Skiing Holidays in Valmorel, France

Nestled on the edge of forests covering he sides of the Cheval Noir Mountain, Valmorel is a typically charming ski resort village, whose architecture is unequalled in France.
The town isn't built from concrete, but noble materials: wood, stone, slate. There are no high rise apartment buildings but huge chalets, all accessible with your skis on your feet. The village is fully pedestrianized and waiting to be discovered, there is a charming village square and numerous courtyards.

You can drive to Valmorel in a little over eight hours by car from Calais. Alternatively, you fly into Chambery and in less than an hour, you are in the resort. The third method of transport is by train to Moutiers where a shuttle bus will transfer you within about 40 minutes. For motorists the journey from the main road just outside Moutiers to the resort is not difficult although you may have to fit snow chains for the last part of the journey if it is snowing.

Once you arrive, Valmorel La Belle village is a delight. Although it is purpose-built, it has successfully blended the architecture of a traditional mountain resort with all that is modern and the use of wood to clad the buildings makes Valmorel even more attractive. It is set amongst woodland and the main (traffic-free) street is a delight to wander through with its variety of shops, bistros and bars. There is a small but delightful hotel right in the centre of the village and a couple of minutes walk from the main lifts, small wooden clad chalets and apartments are to be found built up the lower slopes.

For skiers there is evening flood-lit skiing with Valmorel a mecca for families. There are 27 blue runs, 31 red and 25 black for the more experienced. The skiing area is deceptively large and you can easily ski across to the neighbouring resorts of St. Francois Longchamp in the Maurienne valley. The whole pisted area is served by 2 gondolas, 14 chairs (2 covered), and 36 drag lifts. Indeed, the lift system is most efficient and even within the expanding village there are "shuttle" gondolas which run automatically and link some of the high developments with the main village, so after that evening meal and a few "jars", you do not have to face the prospect of a long uphill slog back to the chalet!