St Pierre d'Entremont (Savoie)

St Pierre d'Entremont (Savoie) mini guide

A few years ago, the Chartreuse National Park in general and 'Les Vallée des Entremonts' in particular were almost unknown to English travelers. St. Pierre d'Entremont is the largest town in this area and, nowadays, is a busy and authentic alpine market town with an increasingly international cliental.

During Summer, the streets drum with the feet of hill walkers preparing for one of the many wonderful mountain trails - or perhaps getting up the nerve to try the well known (and challenging!) via verata just outside town. Local walks of interest include the 'Cirque de St. Meme', Mont Granier, Grand Som and countless less aerobic trails. The main Summer activity is hill walking though all manner of outdoor activities are available, either guided (by one of several local companies) or independently.

Winter usually brings its fair share of snow and activities generally switch to one of the seven ski resorts situated in the Chartreuse National Park. The resort at St. de Chartreuse offers a wide range of pistes for all levels of skiing with smaller resorts catering for cross-country skiers, snow-shoe walkers and sledging. Many of the summer hiking trails double up as excellent snow-shoe trails for the winter. Ski passes can be surprisingly cheap compared to the better known resorts - as can accommodation and eating out! The town itself sports a full range of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers (perhaps not!).

The butchers shop is known all over the Chartreuse for the excellence of its organic produce and the cheese shop is something to behold! The local tourist office is doing its best to keep up with an increasingly international cliental but, it has to be said, there is very little spoken English as yet. However, the office now represents an organisation of local craftsmen and displays a marvelous selection of art/craft gifts and mementos. Best brush up your French and save your visit to the last day!