Family in the French Alps has lived in the same valley for 700 years

A family in the French Alps says it has lived in the same mountain valley for 700 years, remaining in the Haute Maurienne valley in Savoie through centuries of change. Apart from a major wave of emigration to Latin America in the
19th Century, the Suiffet family has stayed in Val-Cenis as the region evolved from traditional rural life into a modern alpine economy shaped by skiing and tourism.

Today, Benoît Suiffet continues that long lineage as a dairy farmer, producing milk used for Beaufort and Bleu de Bonneval cheese. Together with his wife Aude, he runs the family farm, GAEC La Vachère, and in summer, the family moves its herd up to a chalet near Lac du Mont-Cenis at about 2,000 metres, where the cows graze on high alpine pastures.

“Being part of a long history is a source of pride,” said Benoît. “An invisible yet indispensable link in the chain that connects us to our ancestors and to future generations.”

He adds that while tradition matters, each generation must also adapt. “Each generation must respect the legacy of previous work while also bringing new perspectives and renewal in an era with different realities,” he said. “A love of livestock farming and the values of the mountains are passed down through the centuries; the work is often difficult and demanding, but the connection with our ancestors is even stronger.”

Although farming remains at the heart of the family identity, many relatives now work across different parts of the local economy. Benoît’s parents, Pascal and Christine Suiffet, ran a village shop for 45 years before it was taken over by the next generation. Other family members include Fabien Suiffet, a high-mountain guide and ski instructor, Carole Damé, also a ski instructor, Alexis Suiffet, a carpenter working with local wood, and Mélanie Suiffet, who now manages the family business.

Together, these roles reflect how the family has gradually moved from a purely agricultural life into tourism, trade and mountain services, while remaining in the same valley.

While many old French families can trace their roots back several centuries, historians say it is unusual for a family to have remained continuously in the same small Alpine valley for 700 years.

At the head of the family is 88-year-old Marie-Louise Jorcin, known as “Zizette”, a respected figure in Val-Cenis. She is credited with passing on her knowledge of livestock farming and mountain life to Benoît, teaching him from an early age how to care for animals and understand life at high altitude.

She still lives at the alpine farm, surrounded by family, including her great-grandchildren, linking the family’s past directly to its future.