Gîte de Montvilliers is an old school house bed and breakfast in a quaint alpine village.

The Gîte de Montvilliers is an old school and farm house in a tiny village on the slopes of La Plagne, restored and refurbished as a luxury bed and breakfast (serving dinner too).

In the heart of the Tarentaise, it's an ideal base for all types of outdoor activities, such as rafting, mountain climbing, paragliding, cycling (with several mythical Tour de France passes nearby), hiking in the Beaufortain and Vanoise national parks, and may others.

We are an American - French - Spanish family that has lived for numerous years in the U.K. and now we are settled in Savoie. We will provide you with multi-lingual assistance and advice for all occasions.

In winter you will enjoy the combination of being in a mountain village environment and the 220 kilometers of runs, the 95 unit lift system and the vast and beautiful off-piste area that La Plagne has to offer.

More Information:

In an orchard beside a mountain hamlet 3500 feet above sea level, the Gîte de Montvilliers occupies a charming three story farm house which once served as the local school.

The rural setting of the gîte is ideal for gatherings of friends or family, or even for a little getaway on your own or with someone special. It overlooks the Isère River and the town of Aime 3 miles away, all surrounded by the snowcapped Alps.

It is situated next to the forests and peaks of the La Plagne ski area, one of the Alps’ largest, and the national park of La Vanoise. In a district well known for all kinds of open air sports, the gîte is an ideal base for the many activities that have made the Tarentaise valley famous for fun and relaxation.

Rooms:

Occupancy is available for 23 in six large rooms. Each room can hold three or four guests. A choice of twin beds, double beds and bunk beds is available. Each room has its own bathroom including shower, toilet, and washbasin.

For larger groups, extra accommodations are available nearby.

You will enjoy our large dining room with a fireplace, our television room, our terrace beside the orchard, our mountain view deck, central heating and private parking for up to 9 vehicles.

You will always find that our gîte offers the warm and comfortable atmosphere that you need for relaxation after a full day.

Food:

We provide a good breakfast, adapted to your own habits and customs, to get you off to a good start.

In the evenings, we serve a refined cuisine inspired by local traditions, with alternatives available if the proposed dishes don’t fit your personal tastes.

Summer Actitivies:

Mountain Climbing:

In our region, you can climb on all types of rocks. Compact quartzite, schist, angulous gneiss, poudingue du Beaufortin or extremely varied limestone formations of the Vanoise, such as cargneule and dolomite... there’s enough to suit anybody’s tastes. Pick your site: by a river, at higher elevation, in the shade, or on cliffs caressed by the sun, you can always climb at a comfortable temperature regardless of the time of day or the season.

One of the best sites in the region is located a mere 8 kilometers from the gîte, Notre Dame du Pré, equipped by the Montalbert guides bureau, who have made it their base. If you come for a week of climbing, you will be able to learn or train at this beautiful spot, and finish your week with a climb of the higher peaks in the Beaufortin and the Vanoise, or further if you wish, accompanied by your guide.

White Water Sports:

The Isère river (class 3 / 4) is one of the most appreciated rivers in Europe for white water sports. Our partner, AN Rafting, will make you discover, the different varieties of narrows and rapids of the bottom of our valley. You can choose to integrate this activity in a vaster program, or if you feel up to it, devote several days to it.

Canyoning:

Can you think of a more vivifying sensation than rope climbing under a waterfall, a dive in a crystalline pool or a few strokes in a turbulent stream?

The Alps, and Savoie in particular, include a large number of sites for this sport. The Montalbert guides will take you to the most secret and unexpected spots of their mountains, for an entire week or just the length of one day.

Cycling:

The Tarentaise valley has several legendary Tour de France climbs. If you are a group and you come to practice your sport and explore the region, we can handle the logistics with our minibus.

Via Ferrata:

Somewhere between the steep trail and the rope climbing cliffs, Vie Ferrate, a concept created by the Italian army during World War I are equipped in such a way to cross impressive walls high above the precipice, thanks to cables and spikes sealed into the rock. The Via Ferrata of Bettières, near Peseiy Nancroix, 25 kilometers from the Gîte, at the entrance of the Vanoise national park offers a long and varied itinerary always breathtaking in a magnificent natural setting. The region has, within reasonable distances from the gîte, several renowned vie ferrate. This is a way to discover many facets of the Alps during an entire week, accompanied by a guide.

Other summer activities include paragliding, hang gliding, hiking and of course, various other types of mountain excursions.

Winter Activities:

Skiing:

The north and south faces of the Bellecote massif, accessible by the La Plagne lifts system allow off-piste excursions through majestic mountain landscapes and elevation differences of more than 1800 meters. Heli-skiing in the wilderness of the Aosta valley is a unique experience (available from the La Rosière lift system, 20 miles away).

The Vanoise park and the Beaufortain are unforgettable expanses for cross-country discovery. Our partners from the Guides Bureau can accompany you on any imaginable trip, near or far. What better way to discover the Alps?

La Plagne - one of the largest skiing areas of the Alps is 3,750 to 10,200 feet in elevation, has 230 kilometers of runs and 95 lifts. Split between 10 different resort centers, the ski area is extremely varied. Steep slopes at the summits with breathtaking views on the peaks. Enjoyable rides through the heart of the forest. Runs in the sun, runs in the shade, there’s plenty for every taste and every level of difficulty.

With our minibus, we will take you to Montalbert (one of the 10 resort centers located 2½ miles Away) and the lifts there will take you to the heart of the ski area. We will pick you up at the same place at the time you choose.

Discounts on lift tickets available from us range between 15 and 40% off the public price depending on the period, and on ski rentals of 20%.

There is a ski school with instructors for all levels just 2½ miles away.

The geographical location is very central within the Savoy ski region: 3 Vallées (Méribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens) is a mere 20 miles away, Les Arcs, 15 miles; La Rosière (with a link to La Thuile in Italy), 20 miles; Tignes and Val d’Isère, 35 miles

Nordic Skiing:

With its vertical surroundings, the region offers the real jewels of Nordic ski itineraries whether for sport or contemplation. The dedicated runs of Montalbert are only a little over a mile from the gîte. There are several other famous spots in the area, renowned for their beauty and wilderness or their technical challenge. If you wish, ski school instructors are available to help you reach your top level.

Bobsledding:

Many variations on this sport have been developed for the general public. The most spectacular is comparable to the competition sleds. Three passengers, with a professional pilot, make a descent at more than 60 mph (prohibited for those under 18, or those with heart conditions or circulatory or spinal problems). Built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, the La Plagne bobsled run has a world class reputation.

Other winter activities include paragliding, hang gliding, dog sledding, snow shoeing, ice climbing and more.

Sites and Attractions:

Possibility for all kinds of discovery by car, by foot, or by mountain bike, abound in the area around the gîte. Natural wonders, cultural curiosities, and historical vestiges can provide extra highlights or be the main focus for your visit.

You can make your discoveries on foot, by car, or by mountain bike. There are roads, trails, and paths in every direction that can lead to something new for you. You can make up your own itinerary or get help from our library and maps, or hire one of our partner guides who specializes in your area of interest.

The Parc de la Vanoise:

The National Park of La Vanoise is practically next door to us, with its 205 sq. miles of natural wonders. It was created in 1963, as France’s first National Park, to join a major area of Alpine acreage between the Isère and the Arc rivers with Italy’s Gran Paradiso Park to protect the ibex from extinction.

Guided tours are available for fauna and glacier viewing. Glaciers with their lakes and rocky Alpine surroundings comprise nearly 40% of the park’s acreage, while mountain pastures and high forests account for most of the rest. There are 100 summits higher than 9000 feet. In the park itself, which is embraced by an official peripheral zone of 560 additional square miles, mostly forested.

The park is also the place to enjoy seeing wild chamois and many other animals. Over 125 species of birds have been sighted in park as well, including the golden eagle known in French as "l’Aigle royal", fascinating reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, and butterflies can be seen there too.

The exceptionally rich flora includes more than 1000 different species, among them several particularly Alpine varieties. The Parc de la Vanoise, accesible from our side through Peseiy-Nancroix has 310 miles of marked hiking trails and 42 shelters. Hike in on your own or with one of our partner-guides (the latter is recommended for overnight journeys).

History and Architecture:

The wild nature of the area should not obscure the many testimonies of the richness of the valley’s past: archeological vestiges of roman times, medieval fortifications protecting the thoroughfares, or the baroque churches and chapels scattered about, as far as places accessible only by several hours on foot in summer or by ski in winter.

Testimony of a conquering, militant counter-reform, the magnificent alterpieces they house are stunning examples of the didactic power of image. The basilica in Aime is now a historical museum that contains Roman relics and shows the transformation of a pre-Christian site into a church which took its present shape and basic form nearly a thousand years ago. Its biblical frescoes are abbreviated examples of what can be seen elsewhere in the area.