7th Bataillon of Alpine Hunters

Often considered a natural rampart, the Alps are however not impassable. Through the presence of the Petit-Saint-Bernard, Bonhomme and Iseran passes, the Haute-Tarentaise valley has brought together important places of passage since prehistory. Since Antiquity, the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass has been a link between local Alpine populations. During the Roman conquest, Emperor Augustus completed the construction of the Roman road. Troops, sovereigns, pilgrims, merchants, bankers and peddlers cross paths on the roads. At the end of the Middle Ages, the County of Savoie controlled five crucial passes, including the Petit and Grand Saint-Bernard.

 Visits 

The Quartier des Alpins in Bourg Saint Maurice hosted the Blue Devils of the 7th Battalion of Alpine Hunters (BCA) until 2012. This place of memory allows you to discover the Haute Tarentaise valley and the defence works built to protect and control the communication routes to Italy. An opportunity to discover the local military past with its organization, the construction of fortifications, the battles and the men who gave their lives for our freedom and peace.

“I, Marie, am proud to be in this elite unit. It is part of the 27^th Alpine Division specialized in mountain combat. It’s missions require resistance, autonomy, adaptation to extreme conditions, composure and team cohesion. For around twenty years, we have been operating abroad: Mali, Afghanistan, Chad, Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo... as well as on French territory. Its motto: “Iron and Steel Battalion”.”

MILITARY PRESENCE: KEY DATES

1890 : 158^th Infantry Regiment. Some troops billeted locally.

1890 - 1894 : Construction of the Seloge and Chapieux barracks.

1893 - 1895 : Construction of the Veys road and barracks

1890 - 1914 : 11^th then 22^nd Foot Battalion Alpine Hunters, Seloge - Les Chapieux.

1909 : 108^th Territorial Infantry Regiment.

1913 : 97^th Infantry Regiment, 11^th Foot Artillery Regiment.

1914 : Commissioning of the first buildings in the Arbonne - Bourg Saint Maurice sector.

1922 :  1^st Company of the 7^th Battalion Alpine Hunters.

1935-1940 : 70^th Alpine Fortress Battalion.

1942-1944 : Italian, then German occupation.

 Did you know? 

THE ALPINE BERET

Adopted in 1891, the beret, or “tarte”, quickly became the emblem of the Alpine Hunters. The hat is big enough to protect from the sun or to keep feet warm during long guard duties in the mountains.

THE BLUE DEVILS

During the First World War, the Alpine Hunters were sent to the Vosges. In 1915, they fought “like lions” against German troops, who were very impressed and dubbed them the “Blue Devils” because of their blue uniform.