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The administrative centre for the valley for several hundred years, it is a town but is really only a large village in UK terms. It is really an amalgamation of several hamlets which have over the centuries grown into St Jean itself. Chalet Belle Dranse is in the La Moussiere ‘hamlet’.
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St Jean d’Aulps is at the centre of the main valley leading up to Morzine and is at the gateway to the Portes du Soleil.
At 800 metres it is lower than the main ski villages which means that car access throughout the winter season is not a problem whilst being only a few minutes drive away from the major lift into the heart of the skiing at Ardent where a massive car park awaits you. |
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Local Markets There is a French country market in Morzine on Wednesdays and in other surrounding towns and villages on other days of the week. The rota is pinned up in the Chalet). Bread, cheese, saucissons, clothes, shoes, crockery, bits and pieces – it’s all there if you just want to mooch.
Petrol The best place for petrol is the Champion supermarket as it is very convenient in that it does not need a detour to get to and its prices are the best around.
It is open 24 hours x 7 days if you have a French Bank “carte bleu” but will not take UK credit cards. Otherwise the hours of opening are posted on the kiosk. Best alternatives are in Morzine or les Gets.
Language Morzine and Les Gets are pretty international in that almost every shop assistant will make an assumption and speak in English before you open your mouth!
St Jean d’Aulps is a working French town and French is its first and only language although there are now quite a few English and Dutch people living there.
If you are buying milk, bread or a biere in St Jean you will need to ask in French as English is not spoken. But don’t think you have to be anywhere near fluent or that you will be treated in an unfriendly way. Quite the opposite. If you try a little, smile and use s’il vous plait, merci and bonjour or bon soir then everyone will be more than helpful and pleasant. Long ago learned school French works fine.
There are two exceptions. At the Bar National you are more likely to be served by a Kiwi or English person as the bar’s owners are English. The Feu Follet restaurant is owned and run by an Australian who has lived in St Jean for many years. |
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St Jean has two of just about everything. Two restaurants, two bars, two boulangeries, two boucheries, two bank branches (Credit Agricole and Banque de France). It has a doctors and a pharmacie where they are well used to dealing with the odd tweak, cut and bruise and can dispense knee braces and the like. The Huit a Huit (8 ‘til 8) shop is very friendly and the best place for milk, groceries and bits and pieces without getting into the car.
St Jean it has its own English language website, www.saintjeandaulps.com, which is very informative on shops, local activities and many pictures.
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