At the antipodes of certain imposing Savoyard neighbours, the villages of Arêches and Beaufort, linked by a common destiny, have kept their children at home and thus live year-round. Evidenced by a demography that has not declined for a century: 2,000 inhabitants.
The town, twenty minutes from the Albertville TGV station, stretches from the historic town of Beaufort to the sites of Arêches and Planay. Spared by architectural errors, the resort has developed in the traditional style with large houses lined with wood. The tourist season extends well beyond the peak of August, with traders and accommodation providers taking turns to guarantee the continuity of activities outside the summer period.
A playground for all challenges
On site, electrically assisted mountain bikes and free shuttles allow holidaymakers to stay without a car. With 500 kilometers of trails, the potential of Arêches-Beaufort in outdoor sports offers amateurs a playground conducive to all challenges, and lovers of the great outdoors, an Eldorado of nature. The massif is linked by its trails to those of Mont Blanc, Val d’Arly and Tarentaise. This situation gives off exceptional views of the two Savoies. The alternation of atmospheres – forest, mountain pasture, lake, cliff – appeals to hikers, like the route to Roche Parstire from which Lake Roselend and Mont Blanc line up in a sublime perspective. Also photogenic, the Roc du Vent via ferrata overlooking this same lake.
More demanding, the majority of mountain bike routes are comparable to the red and black ski slopes, with a few magnificent exceptions, such as this Plan Villard loop and its balcony paths. Finally, the many lakes, including Roselend where you can fish, Saint Guérin for paddle boarding, or Gittaz complete the Beaufort postcard.
Very short circuit
As for the pastoral and gastronomic heritage, it borrows the logical descent from the alpine pasture to the plate. This very short circuit suits Beaufort (AOP) as well as Grataron, a whole raw milk compared to a Reblochon with goat cheese. With their fresh products, farmers adept at agrotourism contribute greatly to the happiness of summer visitors. Their cheeses associated with crozets, local meat, pork or diots, have inspired local chefs and made the destination a “remarkable site of taste” for almost thirty years.
ZOOM
Decarbonized Beaufort cheese!
The relocation of whey processing has reduced greenhouse gas production by at least 1,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent thanks to transportation savings. A methanation unit transforms the waste into biogas on site to create electricity, resold to the EDF network and reused in the operation of the cooperative. In addition, milking machines are powered by hydrogen, while six prototypes equipped with photovoltaic panels will complete the energy mix of Beaufort production this summer.
TO KNOW
• On savoie-mont-blanc.commore than 1,000 outdoor activities to book (Alentour platform) and tailor-made active stays for 18-30 year olds (Montagne Mon Trip).
IN NUMBERS
The most impactful fact for the environment?
Automotive flows (for 48% of French people), waste (47%), energy (29%), but above all… the behavior of tourists (51%) (source ANMSM April 2022).