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.

The prices and visiting days are available on My week at Les Arcs or at the Tourist Offices.

The Quartier des Alpins in Bourg-Saint-Maurice hosted the Diables Bleus of the 7^th Battalion of Alpine Hunters (BCA) until 2012. This memorial site offers an opportunity to discover the Haute Tarentaise valley and the defensive structures built to protect and control communication routes to Italy. It provides a chance to explore the local military history, including 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 from 1891, the beret, or “tarte,” quickly became the emblem of the alpine hunters. It is large enough to protect from the sun or warm the feet during long mountain guards.

THE BLUE DEVILS

During World War I, the alpine hunters were sent to the Vosges. In 1915, they fought "like lions" against the German troops, who were very impressed and called them "Blue Devils" because of their blue uniforms.