Mairie du Bois

Mairie du Bois is the former town hall of Le Bois, now serving as a delegated town hall (mairie annexe) within the commune of Grand-Aigueblanche, in the Tarentaise valley, Savoie, France. The building stands on rue de la Bottelière, right at the heart of the village, and is the natural landmark for anyone trying to get their bearings in this small mountain settlement.

Where is Le Bois and what kind of place is it?

Le Bois sits at roughly 600 metres of altitude, on the slopes of the Tarentaise valley, through which the Isère river flows. The former commune covers 555 hectares and is made up of several hamlets: Sainte-Hélène, Les Cours, Le Bétaix, Le Bourjaillet, Le Crêt, La Botelière and Saint-Nicolas. This scattered pattern of small hamlets spread across meadows and forest, facing the valley and the surrounding peaks, is typical of settlement in Tarentaise.

Until 2019, Le Bois was an independent commune. Since 1 January 2019, following an administrative merger, it has formed part of the new commune of Grand-Aigueblanche, alongside Aigueblanche (the seat of the new commune) and Saint-Oyen. The former town hall of Le Bois kept its role as a local point of contact for residents, now operating as a mairie déléguée.

What is the history behind Le Bois?

The village's history reaches back to the Middle Ages. From at least the late 12th century, Le Bois belonged to the temporal domain of the Archbishop of Tarentaise, before later passing under the authority of the Counts of Savoy. Historical sources name two known lords tied to the area: a certain Seccal in 1225, and Jean du Bois around 1285. This shift from ecclesiastical to secular Savoyard rule is a pattern found across many Tarentaise villages, where church and princely authority overlapped for centuries.

What is there to see and do nearby?

Le Bois and the wider commune of Grand-Aigueblanche sit in a part of the valley locally nicknamed the "garden of Tarentaise" — a fertile, more open stretch of the valley floor, in contrast to the steeper terrain higher up towards the mountains. It makes a good base for hiking: dozens of marked trails fan out around Aigueblanche, adding up to more than 170 kilometres of walking through forest and meadow, including routes that pass traces of the valley's industrial heritage near the Eau Rousse stream.

The Tarentaise valley is also one of the main gateways to the French Alps' major ski resorts, including the Trois Vallées area, home to Courchevel and Méribel among others. Sitting lower in the valley, Le Bois is quieter than the ski resorts themselves, but works well as a base for travellers who want to combine time in the mountains with staying in a calmer, more authentic Savoyard village.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Le Bois still its own commune? No. Since 1 January 2019, Le Bois has been a delegated commune within the new commune of Grand-Aigueblanche, formed by merging Le Bois, Aigueblanche and Saint-Oyen.

Where exactly is the Mairie du Bois located? The building is on rue de la Bottelière in Le Bois (postcode 73260), in the Tarentaise valley in Savoie.

Is Le Bois close to the ski resorts? Le Bois lies in the Tarentaise valley, the main access corridor to the region's major ski resorts, including the Trois Vallées area.

What is the "garden of Tarentaise"? It's the local nickname for the fertile, lower-lying stretch of the Tarentaise valley that includes Le Bois — an area with a gentler climate and landscape than the higher mountain terrain above it.