Les Gets

From its origins (in the 11th century), the le village of Les Gets has had wood in its veins the name "Les Gets" came from the local dialect words "gitte" or "giette" meaning the corridors used to send logs rapidly down the hillside.
Well before tourism developed from winter sports, wood and water were the main resources for the inhabitants of Les Gets. They used different varieties of pine for building: from the main structure to chimneys, from partition walls to roofing tiles; everything was made from wood. It was also used to make kitchen utensils (spoons and buckets for example) and agricultural tools, such as forks, rakes, scythe handles and coffis. In the springtime the sawmills would operate, because at that time of year, the water volume is higher due to the melting of the winter snows. Today, the forests which cover 2/3 of the Commune are still a veritable
livelihood, such as: A wood fired heating system supplying 12 Commune buildings, Sawmills which are still functioning, a tradition omnipresent in our architecture, crafts and heritage etc...