help you find the best place to stay for a fantastic skiing trip together.
GroupsGroup Holidays St Martin de Belleville
St Martin is an ideal destination for groups looking for a quiet base with traditional character in the 3 Valleys. With direct access to over 600km of slopes to across legendary resorts including Val Thorens, Meribel and Courchevel, there’s an unbelievable amount to see and ski during a week here.
Groups that are big enough can book out entire chalets for sole occupancy, or hotels with plenty of vacancies are a good idea in case any stragglers want to join in and book at the last second. Groups love the Hotel Alp which is a lovely venue, right next to the gondolas for that prised doorstep skiing. Otherwise look for larger apartments and cook your own meals together. We recommend Les Chalets Du Gypse which have charming chalet style interiors in a central location.
First timers can book private or groups lessons and practise on the small gentle greens at the foot of the village. Beginners will appreciate the huge amount of blues that can be covered – the ‘Biolley’ run on the home stretch is good for a developing confidence. Intermediates are in paradise here with an incredible amount to explore including loads and loads of great red runs – the long and waving ‘Jerusalem’ is a real pleasure to ski on the way back. As for experts there’s a great selection of steep black runs to be found across the valleys. The Point de la Masse summit is an ace spot with speedy black slopes to shoot down like the ‘Lac Noir’.
Meet up for a winter warmer back at camp in Le Dahlia, a local favourite bar at the foot of the slopes. For something a little quieter, sit down with sherry by the fireside together in the classy Pourquoi Pas – why not?
Those in the group that don’t ski or just fancy doing something a bit different might be interested in a showshoeing excursion up the mountain for some fantastic sights over and across Les Menuires. Soak in a bit of culture in the local museum or take a day to relax in one of two modern spas in the area with massage, body and facial treatments.
We’ve got top notch deals on holiday packages which include flights and transfers or channel crossings. If everyone’s coming from different locations, you might want to consider booking one of our accommodation only options. Call our friendly experts today and we’ll help you organise your group holiday with ease at discount prices.
© 2024 SNO Group Ltd • company no. 5995288 • VAT no. 946 9394 63 SNO, Apsley House, 176 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 2SH.
| why log in? |
Save Wish List view on any device
Share Holidays choose with friends
020 7770 6888
