Serre Chevalier Luxury Ski Resort

The French alpine resort of Serre Chevalier offers more than 250 km of pisted ski runs with no less than 111 different slopes and 77 ski lifts. Combined, this creates a huge winter wonderland for skiers of all ages and experiences.

The 13 villages of Serre Chevalier make up the Serre Chevalier region - from its one and only town of Briancon, through La Gerarde, Saint Chaffrey, Chantemerle, Villard Late, Les Pananches, La Salle Les Alpes, Villeneuve, Le Bez, Le Serre Barbin, Le Freyssinet, Les Guibertes and on to Le Monetier les Bains.

The three main villages within the area are:

Briancon - a typical French town whose 'old town', perched on a hill surrounded by old walls and seen from all parts, now makes for an amazing walk through tiny cobbled lanes and ancient buildings.

Chantemerle - coupled with the quaint and very traditional Saint Chaffrey, Chantemerle offers great access to the whole Serre Chevalier ski region as it lies central between Briancon and Villeneuve. Chantemerle is a typical ski resort village with its main square, sports shops, supermarkets, bars and extensive parking.

Villeneuve - the purpose built ski village of Villeneuve offers, once again, great central access to the ski area of Serre Chevalier. It also has the traditional cobbled streets so well-liked by visitors that give it a real French ski resort feel.

The skiing is unbeatable – for all levels it is plentiful and wide ranging, and skilled intermediates will particularly enjoy the 250km of cruising. The well-linked lift system is covered by an efficient, electronic, hands-free lift pass. The three main mountain access points are from Villeneuve, Chantemerle and Briançon, with most of the lifts and pistes concentrated in the area above Villeneuve and Chantemerle. The Monêtier section, although less accessible, is the most appealing and is the least crowded in the whole area.

The Grand Alpe section above Chantemerle includes a decent but sometimes busy beginners’ area, and Briançon has its own nursery slopes. There are commendable starter slopes at Monêtier and Villeneuve, with beginner lifts at their bases.

Monêtier has some enjoyable red pistes through the woods, such as that from Bachas at 2,180m down to the valley at Monêtier. The Cucumelle that connects Monêtier and Villeneuve is another recommended red: a long fun run with good potential for off-piste either side.

Overall, Monêtier is the prime area for advanced skiers, although the high and exposed link with Villeneuve can sometimes be closed. Isolée is an exciting black, which starts on the ridge from L’Eychauda at 2,659m and plunges down towards Echaillon. Tabuc is a long black run through the woods with a couple of steep and narrow pitches. The Casse du Boeuf, a sweeping ridge through the trees back to Villeneuve, is, according to one reporter, ‘better than sex, but more tiring’.

Snowboarders consider this to be one of the best resorts in France. The original terrain park is at the bottom of the Yret chair-lift, and the one at Villeneuve contains jumps, half- and quarter-pipes.