Located at 1750 m altitude, Bessans is a traditional village, typical of the Haute Maurienne, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park and Italy.
Whatever the season, this authentic village and family welcomes you and offers many cultural activities and / or sports but also many animations.
Bessans is also a village where tradition lives on through nature in the wild, religious festivals and sculpture.
Summer or winter, you'll discover the magnificent landscapes of middle and high mountain flora and fauna preserved.
Local cuisine:
The Bessannais stuffed cabbage, pork, vegetables, cooked in a cloth;
Cabbage "to read";
The "agnelos" kind of large ravioli;
The Fraque, Bessannais kind of Crozet;
Tartiflette: Reblochon, baked potato;
Fondue: cheese, bread;
Raclette: cheese, sausage, potatoes;
Cheese: Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie, St Anthony, goat cheese ...
SIGHTSEEING
Sports & leisure in winter:
Cross-country skiing with 133 kilometers of groomed trails, drawn (14 poles in snow).
Biathlon stadium: a training and competition of national teams and foreign initiations and workshops open to all.
Alpine skiing with 3 miles of trails and 2 lifts (guaranteed snow throughout the area), beginners and children play area, toboggan (17 poles in snow).
Hiking and snowshoeing (15 km of marked trails).
Introduction to biathlon with the ESF, Game shotgun laser.
Ice climbing.
Cross-country skiing.
Nocturne in cross country skiing depending on the time.
Snowshoeing, torchlight descent.
Circuit orientation.
In case of inclement weather, activities at the Hall Albaron (Table tennis / squash, table card games ...).
A natural ice rink of 400 m² in the center of the village.
Sports & Recreation in summer:
Walking through the Vanoise National Park, the Ribon valley and the valley Avérole (150 km of trails).
Biathlon stadium: a training and initiation in roller skiing and roller-skating.
Climbing (rock climbing four).
Swimming (a water laid out and supervised in July and August).
Mountain bike.
Orienteering course.
Tennis (three courts).
Volleyball.
Football field.
Swimming pool.
Fishing (lake).
Canyoning.
Archery.
Kayak (initiation and training on water).
Via ferrata.
Via cordata.
The Baroque: In Savoy, the Baroque is present through the paths of the Baroque. The Baroque appeared in the second half of the 15th century in the heart of the Alpine valleys. It is manifested in the profusion and splendor of the decorations (gold, polychromy) by the realism of animated sculptures of movement and life. Baroque art reflects a surge of spirituality, without denying the human dimension of faith. It prefigures the paradise of mountain people who aspire to salvation.
The Chapel of Saint Anthony: The chapel is part of an impressive network of chapels, shrines and crosses the territory Parish Bessans. The Chapel of Saint Anthony is a rectangular building built on the spur overlooking Bessans. It stands alongside the parish church on the wrong side of the village. It dates from the early 15th century, is the date of the decoration of the chapel between 1503 and 1522. The main facade is protected by a canopy that houses the exterior decoration, frescoes depicting the dance of defects connected by a chain pulled by two demons in the direction of hell. The Romanesque bell tower of the chapel is mounted on the western gable roof and overlooks a gabled slate. This chapel has a coffered ceiling with typical Renaissance polychrome paintings (1526), on the inner walls of the chapel are forty panels depicting the life of Christ, the Nativity at Pentecost, in the same style as the paintings of the Saint Sebastian Lanslevillard. The painting is "frescos", ie a water-based paint on fresh mortar. The artist who was given this considerable work has included a multitude of local details that combine the life of Christ with that of the village.
The Church of St. John the Baptist: The church is located near the Saint Anthony, the two buildings integrated into the paths of the Baroque. It is impossible to determine the date of its construction, but it certainly existed in 1376 and has suffered over the years many changes. As all the churches in Haute Maurienne, it has an enclosed vestibule, which is still a forum. The vault of the hall is decorated in the middle by a pattern already existing plaster in 1827 and representing the miracle of the Holy Host of Turin. Inside the church, eight arched windows introduce enough light to contemplate the ceiling medallion. The view is first attracted by the high altar, the marble is a beautiful white Carrara, adorned with a St. John the Baptist on the front, sides and fine drawings, the steps are serrated edges and the tabernacle, a slender dome looming in four elegant columns. This altar was executed in 1858. Four other small shrines are located on both sides of the nave of the church. They are dedicated to St. Anthony, Our Lady of Mount Caramel, Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Joseph. One can admire the interior of the church with magnificent murals and religious statues, works of local artists. The steeple is very remote date. Its structure is the same as the Saracen towers say that there are still all along the valley. It is decorated with four bells.
Traditions:
The museum of old housing: The daily life of old people and animals gathered in a room called "Erablo". The specific habitat was thought by men to fight against the severe winters in the mountains (they used and, of animal heat for heating). Other parts of the house from the early 18th century will be revealed as the kitchen, called "Fogogne" and the cave "pelo". Testimony of the past, this type of cohabitation has persisted throughout the centuries, you will discover this ancient way of life through the reconstruction of the home with furniture and dishes, followed by a video showing the life of every day in the erablo.
The live nativity scene and the arrival of the Magi: The nativity of Bessans is a key event in the Haute Maurienne. This nursery is experiencing a growing reputation and is the collective work of over forty volunteer extras, all dressed in traditional costumes. During Christmas Eve, they bring to life local legend that says that Jesus was born in Bessans. Traditional songs and dances in patois accompany this magical evening.
Visits:
Visit of the cheese: Every morning you can visit the dairy, making the program Beaufort and other cheeses, refining ... For groups, it is advisable to book.
Visiting a farm: Each end of the afternoon, it is possible to visit a typical farm Bessanaise. It is advisable to book the tourist office for the visit.
The rock of the castle: A mile from Villaron in the direction of Bonneval-sur-Arc, a large rock overlooking the valley: the rock of the castle. At the base of the rock that was probably a rock shelter today scree, rock paintings appear (seven or eight deer painted in red ocher). These rock paintings dating from the Neolithic period.
Sculpture:
Country sculptors, Bessans is extremely rich in folk art, religious art as: wheels and cattails, chicken salt, wooden toys, statues, crosses ... abound.
The most famous sculptors were the Clappier. Jean-Baptiste Clappier the hamlet of Vincendières (Avérole Valley) was one of the first local artists to master all the technique of Baroque art. The most famous sculptures is the devil, the emblem of Bessans whose origin dates from 1857. "A champion of the village, named Vincendet, very angry against his pastor, made a devil of a priest holding a timber under his arm, then he went to take a very early morning on the window of the priest. This is doubt where it came from the devil, and the next morning, the statue took the road to the window of his creator. This little game went on for several days when a traveler passing through Bessans, noticed the Devil on the window and called Vincendet offered to buy it. The sculptor saw all the profit he could obtain, and it was the beginning of the satanic power of the devil and commercial Bessans ".
Several sculptors Bessans.
Activities for children:
Winter: "The Devils" drop-in center for children 6 months to 6 years. Other thematic activities are offered to children (snowman, carnival ...).
In March: Festival "Tradition and Nature". Many activities are offered such as conferences, folklore evenings ...
In June: Feast of St. John.
July:
Meeting of woodcarvers.
Festival Fêti'Cîmes: discovery of the mountain environment: hiking, theme nights in a shelter, evening under the stars, family raid, night market, outdoor cinema, narrated tour ... What a program!
July 13: Feast of the Rock (Hay Festival, Fireworks and Ball of Fire).
July 16: Third Pilgrimage to 3000 m altitude.
Photo Festival "Big Wild."
In July and August: The Musical of Bessans: programming of classical music and choral singing at St. John the Baptist.
In August:
Festival of Astronomy. Haute Maurienne Vanoise.
Traditional Festival on August 15.
The second half of August: International Artists Workshop.
September: Craft Fair Bessans.
ATTRACTIONS, LEISURES AND ACTIVITES AROUND
The village of Bessans is one of seven villages in the Haute-Maurienne Vanoise with Bonneval-sur-Arc, one of the most beautiful villages in France, Val Cenis Vanoise (combining the three villages Lanslevillard, and Lansleboug Termignon) Sollières- Sardières, Bramans.
In winter, enjoy all these ski resorts, where you'll have something for everyone: skiing, downhill skiing, walking, snowshoeing, ski touring, ice climbing, dog sledding ...
In summer, discover through many activities, a rich flora and fauna on land, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park: hiking and mountain walking, climbing, mountaineering and glacier hiking, rollerblading, horseback riding, swimming, adventure in trees, via ferrata ...
New house, made of a mountain spirit with stone, slate, larch and exposed timbers. Cottage located next to the Nordic ski trails, 150 meters from the alpine village center. Cottage...
Located in Bessans
From 380 € to 950 € per week
Apartment for 6 persons
Lanslevillard
Our apartments in the heart of the Vanoise in the comfort station valcenis been open view on the mountains in WINTER foot runway is 2800 m 1500 m altitude with easy access by motorway...
Located 7.1 km from Bessans
From 280 € to 1300 € per week
Chalet campanule
Bonneval-sur-Arc
Studio on the piste completely renovated in 2011. Studio with south facing terrace overlooking the ski lifts of Bonneval / arc. Studio fully equipped with dishwasher, washing machine,...
Camping Caravaneige Isertan Park at the foot of the Vanoise National Park. Heated pool and indoor pool of over 100m ², rental cabins, rental mobile home wood, rental tents furnished....
Located 22 km from Bessans
15.10 € per day
Camping-Caravaneige Les Lanchettes
9.4
Peisey-Nancroix
In summer, at the entrance of the Vanoise National Park, fresh air and tranquility guaranteed in a mountain landscape, you can enjoy plenty of sports and cultural activities of our...
Les Balcons de Val Cenis le Haut is located 200 metres from the slopes and 400 metres from Lanslevillard Village Centre. It offers furnished apartments with a fully equipped kitchen....
Located 6.4 km from Bessans
Room from 27 €
Résidence Les Balcons de Val Cenis Village
8.4
Lanslevillard
Résidence Les Balcons is located in the heart of Vanoise National Park. It offers self-catering apartments equipped with a kitchen. There is also a restaurant and small supermarket....
Located 7 km from Bessans
Room from 34 €
Résidence Privilege Resorts Les Valmonts
7.6
Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
Just 50 metres from the Val Cenis Vanoise ski lifts, Privilege Resorts is 300 metres from the centre of Lanslebourg. The residence features a heated indoor pool, sauna and hammam. Privilege...
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