Serre Chevalier is a ski resort located in the French Alps, near the town of Briançon in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It is one of the largest ski resorts in Europe and offers a diverse range of winter and summer sporting activities. The resort is spread across several villages, including Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve, and Monêtier-les-Bains. It is an interesting and diverse area, which is set amongst the beautiful scenery of the Ecrins National Park.

Where is Serre Chevalier?

Serre Chevalier is a ski resort located in the French Alps. It is situated in the South-Eastern part of France, near the town of Briançon. The ski resort encompasses several villages, including Chantemerle, Villeneuve, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, and Briançon, and it offers a wide range of winter sports activities against the picturesque mountainous backdrop of the Ecrins National Park.

How to get to Serre Chevalier:

• The closest airports to Serre Chevalier are Turin, Chambéry and Grenoble. If you are travelling by train then head for Briançon, which is the nearest major train station.
• Turin Airport is around 2hrs, Grenoble and Chambéry are both around 2.5 hours by car.
• It is also good to know that there is an overnight train from Paris to Briançon, which is a great option if you don’t want the hassle of flying and you want to keep your carbon footprint down.

Winter in Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier is part of the Grande Galaxie ski pass which has an incredible 531km of combined ski runs, making it one of the largest ski areas in Europe. There are 264 marked pistes which are all served by 150 ski lifts. The areas within the Grande Galaxie ski area are Serre Chevalier, Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes, Puy Saint Vincent and La Grave. The appropriate lift pass will give you access to all these ski resorts and is well worth the investment.

Serre Chevalier itself has 250km of skiing, so is a large ski area in its own right. It is also a high altitude resort with around 80% of its slopes being over 2,000m, so it’s snow sure despite the high number of sunny days per year. The resort has lifts up to 2,800m and has runs down to 1,200m which are in and above a treeline of larch forests on the north-facing slopes of a high ridge that stretches above the valley’s villages. This ensures decent conditions through to mid-April.

Serre Chevalier is suitable for all abilities of skiers and snowboarders and the diverse terrain offers large bowls, weaving through the trees to test your skills and smooth and open pistes to pick up speed. There is also a natural snow park in Serre Chevalier which is recreated every year.

Summer in Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier enjoys around 300 sunshine days so as a summer destination it is definitely worth a visit. The Ecrins National Park is a huge area that remains unspoiled. There are extensive hiking trails that are suited to all abilities and this is  the best way to embrace the marvellous scenery and enjoy the flora and fauna. The lift system runs through the summer months so if you would rather not walk up to enjoy lunch in one of the numerous mountain restaurants, leisurely descents are possible too.

The Mountain Bike Park offers a large number of well maintained MTB trails. The lifts are adapted to carry the bikes up the mountain so it couldn’t be easier. All the family will enjoy the blues and greens that wind through the trees and open onto spectacular views. For the adrenaline junkies the reds and blacks offer vertical drops and a number of other challenges.

Swimmers are well catered for in Serre Chevalier with indoor and outdoor options such as the Aqua Ludique Centre in Le Monêtier-les-Bains and the Baignade Bio Chantermerle in Briançon as well as the Grands Bains de Monêtier.

The Guisane river follows the Serre Chevalier valley and has its source at the Col du Lautaret which sends water tumbling down the mountain, so canyoning and rafting are popular activities here.

The different towns in Serre Chevalier: Briançon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains. 

Briançon

Briançon is the highest town in France sitting at an alititude of 1,326m. The town holds UNESCO World Heritage status due to its well-preserved fortifications. Oozing history, the old town of Briançon, known as Ville Haute, is characterized by narrow winding streets, charming squares, and traditional alpine architecture. Strolling through the old town allows visitors to appreciate the historical and cultural heritage of the area.

Briançon is the first of the villages that trickle up the valley and make up Serre Chevalier. It’s one of the only towns that are adjacent to a ski resort and has a population of around 10,000 people, so you may find yourself hopping on the ski bus and sitting down next to someone in a suit on their way to work. The old town is a wonderful place to stroll around after a meal in one of the many restaurants in the city, however as it is not a “true” ski resort and is the least convenient town for hitting the slopes in the morning. However, accommodation here is less pricey than some of the other resorts but many not be designed for ski living.

Chantemarle

This pretty village is the most central of all the resorts. It sits at the foot of the famous Luc Alphand slope, named after its most famous ski champion. The village is famous for building one of the longest cable cars in Europe in 1941, with the introduction of the emblematic red gondola. Ever since then it has been the beating heart of the resort. It is also home to the biological swimming lake of Baignade Bio which is in the Parc des Colombiers which has been designed to blend harmoniously into the natural environment and covers 4 hectares. You will find some chalets at the top area of the village and some apartment residences under commercial lease closer to the ski lift.

Villeneuve

Villeneuve is the middle of the villages and with Chantemerle, has been designed to offer the experience of a ski resort. In the centre you can find the tourist office and ski and snowboarding shops. For nightlife in the bars and restaurants then head for Aravet. Villeneuve provides the best access to the slopes within the valley and for snowboarders there is a half pipe and a border cross run. It also has its own ice rink and an equestrian centre. There is also swimming in the Piscine couverte des Iscles as well as a thalassotherapy centre at the Espace Thalasse Forme. Most properties in Villenueve are smaller apartments rather than chalets.

Le Monêtier-les-Bains

Monêtier-les-Bains is a year-round village, in contrast to Chantemerle and Villeneuve which are more seasonal. One of the unique aspects of Monêtier-les-Bains is its thermal springs with the development of Les Grands Bains du Monêtier. These natural hot springs offer a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, making them a popular attraction for both tourists and locals seeking wellness and spa treatments and offer a breathtaking view of the Monêtier glacier in the Ecrins National Park. There are no ski in/out properties here but you will find some chalets and new apartment residences in its five hamlets.