RIKOLA Travel blog
The travel journals of a middle age couple
Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe presents a captivating blend of authentic Alpine charm and recreational opportunities. Nestled within the French Alps, between the Aravis and Beaufortain mountain ranges, it offers stunning panoramic views, notably of Mont Blanc. The village itself retains a traditional Savoyard character, marked by its distinctive Baroque steeple and classic Alpine architecture. This preservation of its heritage contributes significantly to its unique and inviting atmosphere.
The location is a popular destination through all the yearly seasons. In the winter months, Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe transforms into a sought-after ski resort. It provides access to the extensive Espace Diamant ski area, catering to a wide range of skiers with slopes suitable for all skill levels. Furthermore, its connection to the Val d’Arly ski domain expands the available terrain, ensuring ample opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts. Beyond skiing, the village hosts various cultural events throughout the year, showcasing local traditions and fostering a vibrant community spirit. In the summer months, the area becomes a haven for hikers and those who enjoy the alpine views.
Hitting the slopes in your mid-fifties is an administrative hazard. You start questioning your sanity the moment you buckle those agonizingly stiff boots, but arriving at a postcard-perfect Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe—freshly buried under a magical, weekend-long alpine dumping—we felt an immediate rush of youthful optimism. It turns out, that optimism was highly dangerous.
Fresh from the rental shop and buzzing with unearned confidence, we foolishly skipped our scheduled lesson to hit a local green slope. “Green” implies gentle; this thing felt like a vertical drop. Within minutes, Rooster took a brutal tumble, slicing open his leg. The lesson started shortly after, handing us some much-needed survival tips that actually got us all skiing properly, though Rooster’s permanent scar remains a lasting souvenir of our impatience. Naturally, we recovered with a mountaintop lunch featuring the literal best chicken nuggets on Earth.
Cola and Suzy decided quickly skiing wasn’t for them and took off for a beautiful day trip to Lake Annecy. It was a wonderful detour where the heads of our two families deeply bonded over stunning lakeside views. Meanwhile, the evenings became a legendary blur of competitive pool challenges, rich, bubbling cheese fondue, drinks, and lively party games. We even found a fantastic local bar run by a chap who was a dead ringer for Keanu Reeves.
To cap off the trip, four of the oldies ventured up to the breathtaking heights of Mont Blanc. It was an unforgettable 4,000-meter peak experience, made even more memorable when Rooster managed to drop his 360 camera into the abyss—a costly sacrifice to the snow gods, but a fitting end to a wildly chaotic, brilliant holiday.
