Saint-Martin-Vesubie, France
September 2026
The Inspiration
The French Alps have always had an allure for me. I have always wanted to go but have never needed to go. Because I am a terrible skier. Terrible. I once skied into the orange netting that lines the ski run. Another time it took me four hours to make it down a blue run. Looking so helpless that a stranger skied up to me and asked if I needed assistance as I laid flat on my back in Winter Park, Colorado, resting.
For those of you who also may not be winter sports inclined - the Alps in Summer is the answer. The most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Mountains covered with pine trees. Waterfalls that show up randomly out of nowhere. Villages straight out of a fairytale.
First Impression
Pure Montagne Resort & Spa is located in a small mountain village at the edge of the Mercantour National Park on the south end of the French portion of the Alps in Saint-Martin-Vesubie. The village is quaint, only an hour or so north of Nice. We were extremely jet lagged and slightly terrified driving on those French mountain roads that we sadly didn’t appreciate the beauty of the scenery on the way up. [We made up for it on the drive back to Nice at the end of our stay - my husband just had to follow portions of the Tour de France route.]
The Space
The resort is beautiful. The pictures do not do the resort or the surroundings justice.
Reception opens to the lounge and a breathtaking view of the valley. So breathtaking my husband and I immediately started to brainstorm how to move from the US to this little town.
Our room was in one of many chalets on the grounds. The room came with a queen sized bed with plenty of space for two large suitcases. Our only two complaints - there was no window and no air conditioning. Staff did provide a standing fan and the patio door did open to the balcony providing much needed natural light.
One night we slept with the door slightly ajar and woke to the most amazing reflection of the valley in the glass portion of the door. Not a terrible way to wake up.
Food & Drink
Note that the resort does not have a full kitchen offering only breakfast and a smallish snacks bar menu throughout the day.
We opted in for the resort’s breakfast for our first morning and honestly wished we hadn’t. We found it to be overpriced for a continental offering. For the rest of the trip, we walked the seven minutes to town for croissants, espressos, and lattes.
From the bar we did order a charcuterie board one day post hike for a mid afternoon snack. It was as expected - local French cheeses, flavorful French sauccisson.
There is a proper sit down restaurant on site - L’Air du Temps where we chose to dine our last night. The options were a five course meal or a seven course meal. We chose the five course and walked away with mixed reviews. I loved the soup and the appetizers, but not my main. My husband liked the entire experience.
Outside the resort, in town, in Saint Martin Vesubie, you can find fabulous croissants at La Petite Suisse, delicious pizza at La Treille, and homemade pasta at Le Rendez-vous.
We also stopped at Restaurant L’Alpage in Le Boreon after our hike one day for a glass of wine and a beer before heading back to the resort. I have to mention it since it felt like I was walking into a storybook - the stereotype of the French chalet with an actual fromagerie on the grounds. It was a bit surreal - and perfectly sums up the charm this part of the world has.
The Experience
Aside from the hiking that can be found nearby and the town itself, Pure Montagne offers a spa which we visited the day our hiking plans were rained out. I loved my massage, my masseuse not just offering a massage but addressing the issues that I had brought to her. She is the only masseuse I’ve ever had who offered me real advice on how best to deal with my headaches and body pains. We did opt in for the hammam visit for an additional fee. It granted us access to the sauna and the indoor and outdoor jacuzzi. We both felt the hamman fee wasn’t worth the access to just a jacuzzi.
Final Notes
We absolutely loved our time at Pure Montagne and plan to return in the future. The walkability to town, the Mercantour less than a 30 min drive away, the amazing staff - it can’t be beat. If you’re needing a place to unwind in between hikes or just needing a quick mountain getaway from the beaches of Nice, Pure Montagne, Saint-Martin-Vesubie, and the Mercantour will not disappoint.
