Published articles
Discover Combloux
Originally published in Destination France, No. 17, January 2007
Véronique Gray stops off on the way to Val-Thorens
Mountain chalet in Combloux in Haute Savoie
Located at 1100 meters, Combloux has the most perfect views of the Mt Blanc, Aravis and Fiz mountain chains. You can find it on the road to Megève from Sallanches in Haute Savoie.
If you wonder what Combloux means, it stands for la combe des loups (the valley of the wolves). Once, wolves were quite bothersome in the village, which explains why Combloux chose le loup for its symbol.
My first visit to Combloux was not planned; I was on my way to Val Thorens for a skiing holiday, but could not resist stopping, drawn by the breathtaking snowy panoramas. Mid afternoon, the town was quite busy with skiers returning to their accommodations.
Seventy years ago Combloux opened one of the first drag lifts in France. If you enter a regional antique store or postcard shop, you may see some advertisement for Combloux’s wintersports. At the beginning of the 20th century a rich English speaking clientele skied in Combloux during the time of the Mt Blanc Grand Hotel. The hotel was later sold out and the apartments are now privately owned. Today, due to Chamonix’s proximity, one can either ski in Combloux or buy a ski-pass for the entire Mont Blanc region.
I always wanted to go back to Combloux, a village once described by the poet Victor Hugo as the ‘Pearl of the Alps’. At the end of the summer, the village looks as charming as in the winter. I was extremely pleased to see so many flowers bordering roads, hotels, wooden chalets and farms.
In comparison to its neigbouring resort town of Megève, it is half its size and much calmer. Nevertheless if you are a sports fan, Combloux has much to offer from VTT bikes, paragliding, swimming, fishing to horseback riding.
FIND OUT MORE
Tourist Office
BP 38, 59 chemin des passerands
74920 Combloux
T: (0033) (0)4 50 58 60 49
F: (0033) (0)4 50 93 33 55
Markets
Combloux weekly market is held on Wednesday morning.
For a larger market drive to Sallanches on Saturday morning.
ROAD
From Calais, take the A26 and the A5 passed Troyes, A31 to A39 and finally follow the A40 to Sallanches; exit and take the N212 to Combloux.
From Geneva
Take the A40 to Sallanches then the N212
AIR
The closest airport is Geneva, one hour away by car.
BA, Easyjet, Flybe, Jet2com and Bmibaby fly to Geneva.
TRAIN
Take a TGV to Sallanches or to St. Gervais (there are direct train from Paris or other large French cities)
