Located near the Italian border, Serre Chevalier is one of the southernmost resorts in the Alps and the fifth largest ski region in France .
Serre Chevalier in France is the largest ski area in the Southern Alps, bordering Italy and Les Ecrins National Park. It is located in an 8-kilometer valley and consists of three communes – Saint-Chaffre, La Salle-les-Alpes and Monettieu-les-Bains, each of which includes several villages. It’s always sunny here and there is excellent snow cover. Serre-Chevalier is known as an excellent place for family vacations – throughout the season there is animation for children, events for all age groups are held, and favorable rates for family passes are offered. All this, combined with 250 km of excellent slopes, make Serre Chevalier one of the most popular ski Rivieras in Europe.
The development of the Serre-Chevalier ski resort began only in the last century, but some of the villages and towns that make up it have a rich history. For example, the city of Briançon was founded in the 10th century and has not only a 1000-year history, but also a large number of interesting sights.
Serre Chevalier stretches for seven kilometers along the Guzan valley, from Briançon, where the first ski school in France was founded in 1902, to the Col du Lothar mountain pass. In winter, it is a gathering place for skiers from all over the world, in summer they come here for rafting, trekking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The resort is ideal for family vacations – 50% of its trails are marked with “blue” and “green” markings. In addition, every village has ski schools, kindergartens and leisure centers for young skiers.
Tracks, slopes, lifts
Serre Chevalier is the snow of the northern Alps under the southern Alpine sun, which shines here 300 days a year. The slopes of the resort have a northern exposure, which, together with artificial snow on the lower slopes, guarantees skiing throughout the season, from the end of November to the end of April.
Skiing zone – 1200-2830
The number of ski slopes is 111 (of which: 15 – black, 55 – red, 20 – blue, 21 – green)
The total length of the tracks is 250 km
The number of lifts is 77 (of which: 3 – car lifts, 6 – gondola lifts, 19 – chairlifts, 49 – ski lifts)
The length of the cross-country skiing is 45 km
The resort operates mountain and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and equipment rental schools.
Serre Chevalier in France has a developed infrastructure: 500 cannons for artificial snow, and more than 100 well-maintained tracks. The highest point of skiing is at an altitude of 2,800 m. The relief of the slopes is very diverse and is suitable for both experienced skiers and beginners. There are a total of 250 km of various trails in the Serre Chevalier region. Advanced skiers and experts will find a lot of interesting things here. Approximately half of the tracks located below 2200 meters pass through the forest. The forests that cover the slopes of the local mountains consist of powerful old larch trees, and the descent under them brings unforgettable sensations.
Extremes will be interested in the “black” track Olimpique Luc Alphand, named after Luc Alphand – a local celebrity and Olympic medalist, as well as the long Tabuc and Casse du Boeuf. A lot of difficult descents for professionals and fans of off-piste skiing are located in the area of Le Grand Pré and La Montagnola.
The Espas-Igle-Free area is fully adapted for snowboarders. From the top of Ser Chevalier (2491 m) you can go down to the bordercross track. At the Villeneuve station (2200 m) there is a large Serre Chevalier snow park, which includes three different zones. Beginners are recommended the easy wide tracks in Chantemerl and Villeneuve, as well as the blue tracks of the nearby resort of Montier-les-Bains. Those who prefer scenic forest trails will love the Vallon de la Cucumella.
The resort is part of the ski pass service area of the combined Grand Galaxy ski area (Les des Alpes, Alpe d’Huez and others), but you can also purchase a separate ski pass for the resort – Serre Chevalier Special. Purchased for a period of at least 6 days, it entitles you to one day of skiing at one of the resorts of the Grand Galaxy group. Children under the age of 6 and senior athletes over the age of 75 use the lifts for free. Discounts are available for young skiers under the age of 12.
Off-piste skiing
Scheme of off-road routes in Serre-Chevalier
This scheme is in no way a guide to action, but serves only to assess the off-piste skiing possibilities of the region. Any exit outside the boundaries of the marked route must be realized, all responsibility for possible consequences rests with you.
Freeriding is allowed and promoted in France, but anyone who goes off-piste should be aware that they do so at their own risk and that no one will ensure the safety of the off-piste slope. You should not go off-road without minimal avalanche equipment – a beeper, a shovel and a probe.
The basis of a successful freeride is a combination of terrain and snow cover. Enough of the snow, but let’s talk about the terrain in more detail.
The resort of Serre Chevalier is divided into several skiing areas. The main area for off-piste skiing is Monetier Le Bane. This is the uppermost of the villages in the Serre Chevalier valley. From the first stage of the lift, you can see short, but quite interesting options for descents from the side wall to the right of the cableway line (zone 4). These routes are accessible directly from the lower fast quad chair lift. Descents are possible both in the direction of the lift and in the opposite direction (4′) from the same ridge. They have south-east and south-west exposure, respectively, so there is far from always good soft snow. Despite the seeming obviousness of the descents, these slopes roll slowly, and you can ride on pristine snow even five days after a snowfall. But this is not accidental: these slopes have a serious slope and a high avalanche danger.
When climbing to the next row of lifts, a beautiful view of the slopes with a good slope opens directly under the ropeway (2).
Entry into the Magic Forest
The eastern slope is the first to roll after snowfall, but its far part is covered with forest. And this is a magical forest (3). We unanimously agreed that the Monetieu area in Serre Chevalier is one of the best forest skiing spots we’ve visited. “Enchanted Oriental Forest” in Monetier is an enchanted key to powder on a serious slope.
In the Enchanted Forest
Magic forest
On the left – the Cibouit lift, around it and to the right – zone 2. Even further to the right, all the way – zone 3 (Magic Forest)
Directly opposite this forest, under another lift (if you look at the photo above, on the left), the “northern circus”, in which there is never any sun, as a result – almost always good snow. This lift is called Yret, that’s why we also nicknamed the circus Yret (1).
A leisurely three-seater lift takes you to point 2800, from which all the main long-distance freeride routes are accessible. One of them begins with a steep descent into the valley to the west and then traverses the nearby mountain along the stream (5). All other routes start from the Kukumel peak, to which you need to walk for 15-30 minutes. But the spaces that open from this peak are worth much more. There is everything there – shady wooded couloirs with eternally soft snow (8, 10, 11), steep passages between rocks (9), sunny descents along a steep wall (7) and across the fields to the neighboring village (12). spend time on a fairly long traverse… This traverse can be started a little before reaching the top of Kukumel. Where it ends, different descent routes diverge. It is easy to get lost on these routes.
Panorama from the peak of Kukumel. The climb to the peak is clearly visible. In the center, you can see the wall – zone 13. In the left part of the panorama, you can see traverses to the main off-piste routes of Serra-Chevalier. Under the sun, the Pelvoux peak and the resort of the same name
If you go down to the peak of Kukumel, the attractive slopes in the direction of Monetije open up. We do not advise them because of the high danger of landslides (and avalanches will descend directly on the track) and very sharp stones, which are only covered by soft snow, so this wall is not marked on the diagram. The slopes are oriented to the east, and the bright sun does not allow a solid foundation to form.
Villeneuve is the next village down the valley, the center of the Serre-Chevalier resort . There is a place to ride off-piste. On the slope of the ridge that separates the ski area of Villeneuve and Chantemerle, the Pres du Bois ski lift is installed, around which there is no track – only forest, initially simple deciduous (15), lower down the ridge – coniferous, with ambiguous passages (17) . If you go higher on the chairlifts, you will have a view of the Chantemerle skiing area – fairly gentle short descents from local hills with rare steep spots. But you have to look in the other direction – to the northwest.
The Balme chairlift not only provides a connection between the Monettiers and Villeneuve zones, but also gives access to numerous passes in couloirs of varying difficulty and width, oriented to the northwest and keeping the snow in good condition (13). If you move along the valley further east, towards the Brianson ski area, the freeride will gradually come to nothing. Yes, you can find short pieces of virgin land next to the tracks, but they are deployed very quickly. If you came to Serra Chevalier to ride off-piste – park in Montier!
Sources and recovery
The most important place that you just have to visit after intense skiing is the Terme Montier!
This gift of nature, filled with water from a hot spring, was discovered by the Romans. Now it is the Grands Bains du Monetier thermal complex with outdoor and indoor pools, jacuzzi, Roman baths, steam room, music grotto, relaxation area and solarium.
It is located in Montier-les-Bains, where there is a thermal spring with a temperature of about 44 ° C. The complex is considered the largest in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and covers an area of 4,500 square meters, which includes jacuzzis, relaxation areas, a salt grotto, hydromassage , baths, Roman baths, a solarium terrace and an outdoor pool with a panoramic view of the Alps, an exclusive “Roman-Irish” area.
Where to stay
Ser Chevalier has 29 hotels, 19 residences and club hotels, 11 chalets. The resort is able to accommodate 37,000 skiers at the same time.
Résidence Odalys Aquisana 3 star hotel
Located in La Salle-les-Alpes, 800 meters from Serre Chevalier Villeneuve Ski School, Résidence Odalys Aquisana offers an indoor pool, hammam and ski storage. The Pontillas cable car is 400 meters from the hotel. Free Wi-Fi is available.
The room has a flat screen TV. There is also a kitchenette equipped with a microwave and refrigerator. Bed linen is provided. The hotel offers a free shuttle to and from the ski lift.
Popular points of interest near Résidence Odalys Aquisana include the Pontillas, Chazelay and L’Aiche cable cars.
Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa **** 4-star hotel
Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa is located in the Serre Chevalier ski resort. A sauna, hydromassage bath and massage treatments are available. Guests can join the ski slopes directly and the hotel offers views of the slopes. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the area.
All rooms are decorated in a mountain style, each room has a flat-screen TV, telephone, minibar, wardrobe, dressing table, desk, Nespresso coffee machine and safe. The bathroom includes a hairdryer and free toiletries.
A continental breakfast is available every morning at Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa. Guests can also enjoy traditional mountain cuisine in the on-site restaurant during the winter season. During the summer season, the bar offers light meals.
Additional features include free heated ski storage and a spa and wellness center for an additional fee. Briançon Train Station is 10 km away and Le Monêtier-les-Bains is an 8-minute drive away. A charging station for electric cars is available at this hotel.
4-star Rock Noir Hotel & Spa
Rock Noir & Spa is located in the very center of the Serre Chevalier valley , 20 meters from the main lift. It offers free access to the indoor pool and sauna. Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied.
The rooms have a flat-screen TV, a balcony for superior rooms, a minibar and a coffee maker. The bathroom includes a hairdryer, complimentary toiletries, slippers, a bathrobe and an iPod docking station.
The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and an original open fireplace.
Activities such as kayaking, canyoning, rafting and hydro-speeding can be arranged during summer hours by the Rock Noir & Spa team.
During the winter season, ski rentals and packages are available directly at the hotel.
Rock Noir Hotel & Spa is located 8 km from Bryanson. Free public parking as well as on-site ski storage with private compartments equipped with boot warmers.
Grand Hôtel & Spa NUXE Serre Chevalier 4-star hotel
The Grand Hôtel & Spa NUXE Serre Chevalier offers direct access to the ski slopes in the heart of Serre Chevalier, in the village of Chantemerle – Saint Chafry. Free Wi-Fi is available, and guests can go hiking and mountain biking in the summer. The main lifts are 100 meters away.
The chalet-style rooms at Hotel Le Grand are equipped with a desk, minibar, safe, Nespresso coffee machine and flat-screen TV. The private bathrooms have free NUXE toiletries. Some rooms also have a balcony with mountain views.
Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast every morning or dine in the hotel’s restaurant, or relax with a cup of tea by the fireplace in the bar. The sun terrace is open all year round and you can enjoy your meals on the terrace.
Grand Hôtel & Spa NUXE Serre Chevalier also has an on-site spa that guests can access free of charge. The spa includes a sauna, a hammam and a sensory shower.
Guests can make use of the on-site ski rental service and a ski storage room with a boot dryer. Briançon is just a 10-minute drive from Grand Hôtel & Spa NUXE Serre Chevalier.
Apres-Ski and infrastructure
Tourists enjoy their evening leisure time in restaurants, cafes, discotheques and cinemas, visit shops, the “Boutique of the Serre Chevalier Valley” and the Terme Montier with baths and a pool with water from a spring with a temperature of 36 °.
After a tiring day at a ski resort in France, you definitely need to recharge your batteries. You can do this in one of the French restaurants that serve excellent French cuisine. You can get to it on horse-drawn carts, which is sure to appeal to children.
The village of Serre-Chevalier is the center of commercial and marketing services of the mountain resort. It provides at your disposal all the necessary services that can help you in the implementation of your plans in accommodation and recreation, both for groups and for individual tourists.
All communes belonging to the Serre-Chevalier ski complex, together with the villages included in them, have a developed infrastructure, as well as a wide selection of hotels and entertainment. They have outdoor skating rinks, bars, restaurants, discotheques, shops and other facilities that contribute to an exciting pastime off the ski slopes. Cities such as Italian Turin, French Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble, Paris, Nice, Toulouse and others are located at different distances from the resort. Not far from Serre-Chevalier at an altitude of 1,350 meters above sea level, the historic fortress city of Briançon, listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site, stretches out. Such a large number of interesting places and cities located within easy reach of the resort allow its guests to make a number of interesting excursions,
During the entire season, numerous sports competitions are held on the territory of Serre Chevalier every year. Among them are competitions in snowkiting, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and freeriding. At the end of January, thousands of car fans gather here to see exciting races on retro cars on special ice tracks. In mid-March, the Offenbach Music Festival, dedicated to the famous French composer of the past century, is a success. During these big events, festivals and festivities are arranged in the villages, in which both local residents and tourists participate with pleasure.
Entertainment and active recreation
In absolutely any village, a lot of entertainment is offered during free time from skating – cinemas, ice rinks, bars, discos and shops. A snowshoe tour with the whole family through the Le Ecrine National Park to the small mountain village of Le Cassie is very popular among tourists.
Snowpark Espak is located in Villeneuve, 2000 meters above sea level, in the very center of the valley, level – from beginner to expert, 4 zones: easy level (XS modules), medium (S modules), difficult (M modules), expert ( modules L & XL). In the center of the Snowpark there is a Colzone – a place for meetings, rest, barbecue, with sunbeds.
Super-toboggan DevalBob (from 12 years old) – a toboggan run of more than 4 km, a drop of 573 m, 26 turns, runs through a larch forest.
In the evening, if you have energy left after conquering the mountain peaks, you can go bowling or indoor tennis courts. Or have dinner in one of the resort’s restaurants with a wide selection of traditional French and international cuisine.
Melzona in Chantemerle – in a luxurious landscape, far from the crowd, you will enjoy freestyle: the figures in the park are made of snow or wood. Melezone has picnic areas. Access is from the forest chairlifts, Aure du Bois and Champscella ski lift. The level is difficult (M).
VideoZona is a playground in Villeneuve, next to the Snowpark, equipped with cameras that record your exploits on the track. Downstairs, you can relax and watch your descent on a giant screen, and get your video via the Serre Chevalier Vallée mobile app and share it on social media. Let the competitors be jealous!
Night skiing:
– on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Villeneuve, in the Mickey-Discovery area, 5-9 p.m.
– on Thursdays in Briançon (torch descent with the ski school Briançon – Serre Chevalier, at 19.00)
New: family playground for children’s education, night golf game.
– For lovers of water fun, a large entertainment center is open in Briançon – there are many pools, an aqua park, a huge slide 65 m long, waterfalls, jacuzzis, saunas and fountains, a jacuzzi and a hammam.
In the summer, many activities are also held here – rafting on a mountain river, rock climbing, cycling or various hiking routes.
Around the resort there are interesting cities from the point of view of architecture and history: Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble, Nice, Toulouse, the ancient fortress city of Briançon, the Italian Turin, etc.
Serre-Chevalier itself has a rich cultural and historical heritage. Until now, in all the villages of the valley, the ancient Romanesque-Lombard bell towers of the 14th century have been preserved.
How to get there
The nearest international airports to Serre Chevalier are in Turin (110 km), Lyon (160 km) and Grenoble. The nearest train stations are in Grenoble, Briançon and Ulx (Italy, 30 km). There are shuttles from Lyon, Grenoble and Marseille airports to the resort.
