Vivre La Belle Vie in St Martin de Belleville!

Opened on a snowy night in December with a big party simultaneously celebrating 50 years of the ski resort of St Martin de Belleville with champagne, cakes, dancers and a speech given by the Mayor, La Belle Vie is not to be missed after a hard day on the slopes.

On entering and at the far end of the reception area is a bar with comfy seating and breathtaking views. Downstairs are the huge changing rooms with digital lockers and a hair drying/makeup area to ensure you look suitably polished before leaving.

There are 2 areas to enjoy. On the left side is the swimming pool with wrap around floor to ceiling windows, jacuzzi bubbles in the centre with underwater seating, 2 waterfall funnels, a separate jacuzzi and a cascade of water running through different levels on the walkway. 

On the right is true bliss! The Wellness area. Come just for this, it’s worth it. There are 4 different saunas, a cold plunge pool, steam room and Nordic pool heated to 33 degrees with a swim through to the outside pool where there is underwater seating and jacuzzi bubbles to soothe aching muscles. Start with the hottest sauna, the Eucalyptus sauna with floor to ceiling windows and views of the mountains, then a cold plunge, then the Finnish sauna, then a cold plunge..you get the idea. There is also a Salt sauna with a huge wall of pink Himalayan slat blocks and a Herbal plant sauna which is the least hot sauna and the unique blend of herbs and plants released onto the hot coals every 15-20 minutes ensure you drift of into another world! The steam room is huge with coloured lights which change colour creating a sublime steamy environment. These are all renowned for their purifying benefits for the skin and respiratory tracts. There is also a relaxation lounge with herbal teas, a water fountain, ice fountain and cold water bucket shower if the plunge pool isn’t enough! Treatments such a body scrubs, massages and facials are available. There are also aqua classes mornings and evenings if you are not skiing or still have some energy left.

In the summer there will be an outside swimming pool available too.

The centre was built up on a natural headland and follows the contours to blend perfectly into the Alpine scenery. This means that it offers a clear, unobstructed view across the valley and its architecture reflects the traditional style seen throughout the village. But respect for the environment doesn't stop there. La Belle Vie adopts an environmentally friendly approach, in line with the resort's sustainable practices. 80% of heating requirements are covered by biomass, a renewable energy source that is less carbon-intensive than others. Better yet, the whole building has reinforced thermal insulation to limit any loss in energy, while offering its guests the very best in comfort. But that is not all! Wood heating and heat recovery from wastewater help to significantly reduce this centre's carbon footprint. A green approach that really makes La Belle Vie an example for sustainable wellness.

Photo (c) V. LOTTENBERG