The barn is situated on 500 square metre plot in the centre of a pretty hamlet called Les Clarets. There are few fences apart from functional farm fences which keep summer cattle, horses and the occasional donkey where they are supposed to be. We have resisted the temptation (difficult for an Englishman!) to fence off the garden and create a plot separate from and not in character with the hamlet. However, pets are generally very welcome in the hamlet as long as they are reasonably well behaved. We have found the attitude to pets in this rural region a little more relaxed than one might find in England.

In les vallées des entremont, there are 52 hamlets which are named after the families who worked the alpage 50 years ago. The area is still a major producer of organic food stuffs and the butcher in St. Pierre d'Entremont is known all over France for the quality of his produce. Moreso, there is an excellent cheese cooperative in the village where one can buy tom de savoie, comté and an excellent fruity beaufort for a fraction of the price one would pay in England or the rest of Europe. There are also several local vineyards (close to Chambery) producing light and fresh reds and an excellent white.

Les Clarets is a little unusual since we still have a member of the original family living here. Moreso, there are 4 families living here full time and several families with weekend retreats. With two 'gites de group' in the hamlet (including ours), weekends can be quite lively with walkers and family groups dining outside in the traditional French fashion. During the summer, the weather here can be glorious. At 3,300 feet altitude, in can be hot but not at all humid. Winter brings its fair share of snow and plenty of opportunity for snowshoe tours in the wilds of nature, ski de fond and ski de piste at St. Pierre de Chartreuse (11 kilometres - minibus available from local village).

Les Clarets is situated on a col between St. Pierre d'Entremont and Entremont le Vieux. Consequently, the views from here are absolutely stunning with Grand Som and Chamchaud to the south and Le Pinet dominating the northern view. For adherents of 'Feng Shui', the energy in Les Clarets is always refreshing. We are sure that's why everybody seems to want to come back !

 

 

 

cla grange, chartreuse, accommodation in france, gites, self catering gites, french chalets, walking, rambling, skiing, st. pierre d'entremont, snowshoe tourshartreuse, accomodation in France,french accomodations,french holiday cottage, french gites,
french accomodations, holidays gites, France, FRANCE, french holidays, self catering gites, french chalets, self catering sites, french chalets, walking, rambling, randonnees, walking guide, cirque de st. meme, st. pierre d'entremont, les clarets Visit the little known and mysterious Chartreuse region. One of the best areas for hill walking/hiking/rambling in France. Renovated 4-bed barn superbly situated at 3300 ft plus in the Alps just south of Chambery. Sleeps 9/12 people in total comfort. Log fire; well equiped kitchen and laundry room; video (English); internet and email facilities. Enjoy the stunning scenery, superb summer walking; mountain biking; winter skiing; snow shoe tours and other mountain sports all year round. Good restaurants accessible with transport. Quiet visits to the Chartreusian Monastery and other sites of interest. A full range of activities can be arranged on request.
Themed weeks will be available later in the year including a french langauge week, french language courses(in association with Fun Langues, Grenoble) french home cookery, drawing and painting holidays in france and an 'ease of being' week centring on relaxation/de-stressing and getting back to ones senses. All themed weeks include food, travel and supporting visits/guided activities. Please watch the web-site for further information.
Travel: Chambery 30 minutes by car; Grenoble 50 mins; local village 5 kilometres (3.2 mls). A good range of shops are available in the local village. Cheap flights available from Buzz, Ryanair and Easyjet to Grenoble, Lyon and Geneva. 8-10 hours by car from main channel ferry ports. Various train options available by TGV/SNCF. map

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chartreuse, accommodation in France,french accomodations,french holiday cottage, french gites,
french accomodations, holidays gites, France, FRANCE, french holidays, self catering gites, french chalets, self catering sites, french chalets, walking, rambling, randonnees, walking guide, cirque de st. meme, st. pierre d'entremont, les clarets Visit the little known and mysterious Chartreuse region. One of the best areas for hill walking/hiking/rambling in France. Renovated 4-bed barn superbly situated at 3300 ft plus in the Alps just south of Chambery. Sleeps 9/12 people in total comfort. Log fire; well equiped kitchen and laundry room; video (English); internet and email facilities. Enjoy the stunning scenery, superb summer walking; mountain biking; winter skiing; snow shoe tours and other mountain sportsall year round. Good restaurants accessible with transport. Quiet visits to the Chartreusian Monastery and other sites of interest. A full range of activities can be arranged on request.
Themed weeks will be available later in the year including a french langauge week, french language courses(in association with Fun Langues, Grenoble) french home cookery, drawing and painting holidays in france and an 'ease of being' week centring on relaxation/de-stressing and getting back to ones senses. All themed weeks include food, travel and supporting visits/guided activities. Please watch the web-site for further information.
Travel: Chambery 30 minutes by car; Grenoble 50 mins; local village 5 kilometres (3.2 mls). A good range of shops are available in the local village. Cheap flights available from Buzz, Ryanair and Easyjet to Grenoble, Lyon and Geneva. 8-10 hours by car from main channel ferry ports. Various train options available by TGV/SNCF.