Mad Dog Ski: Ski Resort guidebooks for Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland

Serre Chevalier - France

In the bottom right hand corner of France, next to Italy and bordering the Ecrins National Park with views of stunning glaciers, Serre Chevalier provides over 250km of marked pistes making it one of France's largest, and least known ski resorts. It boasts around 300 days of sunshine a year as it is one of the most southerly resorts in the Alps, with north facing slopes that reach high above the tree line.


Serre Chevalier consists of three main villages: Monêtier les Bains (Serre Che 1500), Villeneuve la Salle (Serre Che 1400), Chantemerle (Serre Che 1350) and the town of Briancon (Serre Che 1200). Luc Alphand, world champion 1995-97, is probably the area's most famous son - so famous he has his own beer!

Serre Chevalier's snow record is excellent with exceptional recent winters. In the 2006/7 ski season, further snowmaking facilities were installed in the Monetier sector – and its already north-facing slopes and high-altitude (village 1500m, highest lift drop-off 2830m) holds the snow right until the end of April.

Being pretty much the last resort to get noticed or be developed in France the lift network is new and the resort full of 'real'-types.. The locals are friendly, especially up the valley and there is precious little air kissing - darling or celebs. This has kept prices down and attracted expats, many to settle here, without bringing Eastenders on tape or whelks. It's not quite tie-dye, but it is a bit sabai, sabai, as the Thais often say when skiing.

 

Resort altitude1350m - 1500m
Highest lift2730m
Lowest lift1350m
Kms of piste250kms
No of lifts68
Black pistes14%
Red pistes38%
Blue pistes27%
Green pistes21%
Snow parks2
GlacierNo
Snowmaking95

Map of Serre Chevalier - Open

What do you want to do?

Where to stay
Where to stay in Serre Chevalier as well as the low down on the different villages of the ski resort.
Planning your trip
Helping you to plan your trip with information on how to get to Serre Chevalier.
On the piste
Getting you on the piste and around the ski area as quickly as possible including our favourite runs, where to get your ski hire from and which ski school to book with.
Food and drink
The inside view on where to find the best food and drink in Serre Chevalier from the best apres-ski bars to the cosiest restaurants and where to eat when you’re skiing
Families
Skiing with children… dream or nightmare? With a little planning, it can be your best ski holiday ever.
Other activities
Can’t ski? Won’t ski? Too much snow or not enough? Find our about other activities in Serre Chevalier
The list
The list – sounds boring but it has all the important information such as doctors and dentists, internet and the tourist office.
Webcams and weather
Webcams and weather information for Serre Chevalier, France

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At a glance - Open



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Snow Report:
Serre Chevalier
Report date:2 Jan 2009
Last snowed:31 Dec 2008
Fresh snow:3cm
Lifts open:61 out of 66
Snow depth:
Lower slopes:35cm
Upper slopes:180cm
Piste information:
On-piste:Excellent
Off-piste:Varied
Resort runs:Good
Snow conditions:
Hard base, light dusting of fresh snow
Weather:
Predominantly sunny with cloudy spells