Apartment Buqa

About Samoens - Out and About

There is plenty to see and do in and around Samoens, mostly within leisurely walking distance.

Centre of Samoens

The centre focal piece of the village is the Jaysinia alpine botanical garden, created in 1906, and boasting over 8000 varieties of alpine flora, as well as waterfalls, castle ruins from XII century and a chapel from XVIII century. Buqa is sat in perfect balcony view of this beautiful 3.5 acre garden.

The square in the heart of the village has an Ice Skating rink, which converts into an outdoor nightclub – great fun, especially on New Year’s Eve!

Samoens and its surrounding area has all the amenities that cater for the residents and visitors. There is a good choice of bars, cafes, restaurants as well as pharmacies, over 40 clothes, trinkets, crafts and souvenir shops, supermarkets, ski/bike equipment and hire shops, bakeries, chocolatiers…and a tourist information office to help you find all of the above!

There is a good choice of banks and ATM machines in the town. Samoens, like the rest if France, operates in Euros. For your convenience, all the shops, bars and restaurants accept major credit cards.

Local Market

Every Wednesday, there is a market, which sells local fresh produce of the Haute-Savoie, such as cheeses, (Raclette and Tartiflette are the local specialities), sausages and wines, as well as local crafts- all reasonably priced.

There is also a Dairy factory and gallery Frutiere de Samoens for those with a real appreciation of the cheese making process.

You will find a living farm museum Le Clos Parchet in the village, for those among us who want to explore the history of the Upper Giffre Valley.

Recreation and Relaxation

To relax indoors, Criou cinema is in the centre of Samoens and it offers 2 to 3 shows a day during the season.

There are many beauticians dotted around the village, for relaxation, pampering spas and complementary therapies such as Reflexology and Indian head massage. One therapist who comes recommended is Claire. She is located next to the church in the square.
t: +33 (0) 672 62 24 64 e: [email protected]

The Sports Centre is one of the newest additions to the village. It has an indoor climbing wall, indoor tennis and squash courts, and Parc d’Activities for real family fun.

There are local guides available all year long (it is worth noting that they are prominently French speaking only).