An Introduction to Serre Chevalier
Serre Chevalier is one of the largest ski areas in France, a sprawling collection of resorts in the Southern French Alps. Rather than a single purpose-built village, it comprises four main bases: the historic UNESCO World Heritage city of Briançon, the family-friendly Chantemerle, the lively Villeneuve-la-Salle, and the traditional spa village of Le Monêtier-les-Bains. This collection of distinct communities gives the area a unique character, combining extensive skiing with authentic mountain life. Known for its sunny climate and vast, varied terrain, Serre Chevalier offers a comprehensive alpine experience.
The Skiing & Terrain
The scale of Serre Chevalier’s ski area is impressive, offering 250 kilometres of marked pistes served by 59 lifts. The terrain spans a significant vertical drop of 1600 metres, with the highest lifts reaching 2800 metres and the lowest runs returning to the valley floor at 1200 metres. This altitude range ensures varied conditions, from sheltered, tree-lined runs on the lower slopes to high-altitude, open bowls with panoramic views.
The piste network is exceptionally well-suited to developing skiers:
- Easy slopes: 137.5 km (Green/Blue)
- Intermediate slopes: 80 km (Red)
- Difficult slopes: 32.5 km (Black)
The layout allows for long, cruising descents between the different sectors, making it easy to explore the entire valley on skis. The lower slopes, particularly through the extensive larch forests, are a highlight and provide excellent visibility in poor weather.
Who is Serre Chevalier For?
With more than half of its terrain designated as easy, Serre Chevalier is an outstanding destination for beginners and intermediates. Each village has its own dedicated nursery slopes, allowing new skiers to build confidence in a safe environment before progressing to the gentle, rolling blue runs higher up the mountain. Intermediates will find the area to be a paradise, with endless kilometres of red and blue pistes to explore, including long journeys from one end of the valley to the other.
Advanced skiers have 32.5 kilometres of challenging black runs, including the famous Luc Alphand piste into Chantemerle. However, the resort’s real appeal for experts lies in its extensive and easily accessible off-piste terrain. The high bowls and forested areas offer countless opportunities for powder skiing. For families, the combination of gentle slopes, multiple village bases with different characters, and numerous non-skiing activities makes it a versatile and appealing choice.
Season and Snow Reliability
Serre Chevalier benefits from a high-altitude ski area, with the majority of its slopes situated above 2000 metres. This, combined with its location in the Southern Alps which often receives snow from multiple directions, gives it a strong snow record. The resort also has extensive snowmaking capabilities to secure conditions on key runs throughout the season, which typically runs from early December to late April. Its southern location also blesses it with a reputation for enjoying more sunny days than many of its northern counterparts.
Practical Information for Visitors
Getting to Serre Chevalier is straightforward. The nearest major airport is Turin (TRN) in Italy, approximately a 90-minute drive away. Grenoble (GNB) is another popular option. A key advantage is Briançon’s train station, which offers direct TGV and overnight services from Paris. When choosing where to stay, consider the character of each village: Briançon offers city life and history, Chantemerle and Villeneuve provide central access to the ski area with plenty of amenities, while Le Monêtier is quieter and famed for its natural thermal spa, Les Grands Bains du Monêtier. A day pass for the full area costs around €65.50, with multi-day passes offering better value for longer stays.
