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      Samoens.Samoens is not a purpose built modern ski station but a traditional French village with a community that functions all year round. Visit Samoens any day of the year and you'll find shops doing a decent trade and streets active with locals and visitors (unless it's lunchtime, of course, when everyone will have closed to allow a leisurely meal in one of the many bars).The village and its environs are protected and remain unspoilt by tourism. The town retains its original character today. Awarded a "Coq d'Or" as one of the prettiest villages in France, it is also the only ski resort to be listed by Le Caisse National des Monuments Historique. Amongst other benefits this ensures that new buildings are developed sympathetically and in keeping with the original stonemason's craft for which Samoens was once famous. No building is allowed to be higher than the 17th century church and the traditional feel of the village is completed by medieval fountains, quaint old buildings and narrow streets. Samoens also benefits from a spectacular setting, dominated by mountains and set beside the river Giffre as it makes it's way down from the Fer a Cheval national park a few miles upstream. Whilst Samoens is an ideal base for a whole range of mountain and water activities for the whole family, it also has much to offer in itself. Swimming pools and activity parks in the summer, a skating rink in the winter, a cinema, traditional French bars, an Irish pub and a large number of restaurants serving the entire range of food from gourmet and bistro style through traditional Savoyard fare to bar food and pizzas. If you manage to exhaust the possibilities in Samoens itself (over 15 restaurants at last count) there are more choices in Morllon, Verchaix and Sixt, all about 5 minutes drive away. There is a traditional French market every Wednesday and the village itself has shops offering gourmet food and wine. The village is host to La Jaysinia Botanic garden, a 3.5 acre site created in 1905 and housing the ruins of a XIIth century castle, an XVIIIth century chapel and over 8000 varieties of alpine flora. It also offers interesting views over the roofs of the village centre. Other places of interest include La Fruitiere de Samoens, a working cheese farm and Clos Parchet living museum which showcases traditional Savoyard life. Finally the village has all the amenities you would expect of a thriving resort. A large supermarket, boulangerie (great croissants!), delicatessen, doctors, pharmacy, banks with ATMs, creches and an active tourist office that puts on a wide range of entertainments and activities for all ages throughout the year. Follow this link to read what the Daily Telegraph had to say in January 2007. For more information check out the Samoens website. |