SERRE CHEVALIER - Skiing in Serre Chevalier  Accommodation   Prices   Previous Page 
 
One of the largest resorts in France, interlinked ski areas, excellent snow record, great value for France.

 

* Huge area - 250 kms of skiing
* 17th century building converted to

* chalet-hotel of great character
* New high spec en-suite Chalet
* Big value French hotel
* La Grave-Europe's greatest off piste
*Thermal baths
*Italy on the ski pass

THE SKIING
The largest unknown area in France offers skiing to four different interlinked areas. They are different in character and give you different types of days. The impressive lift system links them very easily. however if you end up at the end far away from Monetier and you do want to get back easily, simply get on the complimentary bus. You are not forced under pressure to get home.

Spend a day skiing the north face runs of Monetier, offering a variety of excellent blacks, including the challenging Tubuc or the particularly impressive Tut de Grand, however these are not compulsory as you can pleasantly cruise from top to bottom, over 4.500 ft of descent. Alternatively you can enjoy the long interlinked run to Briancon, ski down to and above the villages of Villeneuve and Chantmerle. If you are feeling really fit try and get there and back in the day, if you are really good you will make it back to the Bachas for lunch.

Each area will keep you more than occupied for the day and remember you can always come back on the shuttle bus.

An added bonus of Serre Chevalier is that many of the runs are well protected by Frances largest larch forest, this means that they are shielded from the sun and give very good late season skiing. We rate the mountain restaurants as having a great atmosphere and good prices.

The lift pass of Serre Chevalier does give you a free day at the nearby resort of Montgeneve which links into Claviers in Italy. Its just a short bus ride away and you can enjoy an excellent Italian lunch, this is one not to miss.

If you want real excitement you can always visit La Grave, rated by many as the most challenging skiing in Europe, guide strongly recommended.

 

Ski Facts

Skiing area:250 kms

Resort Height: 1500m

Height of top lift: 2830m

Snow cannon: extensive cover on the lower slopes.

Ski Areas: Monetier, Villeneuve, Chantmerle, Briancon. good access to La Grave.

Facilities: Natural spa baths in monetier, ice driving, sleigh rides, paracending, selection of snow parks.

Last season was yet another great snow year, it was the tenth giving resort level skiing at Easter. The best value resort of all for big French skiing, with north facing forest runs all interlinked. A traditional village with a real welcome

OFF PISTE

This area is rapidly gaining important reputation for the many off piste possibilities, the best area for this is fortunately Monetier where Ski Miquel is based. A short hike up to the Cucumelle gives access to an excellent bowl which after a long ski brings you back into the Monetier lift system.

Both off to the left and right of Monetier the skiing offers many excellent and challenging variations. The choice of which does depend on the quality of snow conditions, guides strongly recommended. One of the great runs is off the back of the Pic Eyre, this goes down a very long hidden valley yet does come out to rejoin the Monetier lift system, so you have no long taxi ride back.

THE VILLAGE

We choose this part of Serre Chevalier because of the appeal of the Monetier village. It's certainly concrete free and what minimum development there has been is in the best possible taste and looks as though its been there for ever.

If you want to party the night away then you will need to take a short taxi ride down the valley, however we feel there is more than sufficient to cater for excellent evenings out in the village itself. Le Pub has very good live music, excellent beer, good prices and great evenings.

This winter a new twelve million euro thermal bath complex is opening, bring your swimmers!

Enjoy a drink in the Hotel d'le Europe bar, where Paul Finat will entertain you as long as you want to sit up and drink. There is more than sufficient shops to supply a need for retail therapy or something you may have forgotten to bring with you. We recommend the two cake shops, not that you will be hungry staying at the chalets. The village of Monetier is pretty enough and has more than sufficient interest to warrant simply walking around