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Bessans | |
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The town hall, war memorial and church in Bessans | |
Coordinates: 45°19′N 7°00′E / 45.32°N 7.00°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
Department | Savoie |
Arrondissement | Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne |
Canton | Modane |
Intercommunality | Haute Maurienne-Vanoise |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Jérémy Tracq[1] |
Area 1 | 154.01 km2 (59.46 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | 361 |
• Density | 2.3/km2 (6.1/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 73040 /73480 |
Elevation | 1,673–3,752 m (5,489–12,310 ft) (avg. 1,835 m or 6,020 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Bessans is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.[3] 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 admirably describes the originality of this traditional culture that is still very much alive today.