Bonneval-sur-Arc
A 'most beautiful village in France' at the southern foot of the Col de l'Iseran, where the stone-walled, slate-roofed old houses are well preserved and there are no power lines or antennas in sight.
Bonneval-sur-Arc sits at the end of the Maurienne valley on the southern side of the Col de l'Iseran, in the upper reaches of the Arc River, at about 1,800 metres. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association. All power lines in the village are buried, and TV aerials are banned. Stone walls, timber beams and old houses under thick slate roofs cluster together. Narrow lanes, firewood stacked on wooden balconies and the church bell tower preserve the look of a mountain village from centuries ago. The village has a cheese cooperative selling local Beaufort cheese and a small family ski area in winter, and in summer it is the starting point for hikes in Vanoise National Park. In summer, crossing the Col de l'Iseran from Val d'Isère takes about 40 minutes by car. In winter the pass is closed, and a detour via Modane takes about 3 hours.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- L'Écot
- Col de l'Iseran
- Solaise & Lac de l'Ouillette
- Le Fornet
- Gorges du Malpasset & Prariond
- Espace Killy (Val d'Isère–Tignes)
- Val d'Isère Village & Saint-Bernard Church
- Lac de la Sassière