Les Menuires in France is one of the resorts of the legendary Three Valleys, an ideal choice for skiers of different levels of training, youth and family recreation. Le Menuires is located at an altitude of 1850 m, combines the charm of an Alpine village and excellent opportunities for skiing and recreation. Prepared slopes with guaranteed snow cover, numerous trails for beginners and extreme sports enthusiasts, hotels and residences located near the trails and lifts, restaurants and bars, sports and entertainment for every taste and age.

In Le Menuires, everything is simply wonderful with convenience. Of course, this is a modern sports resort, devoid of the charm of an old village (those who cannot imagine a winter holiday without old chalets should settle in the village of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, located a little lower down the slope, connected to Le Menuir by a lift), but thanks to this, the level of comfort here has been raised to unprecedented heights. The hotels built in recent years were immediately built with the expectation of skiing to the door, the slopes were laid with the expectation of maximum variety of terrain and the highest level of safety, and most of them have a warm southern exposure.

History and present

Les Menuirs began to be created as a ski resort in the 1950s. It officially opened in 1965, and in 1967 the first residential area, Le Croisette, was built here, which is today the center of the resort.

Les Menuirs: where to ski

Les Menuirs has excellent conditions for skiers of all levels. The resort is combined into one ski area with neighboring Saint-Martin and offers 160 km of slopes of varying difficulty: 6 black, 24 red, 37 blue and 12 green. There is a special ski area for beginners and difficult slopes for experienced skiers in the La Mas massif area, where the Walibi Gliss play area is also open. Thrill seekers will appreciate the BK Park play area with jumps and “Railway”, and on the new Mini KL track you can find out your maximum speed in complete safety. The ski area of Les Menuirs and Saint-Martin is served by 34 lifts and 410 snow cannons, which provide guaranteed snow cover. There are also 28 km of cross-country ski trails laid between Le Menuirs and Saint-Martin.

The main part of the slopes in the Menuir area is located on the western slopes of Mont de la Chambray (2850 m). The maximum height of the slopes on the opposite slopes in the Le Mas area is 2805 m. They have a north-eastern exposure, and the quality of the snow here is better. The climb up begins from the center of Menuir on a gondola lift consisting of two turns. There are interesting black and red runs in Le Mas, which are less crowded with skiers. There are various off-piste routes, one of which is Vallon de Lu, leading directly to Val Thorens. From the end points of other routes you will have to return by any means of transport.

On the western slopes of Mont de la Chambre there are easier descents, mainly red and blue. The snow here is not always good due to the sunlight. The transition to the Meribel valley or the descent to Val Thorens via Mont de la Chambre will take about an hour. From Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, you can also take a chairlift to the ridge of the mountain, from which you can descend both towards Méribel and towards Menuir.

The slopes are very well prepared and carefully marked. The lower sections of the slopes are equipped with snow cannons.

Skiing area – 1850-3200 meters

Total length of slopes – 160 km

Number of lifts – 45

Length of cross-country ski trails – 28 km

There are ski schools (over 200 instructors).

There are 160 km of own slopes around Les Menuires, and if you take into account the system of lifts that connect all the resorts of the Three Valleys together, if you wish, you can ski all 600 km of one of the largest ski regions in Europe. It is not surprising that with such wealth, the builders did not spare space for training slopes. The special sector of La Croisette is completely devoted to small children and beginners – and this is not a miserable pair of flat slopes, as is customary in other resorts, but a full-fledged skiing area of 5,000 sq m. All lifts in this area are free, the slopes are easy, wide and flat. La Croisette is also home to the largest local ski school – ESF, there is a children’s park “Schtrumpfs”, where you can “give” a child from the age of three months. Another ski kindergarten “Piou-Piou” works with children from 2.5 years. If you get tired of sitting in the “frog house”, then there are suitable conditions on the nearest tracks

The most interesting, for those who are good at skiing, trails are located on the La Massif. It is worth riding the long trails from the peak of Trois Marches and Mont de la Chambray. Around Menuir there are many slopes ideal for freeriding: you can go down directly to the lifts and avoid the need to use the bus. There are quite a few blue easy trails, but they are located mainly on the lower tier of the slopes, which worsens their quality in warm and sunny winter. In peak seasons, the ski lifts to the resort are overloaded.

Le Menuir: where to stay

Le Menuir in France has comfortable hotels of various star ratings, and almost all hotels are located near the lifts or slopes. These are first-class 4-star hotels and residences such as Les Bruyères, Les Villages Clubs du Soleil and CGH, elegant 3-star residences CGH P & V and affordable 2- and even 1-star residences.

Most of the hotels are ski in/ski out aparthotels, with their own kitchenettes and small courtyards, which is optimal when traveling with small children. The best option is Club Med Les Menuires, which has not only several children’s clubs, but also its own ski school on the hotel’s small training slope.

Appartement Les Menuires

Offering free WiFi and a restaurant, Les Menuires is located in the ski resort Le Menuir, 800 metres from Roc de Trois Marches and Menuir Ski Lifts and less than 1 km from Menuir Ski Lift. The apartment with mountain views has a balcony.

The apartment has 1 bedroom, a kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a flat-screen TV, a seating area, and 1 bathroom with a shower.

A terrace is available for guests to use. Guests can go cycling, fishing, or rent a bike.

Popular local attractions include Masse 1 Gondola, Doron Ski Lift, and Croisette Ski Lift. Meythet Airport is 106 km away.

The ultra-modern 3* Latitudes Hotel in Le Bruyères is nestled right into the cliff. Therefore, you need to take the elevator to the upper floors, and go down to the ground floor to the lower ones. From here you can also access the ice rink. The hotel was recently completely rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style using the traditional combination of wood and stone and is equipped with a spa center, a gym and a cozy bar with a fireplace.

At the same time, both resorts, Saint-Martin and Le Menuir, offer excellent accommodation in terms of price-quality ratio. Recently, the premium segment has been developing more and more actively. The 4 * Le Kaya hotel has been operating in Menuir since 2006.

In the 2011-12 season, the luxurious chalet ChaLet du SoLeiL JuLietta with 19 rooms opened, which is part of the same complex, during the construction of which were used the most modern energy-saving technologies and environmentally friendly materials.

Another new addition to the 2011-2012 season is the ChaLet du Mont VaLLon 4* residence complex, designed in the traditional Savoyard style. Guests can enjoy its 85 spacious apartments and excellent infrastructure, including an indoor heated pool, a spa area, a gym and a gastronomic restaurant.

In addition, on the site of the CLub Med complex in Reberty 2000, the Les ViLLages cLubs du SoLeiL club opened in the same year, offering all-inclusive accommodation packages for family holidays.

Odalys Chalet De Marie 4 star hotel

Chalet Odalys De Marie is located about 700 metres from Rocher Noir Ski Lift and features views of the mountains. Guests at the chalet can use the fully equipped kitchen.

The chalet has 5 separate bedrooms and a balcony. A flat-screen TV is featured. Bed linen is included.

Skiing is possible in the surrounding area, and the chalet offers ski storage space.

Chalet De Marie is located 700 metres from Tortolle and 1 km from Menuir Ski Lift. The distance to Chambery-Savoie Airport is 61 km.

Résidence Brelin 140W

Complex Résidence Brelin 140 W is located in the Le Menuir Ski Resort, 300 metres from Preyran and less than 1 km from Menuir Ski Lift, where guests can enjoy skiing. Guests will find a fully equipped kitchenette and a balcony.

Private parking is available on site.

The nearest ski lifts to Résidence Brelin 140 W are Roc de Trois Marchés 1, Mas 1 Gondola and Doron. Meythet Airport is 104 km away.

Apartment Les Origanes.4 3 star hotel

Apartment Les Origanes.4 is located in the ski resort Le Menuires, 1 km from Roc de Trois Marches-1 Ski Lift and 2.2 km from Mas-1 Gondola Lift. The apartment is 2.2 km from Mont de la Chambre and Doron Ski Lifts.

The apartment consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a fridge. A TV is provided.

Skiing and cycling can be enjoyed nearby.

Croisette Ski Lift is 2.2 km from the apartment, while Reberty Ski Lift is 2.3 km away. Maitret Airport is 106 km from Apt Origanes II Menuires.

Les Menuires: not only skiing

Les Menuires in skiing France offers excellent opportunities not only for skiing, but also for other sports, entertainment and après-ski. These include hiking and snowshoeing, snowmobiling and sledding on the Rock’n Bob track and off-road biking on the 8-kilometer Rock’n Bike track, exciting descents in the modern snow park and paragliding. The resort’s sports complex, covering an area of 4,500 sq m, has: 2 outdoor swimming pools (open daily from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), a sauna, a Turkish bath, a solarium, a gym, a massage parlor, a disco, and entertainment for children. The ice rink is open every day except Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The resort offers guests an extensive entertainment program, and the resort regularly hosts sports competitions and special holidays for children. Those who wish can go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing (28 km of trails), and paragliding. The resort has 34 bars and restaurants, 14 mountain restaurants, 29 fashion and sportswear stores, 22 grocery stores, 2 discos, and 2 cinemas. The best restaurants are La Marmite du Geant and Les Sonnailles, and the resort’s nightlife is quite quiet.

The resort is divided into three areas. The central one – Le Croisette – has the main entertainment and shops. From here, access to the lifts is most convenient. There are two more new areas: Le Bruyères and Reberty (1850 m), where there are mainly modern residential buildings and there are also shops and bars. Lower down the valley is Saint-Martin de Belleville (1400 m) – a pretty Savoyard village connected to Menuir by a lift. It has many old wooden and stone houses, and in the center of the village on a small square there is a 16th-century church.

Le Menuir: restaurants

Le Menuir has more than 60 restaurants and bars, including 12 mountain restaurants. Here you can taste traditional Savoyard dishes, enjoy exquisite French cuisine and dishes from different countries, and relax with a glass of fine French wine or a cocktail, admiring the amazing mountain landscapes of the resort.

Le Menuir: family vacation

Le Menuir belongs to the family of resorts marked with the Famille Plus brand. There is a special skiing area for beginners, which is also great for children, and a safe snowmobile trail for children from 6 to 12 years old, ski lessons are held for children from 2.5 years old, the Piu Piu club for babies from 3 to 30 months and 2 mini-clubs with winter entertainment for children under 5 years old, a castle for sledding has been built, and the sports center has a children’s amusement park and a water club. The resort also offers a huge selection of sports and entertainment activities for family recreation.

In general, the Belleville Valley is a real paradise for children and their parents. All entertainment, whether it’s skiing, the Roc’n Bob toboggan four kilometers long and with a height difference of 450 meters, starting from the top of Roc des 3 Marshes, a large ice rink that opens in the evenings in the center of Menuir, a sports center with an Aquaclub and a spa complex, are designed for all ages. Swimming pool, saunas, jacuzzi, gyms, special programs, there are even groups for pregnant women – all this is designed for every taste and request.

Le Menuir: Shopping

The resort has over 90 shops – from fashion boutiques to ski equipment stores і спортивного одягу до крамниць, що пропонують традиційні Савойські продукти, чудову випічку і шоколад.

Як дістатися

Найближчі до Ле-Менюіру аеропорти знаходяться в Шамбері, Греноблі, Женеві та Ліоні, звідки до курорту регулярно курсують шатли. З Парижа можна доїхати на швидкісному поїзді TGV до Мутье (27 км), а звідти автобусом до Ле-Менюіра.