Market · Courchevel

Marché de Courchevel 1650 (Moriond)

While the boutiques of 1850 dazzle with logos, the weekly outdoor market held in Courchevel Moriond (1650) offers a far more authentic slice of Savoie life — farmers selling Beaufort d'alpage, honey from Tarentaise hives, and hand-turned wooden kitchen tools alongside stalls of warm crêpes.

What to Buy

The cheese vendors are the undisputed stars. Look for Beaufort d'alpage — the summer-pasture version of the great Savoie gruyère — which has a deeper, nuttier flavour than the year-round version. Toma de Savoie, a semi-soft wheel with a grey rind, and Reblochon fermier (with the green label, meaning farm-made) are also reliably excellent here.

Alongside the cheese are stalls selling charcuterie from the Tarentaise valley: dried saucisson flavoured with génépi or Chartreuse, and thin-sliced bresaola-style cured beef called viande des Grisons. A vacuum-packed wedge of Beaufort and a loop of saucisson make ideal carry-on gifts.

The Atmosphere

The market occupies the small square in front of the Moriond village centre and runs for three or four hours on Thursday and Saturday mornings during the ski season. It is compact — perhaps 20 stalls — but the pace is unhurried and the vendors are genuinely happy to let you taste before you buy.

Grab a paper cone of roasted chestnuts or a buckwheat galette from the crêpe stand and wander slowly. The crowd is a mix of chalet staff doing the weekly shop, local families, and the occasional in-the-know guest from 1850 who has made the short bus ride down to avoid the resort prices.