St Martin de Belleville Luxury Chalets

St Martin de Belleville is a beautiful place to explore on foot. The village has little traffic and pretty, winding streets. The majority of attractions, shops and restaurants are accessible on foot, so you can maximise your opportunities to take in the fresh mountain ambience. There are also regular shuttle buses for bad weather days. If you feel like exploring, there are buses linking to Les Menuires and Val Thorens.

Travelling by car
It’s easy to drive to St Martin de Belleville, as it is just 20km from Moutiers. There are many free parking options throughout the village.

Travelling by train
Travelling by train to St Martin de Belleville is an environmentally friendly option, especially since you’re unlikely to need a car when you arrive. The nearest station is Moutiers Salins Brides-Les-Bains. There are convenient routes here via the Eurostar Snow and Eurostar + TGV. From Moutiers, you can take a 25-minute coach or taxi into the resort.

Airports
Chambery is the closest airport to St Martin de Belleville, but Geneva usually offers more convenience and choice for international flights. Lyon and Grenoble also offer good road and transport links.

Chambery (CMF) – 102km
By car –  1 hour 15 minutes
By bus/ train – 4 hours 10 minutes

Geneva (GVA) – 131km
By car –  2 hours
By bus/ train – 5 hours 17 minutes

Lyon (LYS) – 177km
By car –  2 hours
By train – 3 hours 36 minutes

Grenoble (GNB) – 168km
By car – 2 hours
By train – 5 hours

Transfer
There is a range of transfer options into St Martin de Belleville, including shuttle buses, private cars, and heli-transfers.

While you won’t find the pumping nightlife of its neighbours, Apres Ski in St Martin de Belleville is all about creating new experiences and bringing people together.

Before you change out of your salopettes, why not warm up with a spicy tipple or some boot-stomping fun?
• La Dahlia is at the foot of the slopes and is a first stop for many on their way back to their St Martin de Belleville chalets. Sit in the sun with a vin chaud and watch the skiers make their last turns of the day.
• Enjoy the legendary Folie Douce or lively 360 Bar in Val Thorens then take the last shuttle home at 18.15.
• Maya Altitude hosts regular DJ sets on their sunny terrace.

If you’re looking for an aperitif, friendly pubs and stylish bars are what St Martin de Belleville does best.
• Le Lodji Hotel has a lovely wooden bar perfect for curling up with a glass of wine.
• The piano bar at the M Lodge is a glamorous spot for a cocktail. Their plush décor and 100-bottle wall boasts a huge collection of rums, whiskies, wines, and rare spirits.
• Sip and graze at Simple et Meilleur. They have a fabulous wine bar as well as tasty tapas and sharing boards.

St Martin de Belleville doesn’t have any nightclubs but does have a few lively spots open until the small hours.
• Porquoi Pas (also known as P Bar) is a crowd favourite, with regular events and live music throughout the week.
• If you want to continue the night, Les Menuires and Val Thorens are a taxi ride away.

St Martin de Belleville links into the 3 Valleys- the largest interconnected ski area in the world, giving you access to a whopping 60km of piste. The gentle blues surrounding the resort are perfect for beginners, while the super-fast gondolas open up an endless playground for intermediate and advanced skiers.

The ski area
Skiers with more than a few weeks under their belt should invest in a 3 Valleys lift pass to get the most out of their trip. But there are 160km of piste in the St Martin/ Les Menuires area alone. The St Martin gondolas will whisk you up the mountain and from here you have several options:

• Build up your snow legs on the pretty reds and blues around St Martin.
• Ski down to Les Menuires. Here you’ll find a fun mix of reds and blues, as well as some challenging terrain on La Masse. From here there are several different routes that’ll take you up to Val Thorens.
• Turn left and head down to Meribel. Or take the scenic route and freeride down the Meribel ridge. From here, Courchevel is just a couple of lifts away.

Boarders
Newer boarders will love the pretty pistes around St Martin de Belleville, perfect for feeling like you’ve explored the mountain without having to stray too far from your luxury chalet. But the area around town is also great for freeriding. Thanks to its secluded position in the 3 Valleys, there’s a high chance you’ll make the first tracks on fresh powder. You’ll also find 2 ‘liberty rides’ around St Martin and Les Menuiers. These marked but ungroomed pistes allow you to experience off-piste with lower risk.

But it’s the vast 3 Valleys that is the main draw here. Varied and well-maintained pistes guarantee a fantastic week for all levels. Generally, the ski area is well set up for snowboarders, but watch out for some drags and cat tracks, particularly when heading towards Meribel. Finish your day with the long and wide Jerusalem run home. It has lots of natural side hits and will lead you into the centre of town just in time for apres.

St Martin de Belleville doesn’t have its own snow park, but you’ll find fantastic options in both Meribel and Val Thorens.

Beginners
Beginners will be well looked after in St Martin de Belleville. The commute to the slopes is short thanks to a nursery area at the bottom of the slopes, complete with two magic carpets.

When you’re ready to progress, the sweeping runs above the village are the perfect next step. Start with the green pistes in Les Menuires. La Violette is a long and mellow run that’ll make you feel like you’ve clocked up some miles. If you’re confident on blues towards the end of the week, you’ll have more than enough in St Martin and Les Menuires to keep you occupied. Enjoy the popular Jerusalem run or take in the glorious views from the top of the Grand Lac.
Our recommended ski schools:
• ESF is one of the most established ski schools in France, with a huge team of instructors teaching a variety of disciplines.
• Mountain Action Snowsports are an independent company based in St Martin de Belleville. They offer private lessons on and off-piste, as well as heli-skiing and ski touring.
• Peak Ski Adventures are also an independent company based in St Martin de Belleville. They offer private tuition, guiding, and heli-skiing, but they focus on accelerating the tricky transition between intermediate and advanced.

Intermediates
Intermediates will have no shortage of things to do in the 3 Valleys, the only problem is knowing where to start!

Definitely warm up on the stunning blues and reds above town. Pramint, the Grand Lac, and Jerusalem are all solid choices. When you’re ready, head down to Les Menuires for lunch before seeking more challenging terrain on Pointe de la Masse. The Fred Covili run offers breathtaking views and a long, winding descent. Wrap up the day with a non-stop ride from the top of Les Menuires at 2,704m all the way home to St Martin at 1,450m.

Outside of the St Martin/ Les Menuires area, the slopes are your oyster. Courchevel, Meribel, and Val Thorens are all possible to visit in a day and all offer their own stunning and diverse terrain.

Advanced
If you want to stay on the piste, advanced skiers will find the most thrills towards Les Menuires. Leo Lacroix is a long and steep black with plenty of surprises. La Masse has the best snow in the resort and is also home to some challenging reds and blacks.

You’ll find three ‘Liberty Rides’ between St Martin and Les Menuires, allowing you to experience backcountry skiing while still having the security of a patrolled piste. La Masse is a good option if you’re new to off-piste as it has more gentle terrain. Les Pylones is the most fun, with lots of drops and banks to play with. La Masse is very challenging, but is one of the best places in the 3 Valleys to make fresh tracks.

Away from the marked ski areas, you’ll find incredible off-piste itineraries from the top of La Masse, and some great rides home from the top of the St Martin 2 lift. With so much world-class off-piste across the 3 Valleys, we highly recommend you take a ski guide or heli-skiing package for at least one day of your trip.

Across the wider 3 Valleys area, you’ll find endless options to get your heart rate up. Some highlights include the Jean Blanc in Courchevel, the Goitschel in Val Thorens, and La Face in Meribel.

St Martin de Belleville is a fairly snow-sure resort, with the village sitting at 1,450m and the top of the valley reaching 3,300m. The 3 Valleys is also very well maintained and has great snow-making facilities.

November
The ski season usually starts in St Martin de Belleville from mid-November, although this is dependent on snow conditions.
Average snowfall: 4cm
Snow days: 2

December
December is one of the liveliest times to visit. Expect good snow, pretty decorations and wonderful festive activities throughout the village.
Average snowfall: 70cm
Snow days: 6

January
January is a colder and quieter month perfect for escaping the crowds. But you can still find some wonderful activities during this time. Street performances and ice sculpting workshops run until January 4th, and the church starts a weekly live music series that runs until March.
Average snowfall: 77cm
Snow days: 7

February
February can be busy over half term weeks but you can still expect great snow conditions. Make sure to check out the freestyle demo pop-up bar towards the end of the month.
Average snowfall: 60cm
Snow days: 6

March
Longer days mean more time on the slopes and weather perfect for lounging on a sun terrace. The snow is still holding well, especially when you head to the higher points of the 3 Valleys.
Average snowfall: 45cm
Snow days: 6

April
While snow is less favourable in the lower areas in April, this month offers a unique opportunity to blend spring and winter alpine activities. Take part in the resort’s annual Ski and Bike Week or blend skiing, yoga, and nature walks at the yearly Yogiski event.
Average snowfall: 34cm
Snow days: 3