Sainte Foy Tarentaise architectural heritage: Chapels and hamlets

A village preserved and harmonious

Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise is a lively, authentic village made up of numerous charming hamlets and a 30-year-old ski resort.

Its hallmark is traditional, high-quality architecture, and its rental accommodation can be of the highest standard.

The art of living at Sainte-Foy is in the details.

Among its hamlets, Le Miroir and its columned houses, the heritage of the “communiers”, bear witness to ancestral know-how. Higher up, at an altitude of 1874 m, Le Monal, a listed site, offers an exceptional natural setting, where stone and wood chalets blend harmoniously between glaciers and streams.

Le Monal in autumn

Get lost in the alleys of Miroir and Masure

A heritage Authentic & lively

In keeping with the architectural charter, the chalet facades are clad in local stone, with imposing stone columns, larch cladding and lauze roofs.

In a self-imposed attention to detail and rigor, the new chalets feature stone columns, a symbol of the wealth once imported from Italy’s neighboring Aosta Valley.

“Here, stone is a ubiquitous element of the architectural landscape…”
Alain Chaudan was one of the first to set the tone 30 years ago, when he built a chalet for rental on the snow front.
Today, he still enjoys working with stone “as he used to”.
The stones come from the area. He gathers them in the forest or in the mountains and cuts them on site. He skilfully selects large, flat stones for the corners, and 25-30 cm stones for the walls. The wall is then built in dry stone, with a discreet joint at the back. Each stone is laid flat in the direction of the grain. Often made of schist, the stone echoes the color of the lauze, a dark gray, offering harmony to the whole.”

Lorène Herrero for Cosy Mountain

Chapels that bear witness to the past

Sainte-Foy Tarentaise is home to numerous chapels, built between the XVIIᵉ and XIXᵉ centuries. Witnesses to local religious fervor, they were built as protection against avalanches and epidemics, or in recognition of granted wishes. Hidden away in the heart of hamlets, they also provided a gathering place for mountain communities, strengthening social ties. Today, these chapels, harmoniously integrated into the landscape, invite you to discover a blend of spirituality and Savoyard history.

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A real village on a human scale, with a pedestrian heart, Sainte-Foy simply invites you to be happy.

Enjoy the cozy comforts of chalet living, and gather with family and friends in harmony.
Take advantage of the space, the smell of wood and the sunny balcony to admire the majestic peaks. On the slopes, you’ll also find traditional chalets to delight skiers and gourmets alike!