Sainte Foy en Tarentaise
Sainte Foy en Tarentaise is in the Savoie region of the Rhone-Alpes in the Tarentaise valley of South Eastern France, set at 1550m where the overall area is 11,000 hectares and provides stunning off piste skiing and marked runs. It is a traditional picturesque village nestled in a beautiful and natural environment; the village is primarily made up of stone, slate and wood buildings in keeping with the whole village traditional charm. A quiet village it is ideal for those a who prefer a more laid back ski resort, the slopes are not ultra busy and Sainte Foy en Tarentaise is where you can be and immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings whilst you ski. It is only a small resort, based around an old farming hamlet, with four chairlifts and around 20 slopes. It is surrounded by some of the best-loved ski resorts in France including Val d’Isère, Tignes and Les Arcs, as well as having La Rosière just around the corner; you could ski to La Rosière for lunch and come back to Sainte Foy en Tarentaise for dinner.
The groomed pistes are often very quiet, so great for beginners, but don’t be fooled as there is some fantastic off piste skiing and snowboarding for those more experienced snow lovers and the snow is perfect due to the powdery snowfall here. There is a variety of short runs between the trails to legendary descents such as the easy trip to the village of Le Monal or the harder, scarier North face of La Fogliettaz. As it’s a peaceful, fairly unspoiled resort, there are always new tracks to find somewhere, so there’s plenty to explore and its set in the most spectacular natural forest surroundings. There’s a free shuttle bus linking the main village and the hamlets including La Thuile, Le Miroir and La Mazure to the resort. If you wanted something a bit different, you could always take a day trip with a mountain guide who can show you some otherwise inaccessible towns in the surrounding area.
The International airport of Chambery which is 124km around a 90-minute transfer from Sainte Foy en Tarentaise is ideal and Lyon and Geneva airports can also be used. Transfers are quick and efficient by shuttle bus; private car hire and taxi are all available.
There are plenty of other activities available apart from skiing in the ski resort. An ideal environment and children are well catered for, there are supervised ski lessons and toddlers can be entertained at the children’s club, there are children’s shows and amongst other activities, they can have fun in the snow and build a snowman. There are street shows and concerts, and a firm favourite is skiing by torchlight. The Vanoise National Park surrounds this picturesque village where you can relax in its tranquil haven and there is also a recreation centre with a spa, pool and beauty treatments available. The centre is set overlooking the Thuria glacier and the views from there are spectacular. There is snowshoeing, ski hiking, dog sledging, ice diving, snow kite, paragliding and fabulous helicopter rides giving you the best views possible, the list goes on and on. After hitting the slopes all day take advantage of the spa centres and relax and rejuvenate those tired muscles with a soothing massage ready for another fun-packed day.
Après ski is low key in Sainte Foy en Tarentaise; there is a cluster of bars and restaurants available, cafes are the ideal place to relax and have a drink on the terrace. Shops, markets and supermarkets are all found here so if you’re eating in then you can easily buy fresh local produce and rustle up a hearty evening meal. Mouth watering fresh bread, cheese, raclette and fondue are readily available in the delicatessen; gift and souvenir shops are on hand for those last minute trinkets. Restaurants offer local French Savoyards as well as international favourites, the theme is very much friendly calm and peaceful enjoying a drink where you can kick back and relax in comfy and cosy surroundings enjoying open fires places. Sainte Foy en Tarentaise is ideal especially for families due to an abundance of family friendly facilities and couples and groups of friends who are not up for a hectic and vibrant nightlife just somewhere to go and chill after the day’s activities.
This spectacular traditional mountain village offers a unique traditional ski resort that you can enjoy time and time again and enhance your lifestyle for the better.