Further Information about Serre Chevalier
Deep in the South Eastern corner of les Hautes Alpes lies Serre Chevalier close to the Italian border. The area consists of many small villages and hamlets which lie along the Guisane valley each with their own charm and character. The three main traditional villages are Chantemerle (1350m), Villeneuve (1400m) and Le Monêtier les Bains (1500m). A regular bus service (free for skiers) connects these villages with the historic 17th century town of Briançon, just 4 km away, where the railway station is situated.
The resort is capable of a throughput of 77,373 persons per hour. Once on the mountains you can ski from piste to piste and stop and relax at restaurants during the day without returning to the valley. The skiing which is the third most extensive area in France will suit all abilities- beginners, intermediates and advanced. Unlike many resorts beginners can enjoy the good snow at high elevation where some of the nursery slopes are situated and can therefore meet up with family or friends during the day. The pistes are largely on north facing slopes ensuring a long season from early December to mid April. A network of snow cannons covers 145 hectares, nearly one third of the piste area.
With its superb forests of larches and pines, the ski area offers extremely varied and exciting skiing in valleys and coombs from tree-lined pistes to wider more open runs. For the good skiers there are some exceptional off-piste runs and the potential to ski more than 6,000m of descent in a single day.
A hands-free electronic pass system ensures rapid access to the lift system and the Grande Serre Che valley bus service throughout the resort.
For visitors who prefer alternative winter activities to downhill skiing, there are extensive cross country trails linking villages along the valley. Other attractions include sleigh rides, snow shoe walking in the Ecrin National Park. For the more adventurous there is plenty of opportunity to ski off piste in the largest larch forest in Europe, paragliding off the mountain. There is also opportunity to perfect your winter driving skills an ice driving course at Villeneuve or even test drive the latest piste basher on the mountain!
And at the end of the day the natural hot spring baths at Monetier provide opportunities to relax in both outdoor and indoor pools whilst enjoying magnificent views of surrounding glaciers!
Other features include a 3 hectare Snow park at Villeneuve (accessible day and night) carefully groomed for beginners and experts and Boarder Cross courses at Chantermerle, a fun route with various ramps groomed to suit all abilities and ages.
Continued investment is planned between 2008 and 2011:
- Construction of new ski lifts
- Construction of two retention dams for snow cannons
- Extension of the snow cannon network
- Continued piste design and development
Serre Chevalier - at a glance
| Height: | 1200-2800m with most of the skiing between 1500 and 2300 m. |
| Pistes: | 250 km, 15 Black, 42 Red, 33 Blue, 25 Green. 45 km cross country. 477 hectares of marked and maintained runs. Hourly throughput: 77,373 people/hour |
| Lift system: | 3 cable cars, 6 gondolas, 9 high speed chair lifts, 12 standard chair lifts, 1 moving walkway, 36 drag lifts. |
| Ski schools: | 5 ski schools, 350 instructors, instruction from 4 years of age, crèches from 6 months to 6 years in all main villages. |
| Travel: | Calais 915 km, Turin-Caselle Airport 108 km, Oulx for TGV 35km , Grenoble Airport 150 km, Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport 200km. Sleeper train (couchettes) from Paris to Briançon |
| Restaurants: | 13 mountain restaurants with table service and self service, some available to non skiers. |
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