The hamlet of l'Ecot
Authenticity and simplicity
It's a lovely place to take a stroll. The Ecot chalets, built of stone and slate, overlook the valley below.
You'll be amazed by the simple, austere architecture of this hamlet at the end of the world, which reflects the harshness of human life at high altitude!
Cultural and architectural heritage...
This hamlet, steeped in history since the Middle Ages and fully restored and protected since 1971, was chosen to be the village of Sébastien and his endearing grandfather César. It's as if time has stood still in this hamlet, with its traditional stone houses grouped together under the watchful eye of the Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite.
Her unique character was not lost on the film crews, who have enhanced her beauty in each of Belle et Sébastien's adventures.
In summer, a 4 km family trail from Bonneval sur Arc takes hikers to the hamlet to discover its treasures and follow in Sébastien's footsteps.
It's also the starting point for walks to the Carro and Evettes refuges, to the sources of the Arc, a wild natural glacial cirque, and for a beautiful canyoning descent of the Arc.
With its old stones and slate roofs, this is a completely preserved cultural and architectural heritage.
Who has seduced the cinema!
L'Écot represents a completely preserved cultural and architectural heritage that appealed to Nicolas Vanier when he was looking for a location for his film Belle et Sébastien. Many will remember this TV series from the 60s, recounting the extraordinary encounter between a mountain child and a wild dog.
Le hameau de l'Ecot was exactly right for the script, filming took place in 2012, and the movie was released in 2013, selling 3 million tickets. In 2014, Christian Duguy directed a sequel to the story, Belle et Sébastien, l'aventure continue.
L'Ecot is obviously the main setting, and the film was released in December 2015. Belle et Sébastien 3 was released in cinemas in February 2018. This episode was also shot in Bonneval and the hamlet of L'Ecot.
Focus on Chapelle Sainte Marguerite
Piedmontese shepherds then settled there with their flocks around the 5th century, surviving the harsh, frugal conditions at altitude.
Inhabited year-round until 1960, then abandoned in winter, l'Écot is now home to several young Bonneval sur Arc households.
A little history...
Romanesque art is an essentially architectural artistic style that originated in Western Europe at the end of the 10th century and ceased with the emergence of Gothic art (early 12th century). Its technical features include a basilica floor plan, round barrel vaults, groin vaults, domes, spans and buttresses. Decoration is influenced by Antiquity, Eastern art and Celtic traditions. Two periods can be distinguished: the first Romanesque (950-1070) and the second Romanesque (1060-1130), the evolution and culmination of the first.