Serre Chevalier - France
Despite the extensive snow sure pistes and great sunshine record Serre Chevalier (Sair cheval-ee-ay) is one of the least known ski resorts in France. As you look at a map it is located in the bottom right hand corner of the country! Serre Chevalier borders the Ecrins National Park and has views of stunning glaciers and the border with neighbouring Italy. The location gives plenty of options in terms of access with reasonable transfer times from Grenoble, Turin and Marseille airports.
The resort consists of three villages and the town of Briancon at 1200m and the locals are exceptionally friendly compared to other parts of France. Luc Alphand, world champion 1995-97, is probably the area's most famous son - so famous he has his own beer! Groups with non-skiers should consider Serre Che as a serious option due to the high number of off-slope activities. One highlight is the Grotte du Glace, a 100m long ice cave filled with magnificent ice sculptures.
At a glance
| Resort altitude | 1350m - 1500m |
|---|---|
| Highest lift | 2730m |
| Lowest lift | 1350m |
| kms of piste | 250km² |
| Black pistes | 14% |
| Red pistes | 38% |
| Blue pistes | 27% |
| Green pistes | 21% |
| Snow parks | 2 |
| Glacier | No |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
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Five to try
- Learning to ice-drive
- Taking a snowcat tour
- Visiting the slightly scary ice caves
- Relaxing at the hot springs in the evening after a hard day on the slopes
- Having a go at snow shoeing
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Planning your trip
Serre Chevalier is in a good location in terms of airports, so even if you are planning a shorter trip it can be easy to get from the airport to the slopes. The nearest airports are Turin in Italy and Grenoble in France and these are served by Easyjet and Ryanair,. Lyon, Marseille and Geneva are also reasonably more...
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Where to stay
Made up of around a dozen villages that stretch along the road between the old walled town of Briancon and Grenoble, Serre Chevalier is actually the name that this group of traditional settlements operates under as a ski resort. Expect a very French experience, with plenty of good Gallic hospitality in the value more...
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Food and drink
Eating out in Serre Chevalier is a typically French affair, with many charming restaurants in the villages, serving local specialities. Between the villages there are over 100 eateries to choose from, ranging from simple snack menus to Michelin Starred restaurants. It would be fair to say that Serre Chevalier is not a more...
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Things to do
Because of the layout of Serre Chevalier in 13 villages, and the fact that it is relatively undiscovered by the international skiing community, the variety of entertainment away from the slopes is not that huge. Having said that, it could be argued that this is part of its charm. Besides, with such an extent of more...
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On the piste
The snow record here is excellent and skiing reaches as high as 2830m on North-facing slopes. In the 2006/7 ski season, further snowmaking facilities were installed in the Monetier sector to further increase snow reliability. With skiing above and in the tree line there is a nice variety on offer in more...
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MadDogView
Serre Chevalier is made up for a lot of smaller villages, all with their different charms. Refreshingly free from hordes of British skiers, the good range of slopes makes it useful for mixed ability groups.
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Map
- Download piste map
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Our favourites
Mojo Bar & Restaurant
Run by British couple Mel Hall and Tim Brown, Mojo is a jewel in the crown of Serre Chevalier. Boasting a large selection of drinks from Cocktails to a good old pint of whatever floats your boat. Mojo is a great place to unwind after the slopes with its free WIFI and arguably the best value food in the town. -
Useful stuff
