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Ski Facts & Activities
The picturesque alpine village of Villeneuve within the heart of the Grand
Serre Che attracts skiers of all nationalities and abilities. It is "Highly
Recommended" by the Which? Ski Guide and has the benefit of three high speed
lifts, allowing quick access to all areas of the ski domain.
The Ski
& Snowboard Schools, employ over 300 instructors (many of whom speak
English); there are also other specialist schools and guides.
The Grande
Serre Che Ski Pass also allows a day's access to other ski resorts including Les
Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez, Montgenevre and the Milky Way (Claviere, Sestriere and
Sansicario) in Italy. The closest resort is Montgenevre, only 25 minutes by
car!
The Ski Pass includes a free bus service linking the
villages. The skiing areas at Serre Chevalier caters for all levels of
experience:-
101 PISTES 250KM OF GROOMED PISTE 7.5KM LONGEST RUN Difficulty Levels • 19% Beginner
• 69% Intermediate
• 12% Advanced • 12 Black
• 37 Red
• 28 Blue
• 24 Green
• 4 Discovery & Nursery Areas
62 SKI
LIFTS 70,700 PEOPLE PER HOUR
• 2 Cable Cars
• 5 Gondolas
• 10 High-speed Chairlifts
•
11 Fixed-grip Chairlifts
• 28 Draglifts
• 3 Rope Tows
• 3 Magic
Carpets
ARTIFICIAL SNOWMAKING
The Serre Chevalier ski area has one
of the most extensive snowmaking networks in Europe to ensure the best snow
conditions all winter long.
A third of the entire ski area, that is over
154 hectares (approx. 380 acres) is covered by a network of snow
cannons.
TERRAIN PARKS
There are five terrain parks and they are
suitable for all abilities.
TRICK SNOWPARK
Three Park Zones plus
The Cool Zone with deck chairs, barbecue area and music.
1. Beginner Zone
- try your first Freestyle jumps and slides in the best possible
conditions.
• 6 Tabletops (ranging from 1 to 4 m)
• 1 Trainer Box 3.5m
• 1 Convex Box 7 m
• 1 Hip Jump
2. Intermediate Zone - a place to
develop further skills
• 3 Table Tops (ranging from 5 to 10m)
• 2 Boxes
(3.5 & 7m)
• 1 Rainbow Rail (6m)
• 1 Up Rail (3m)
3. Expert
Zone - devoted to experienced freestylers who can expand their repertoire of
tricks.
• 2 Table Tops (12 & 16m)
• 1 Down Rail (10m)
• 1 Concave
Box (7m)
• 1 Wallride
• 1 Hip
• 1 Table Top (10m)
VIDEOZONE
(NEW FOR 2011/12!)
A slope in Villeneuve has been fitted with video
cameras to capture you in action! As you ski down the slope, which is suitable
for all levels, you are automatically filmed and can watch your run on the big
screen at the bottom of the slope. The unique number of your ski pass allows you
to watch the video again and even share it with your friends!
BOARDER
CROSS
Race against your friends or match yourself against the terrain
over a course of nine banked turns & jumps.
FUNNY CROSS
A
100m course set in a natural coomb with mini drops and ledge jumps for all ages.
MELEZONE
A fun course with snow and wooden features, mainly for
children.
BRUT DE NEIGE (OFF PISTE ZONE)
A total of nine marked
& secure runs are left ungroomed so that the experienced can enjoy skiing
naturally!
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
A magical 35km trail runs along
the entire Guisane Valley - passing through charming hamlets and
villages.
8 circular routes set out specifically for cross-country
skiers.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Snowmobile - Villeneuve &
Chantemerle
Ice Rally Driving - Villeneuve
Grooming School -
Villeneuve - drive a 10 tonne, 400 horsepower piste-basher. Learn to drive up
steep slopes, round banked turns and over big mounds of snow on a specially
designed course.
Ice Go-Kart - Chantemerle
Thermal Spas -
Monetier Les Bains - www.lesgrandsbains.fr - Indoor & outdoor pools of natural heated thermal water
provide the perfect way to relax after a hard day on the piste or escapism
whilst everyone is on the piste! Opening hours are normally 10am to 9pm daily.
Thermal Pools for Adults & Children. Roman Bath area for Adults only with
sauna, steam rooms and a wide selection of beauty treatments.
Snow-showing - Villeneuve, Chantemerle &
Monetier Les Bains
Cinema - Villeneuve & Briancon
Horse Riding
- Villeneuve & Monetier Les Bains
Mini Golf -
Villeneuve
Paragliding - Villeneuve & Chantemerle
Snowkiting
(Parasailing with Skis or Board!) - Villeneuve, Chantemerle, Monetier Les
Bains
Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks - Villeneuve, Chantemerle, Monetier Les
Bains & Briancon
Swimming Pools - Villeneuve & Briancon
Tennis - Villeneuve
Climbing & Ice Climbing - Villeneuve
& Briancon
Dog Sledging - Monetier Les Bains
River Fishing -
Monetier Les Bains (March to October)
Bowling - Bowling Des Neiges -
Chantemerle
Squash - Briancon
Laser War Game -
Briancon
Casino - Briancon
Hot Air Balloon -
Briancon
SUMMERTIME
Serre Chevalier becomes an area devoted to
canoeing, horse riding, quad bikes, tennis, fishing, rafting, walking, cycling, mountain
biking, rock climbing and paragliding. The Via Ferrata (Italian for 'Road of
Iron' - mountain climbing using fixed cables, ladders & gorge spanning
bridges!) and Tree Top Adventure Park are available to the fearless!
Four lifts are open during the summer months for walkers and mountain
bike riders; downhill only adventures are therefore a reality! Travel
AIR
Flights to Turin, Italy (115km - Transfer
<2hrs)
British Airways >> Flights from London Gatwick, Manchester
Ryanair
>> Flights from Dublin, London Stansted
Flights to Grenoble, France
(150km - Transfer 2.5hrs)
easyJet >> Flights from Birmingham, Bristol,
London Gatwick, London Luton
Flights to Chambery, France (195km -
Transfer 3hrs)
Jet2 >> Flights from East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds
Bradford, Manchester Terminal 1, Newcastle
SnowJet >> Flights from
Birmingham, Bristol, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester
Flybe
>> Flights from Birmingham, Exeter, Southampton
Flights to Lyon,
France (198km - Tansfer 3hrs)
easyJet >> Flights from Bristol,
Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Stansted
Flights to Geneva,
Switzerland (261km - Transfer 3-4hrs)
Flybe >> Flights from Exeter,
Jersey, Isle of Man, Southampton
easyJet >> Flights from Birmingham,
Bournemouth, Leeds, Liverpool, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Newcastle
British Airways
>> Flights from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle,
Aberdeen, Belfast, Guernsey, Inverness, Isle of Man, Jersey, Leeds, London City,
London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted,
Newquay
TRAIN
Briançon railway station is in the heart of Serre
Chevalier. There are direct night train links between Paris and Briançon. Other
services connect with the major french towns and some european capitals
including Lyon, Grenoble, Marseille, Brussels & Amsterdam.
ROAD
DIRECTIONS FROM THE UK
The journey time from Calais to Serre Chevalier is
10-11 hours.
From Calais ferry ports, head for the following major cities
in turn: Reims, Dijon, around Lyon via Exupery Airport, Grenoble, then for
Briançon. The drive is extremely easy all the way.
When driving from
Grenoble to Serre Chevalier you will drive over the Col du Lautaret mountain
pass at 2000m+ so snow chains may be required at certain times during the
season.
ROAD DIRECTIONS FROM TURIN AIRPORT
1. When leaving Turin
Airport you will automatically join a dual-carriageway.
2. After a few
minutes, take the exit for ‘Autostrade – Tangenziale’ and this will join the
motorway.
3. Follow signs to Fréjus.
4. Pass through three road
tolls.
5. After the third toll, look out for the ‘SS24
Monginevro/Sestriere/Claviere’ exit and take this exit.
6. Follow signs to
Monginevro (or Montgenèvre; French for Monginevro), pass through the Col du
Montgenèvre (and Montgenèvre ski resort) and into France.
7. Now follow signs
to Briançon.
8. Follow signs to Villeneuve. |
