TRAVEL DATES: March 3 – 15, 2023

Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier is an attractive resort, with narrow cobbled streets and pretty shops lining the village’s main road. Most of the accommodation consists of small chalets, family-run B&Bs, or self-catered. Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon, is a destination like no other: the only example in France of a ski resort backing onto a town of more than 10,000 inhabitants, offering an exceptional variety of activities associated with a unique heritage, spectacular and preserved landscapes, in a privileged climate.
The main town of Briançon is at the lower end of the valley at 1200 meters altitude increasing to 1350 meters altitude where its old walled town called Cité Vauban sits majestically surrounded by smaller forts of distinction. Briançon stands out for its picturesque town and its fortifications, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it also stands out for the fact that almost unique in Europe, this town of art and history is also a ski resort. Travel north from Briançon and you come to the villages of Saint Chaffrey-Chantemerle (1350 meters), Villeneuve La Salle (1400 meters), and Le Monêtier les Bains (1500 meters) the alpine spa village with its fabulous thermal spa. The Serre Chevalier resort is located right in the middle of magnificent nature in the “Les Ecrins” National Park with the 4102 m high “Dôme des Ecrins” and wonderful centuries-old larch and pine trees. Whether you searching for a high alpine skiing experience with a view of the glacier or cool cross-country skiing through the larch forests – both are on offer. Plenty of variety is offered with mogul slopes and wide runs, the “Altitude” Snowpark is spread over 3 hectares with a length of 700 m divided into 3 difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert as well as a boarder and skicross course with steep curves. The needs of families are also catered to on the marked slopes.
Snow cover is exceptionally good which is down to the resort’s north-facing position. Slopes are colder for longer and they tend to hold onto more snow. The majority of the skiing is on the top half of the mountain and the trees protect the lower slopes. Snow-making machines protect the base of the valley pistes and the grooming is consistently well done. The valley grows quiet in May and November each year when many local shop and restaurant owners take a break and head south or spend time with family. Briançon however remains alive and attracts visitors all year round thanks to its historic routes (medieval fortresses surround the town) and its central location where you can choose to take any of the five different valleys including the Guisane (mentioned above), Durance (direction south) and the Clarée towards Italy.