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Bessans

File:Bessans_-_La_mairie,_le_monument_aux_Morts_et_l'église_Saint-Jean-Baptiste.JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Bessans (Savoyard: Bèssanse) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is located in the valley of Maurienne and crossed by the Arc river. Nestled in the center of a former glacial through, it is renowned for its large Nordic skiing domain in the winter and for its trekking and mountain climbing opportunities in the Summer. Surrounded by lush fauna and flora, the village is characterised by its rich heritage, where wall paintings, Baroque chapels, engraved stones and artisan sculptors are inextricably linked. The legend of the Devil of

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Place details

Locality
Bessans
Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Country
France
Population
343

via OpenStreetMap · GeoNames

Key facts

French commune.name
Bessans
French commune.commune status
Commune
French commune.image
Bessans - La mairie, le monument aux Morts et l'église Saint-Jean-Baptiste.JPG
French commune.caption
The town hall, war memorial and church in Bessans
French commune.image coat of arms
Blason ville fr Bessans (Savoie).svg
French commune.arrondissement
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
French commune.canton
Modane
French commune.INSEE
73040
French commune.postal code
73480
French commune.mayor
Jérémy Tracq
French commune.term
2020–2026
French commune.intercommunality
Haute Maurienne-Vanoise
French commune.elevation m
1835
French commune.elevation min m
1673
French commune.elevation max m
3752
French commune.area km2
154.01
French commune.native name
Bèssanse (Savoyard)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official name
Bessans
Population
341
Area
128.08
Elevation
2616
Official website
www.mairie-bessans.fr
Image
Bessans - La mairie, le monument aux Morts et l'église Saint-Jean-Baptiste.JPG
Show 8 more facts
Commons category
Bessans
postal code
73480
male population
179
female population
174
email address
mailto:[email protected]
phone number
+33-4-79-05-96-05
fax number
+33-4-79-05-80-64
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~13 min read

Article

24 sections
Contents
  • Geography
  • Climate
  • The Devil of Bessans
  • History
  • Neolithic era
  • Antiquity
  • Middle Ages
  • Early modern
  • Twentieth century
  • Administration
  • Mayors
  • Architectural heritage
  • The Saint-Anthony Vault
  • Saint-Jean-Baptist church
  • Art
  • Devil of Bessans
  • Economy
  • Events
  • Tourism
  • Sport
  • Ski resort
  • Other activities
  • See also
  • References

Bessans (Savoyard: Bèssanse) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is located in the valley of Maurienne and crossed by the Arc river. Nestled in the center of a former glacial through, it is renowned for its large Nordic skiing domain in the winter and for its trekking and mountain climbing opportunities in the Summer. Surrounded by lush fauna and flora, the village is characterised by its rich heritage, where wall paintings, Baroque chapels, engraved stones and artisan sculptors are inextricably linked. The legend of the Devil of Bessans represents the originality of this traditional culture that is still very much alive today.

==Geography== Located on the Haute-Maurienne plateau, at an altitude of 1750 meters, the area is known for its sporting activities. Bessans is located in a valley, ideal for Nordic skiing. Following the collapse of the mountain downstream from Bessans (between 10000 and 3000 years BC), an ice-dammed lake formed. The successive sedimentary deposits have created the plateau on which Bessans is situated. The physical characteristics of the site are reinforced by an early and high-quality snow from November to April, and by sunny weather. These allow the team French Nordic skiing and Biathlon teams, as well as those of other nations to train in Bessans. There are numerous glaciers in the area (i.e. Albaron, Deep Sea, Large Pareis, Baounet), and nearby is the highest peak of the Maurienne (Charbonnel, 3752 m),

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