Cheval Noir, Mountain summit in Savoie, France

Cheval Noir is a mountain summit in the French Alps located in the Savoie region. It stands between Moûtiers and La Chambre, offering views across neighboring peaks and valleys from its elevated position.

Cheval Noir gives its name to the Cheval Noir unit, an accretionary wedge formed during the subduction of the Valais ocean, also called the North Penninic ocean. The mountain lies in the Savoie department between Moûtiers to the north-east and La Chambre to the south-west. On 30 June 2010 the Cheval Noir area was the epicentre of an earthquake of magnitude 4.3.

The mountain holds geological importance as it names the Cheval Noir unit, studied extensively by researchers examining Alpine formations.

The summit sits above the ski resorts of Valmorel and Saint-François-Longchamp, which occupy its lower slopes, and it overlooks the Col de la Madeleine. The metal horse on top was flown in by helicopter, as were the workers and materials. The grassy ridge in the foreground gives access to the upper crags and the fan of scree below the peak.

At the summit stands a metal statue of a rearing horse, initiated by the intermunicipal authority: the town hall of Saint-Jean-de-Belleville led the project from 2009, with Saint-François-Longchamp and Les Avanchers-Valmorel sharing the funding, for an initial estimated cost of €15,000. Made by Patines et Volutes of Aime-la-Plagne on a base by Laurent Jay of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, it was flown up by helicopter and inaugurated in 2014.