Oisans - Serre Chevalier

The resort

Serre Chevalier is the resort name for the four main villages located in a sunny south-facing valley (300 days of sunshine per year) at the foot of the most beautiful peaks in the Ecrins National Park. All linked by 250 km of ski runs and local bus service, they stretch between the Lautaret pass and fortified Briancon, the highest town in Europe. More


There are actually 13 villages in total forming Serre Chevalier.

 

Chantemerle (Saint Chaffrey or Serre Che 1350 as the locals call it) is a mixture of modern and traditional and offers a good selection of mini supermarkets, restaurants, bars, nightlife and a fitness centre. Chantemerle village centre is at the foot of the slopes.

 

The other villages close by are Villeneuve, Briancon & Montier les Bains. Villeneuve is a purpose built ski village at 1400m offering great central access to the ski area of Serre Chevalier. It also has the traditional cobbled streets giving it a real French resort feel. Well catered for with shops, bars and restaurants. Briancon is a town rather than a village and Montier les bains is home to the Serre Chevalier Spa.

Driving on ice at the Circuit de glace and skating on ice are just two well-loved winter pursuits! You can also go horse riding, swimming at Piscine couverte des Iscles, use the fitness suite and thalasso-therapy at Espace Thalasse Forme, snow scooting and parapenting. You can even learn to drive a piste groomer!

For those after the night-life during their Serre Chevalier holiday, try the Baita disco open till 5am.

 

Serre Che Resort Opening Dates

 

Serre Che opens on 11/12/10 and closes on 25/04/11

 

Follow the links below

 

 

- Children Activities Apres Ski Access/Getting Around Maps-

 

 

Why Serre-Chevalier?

·          Large ski area with mixture of wooded/open runs

·          Good snow record & excellent sunshine conditions

·          A friendly resort ambience

 

 

Serre Chevalier has acquired the Famille Plus & Top of the French Alps label for its childcare facilities. Please view here to view more information on the Famille Plus & Top of the French Alps label.

 

Childcare in Serre Che

Les Poussins

Tel: 0033 492 24 03 43. Chantemerle

Open from 15th December 2009 – 23th April 2010. Booking required.

At Serre Chevalier 1350 (Chantemerle) - children from 8 months which is conveniently located at the foot of the main slope, right in the centre of the resort and on the ESF Kindergarten.

From 9am-5pm.

Rates 09/10:

- 1 day (meal + afternoon snack) : 49 euro
- 1 morning 9am - 12am : 23 euro
- 1 morning + meal (9am - 2pm) : 36 euro
- 1 afternoon with afternoon snack 1.30 - 5 pm : 27 euro

 

Snowmobile – snow bike circuit for children aged 5-10 years during French school holidays.

Tel +33 492 24 82 80

 

Night Skiing in Serre Chevalier
Villeneuve village
For children, a beginner’s run is open from 5pm to 9pm.

 

Sledge runs in Chantemerle & Villeneuve

Sledge areas specially equipped for children; at the bottom of the runs in our resort:

Chantemerle
- At the bottom of Luc Alphand slope, a sledge run especially for the youngest.

Villeneuve
- A sledge run next to the ski-lift of l’Aiche.
- A Sensations + slope at the Micky half pipe.

 

Childrens Ski Lessons in Serre Chevalier

Children can ski from 3 years old in Serre Chevalier with ESF.

Peak Retreats can pre-book this. See here for details.

                               

Activities in Serre Chevalier

Paragliding, hot water baths (in Montiers les Bains), sauna, snowshoeing, horse riding, horse drawn carriages, sleigh rides, skating (2 natural rinks and 1 artificial) swimming, snow scooter, ice driving school, ice cave, bowling, fitness studio.

 

Thermal baths

In Montier les Bains hot springs run through this authentic village (42c). There are shuttles running every 20 mins from Chantemerle (where Eterlou, Best Western & Le Hameau du Rocher Blanc are located) to Montier les Bains at the moment until around 7.30pm although plans are place to extend this to around 10.30pm for Winter 09/10 as the Montier les Bains Spa closes at 10pm. It’s about a 20 min bus ride from Chantemerle.

GRANDS BAINS DU MONETIER – at foot of the slopes.
Over 4500m2 dedicated to rest and relaxation!

‘Grands Bains’ zone
The outside pool covers over 300m2 and is equipped with a wide variety of water features and effects: fountain jets, river chute, relaxation zones and outside Jacuzzi. It’s regulated at 36c.

 

The indoor pool is over 300m2 and is fed by naturally heated hot water with a Jacuzzi, water-massage course, bubble beds, underwater shower columns, micro-bubble zones and spouts…It’s regulated at 36c.

 

Around the indoor pool: three traditional Roman bath features (frigidarium, tepidarium, caldarium), steam room, salt-water pool, mineral grotto, musical grotto, steam/fog makers… and children’s area.

 

Indoor relaxation rooms as well as terrace-solariums upstairs.

 

Adult (2hrs): 17€
Child (2hrs): 7€
Family ‘2 adults + 2 children’ (2hrs): 43€

 

‘Romano-Irlandais (Romano-Irish)’ zone
Exclusive zone reserved for those over 18, with saunas, steam rooms, outside pool, range of private shower facilities, terrace-solarium with Jacuzzi and waterfall,

Adult (3hrs): 23€

This ticket gives access to the ‘Grands Bains’ zone and the ’Romano-Irlandais (Romano-Irish)’ zone

 

‘Health & Beauty Institute’
The ‘Health & Beauty Institute’ offers you a range of made-to-measure and 1 to 6-day treatment programmes: hydrotherapy care using natural mineral water (water-massage baths, jet showers…), face and body treatments, luxurious scrubs, wraps and toning treatments.

 

Walks

There are roughly 25km of snowy paths that run the entire length of the Serre Chevalier valley. You might like to take a day off and explore the local natural environment by taking a walk along the river Guisane from Briancon to Le Lauzet. See Tourist Office for details.

 

Ice Rink (Chantemerle)

10h - 12h and from 15h30 - 19h30

 

Snowmobile

Motoneige Sun Scoot

Chantemerle

0033 492 24 21 70

10h-12.30h and 15h-18h

-Excursions on snow mobiles (about 1h), book in advance  
-Rider + passenger : 80 euros
-Passenger behind the guide : 20 euros/pers
-Sledge drawn by the guide's snow mobiles : 2 children from 5 to 12 yrs/sledge : 20 euros
- Snowbike circuit for children from 5 to 10 years old at the car park Le Pontillas (during the french school holidays). From 2 pm to 6 pm.
- 1 ticket : 3 euros
- 4 ticket : 10 euros

 

Swimming Pool

Villeneuve

0033 492 24 74 04

From 2pm-8pm. 25m x 7m + paddling pool.

c€3/adult

c€2/child

               

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Serre Che

Many restaurants and bars, cabaret, cinemas, nightclubs, theatre, cinema.

 

Other amenities in Serre Che

Supermarkets etc. banks, post offices, dry cleaners, garage, doctors, dentists, cash points, bureau de change. Market days Serre Chevalier 1200 Wednesday mornings, Serre Chevalier 1350 Thursdays, Serre Chevalier 1400 Tuesdays, Serre Chevalier 1500 Fridays (to be confirmed).

 

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

 

Serre Chevalier Tourist Office

Office de Tourism de Serre-Chevalier

Tel: +33 492 24 98 98

www.serre-chevalier.com

 

Access to Serre Che

By Road: Driving distance from Calais 613 miles (9hrs 50)

Take A36 through Reims, Dijon A6 Maçon, Lyon then A432/A48 to Grenoble. Take N91 then follow signs for Serre Chevalier.

 

By Rail: Briancon is nearest station (4km) and served by a direct night train. TGV from Paris to Grenoble.

Briancon railway <=> Serre Chevalier villages, shuttles every 20 mins between railway station and all the villages of Serre Chevalier between 7.30am and 6.15pm. Prices according to the distance.
Autocars Rignon : +33 (0)4 92 21 00 56

 

Airports:

Turin Airport (Italy) is 125km from Serre Che (1 ½ hours)

www.aeroportoditorino.it

Grenoble Airport is 154km from Serre Che (2 ¼  hours)

www.grenoble-airport.com

Chambery is 174km from Serre Chevalier (2 ¼ hours)

www.chambery-airport.com

Lyon-St Exupéry is 251km from Serre Chevalier (2 ¾ hours)

Connection by bus from Saint Exupéry airport or Grenoble railway station –

www.vfd.fr  

www.lyonairport.com

Geneva Airport to Serre Chevalier is 295km (3 ¼ hours)

www.gva.ch/en

Marseille is 300km from Serre Chevalier.

Bus service (www.navettesblanches.com) - €90 per family, €35 per adult and €17 per child return. Meets one BA flight and one easyJet flights from London Gatwick until 28/03.

 

Getting around Serre-Chevalier

Ski Bus Express – Grand Serre Chevalier

There is a shuttle service to take you around the valley that runs approximately every 30 minutes during the day. Tickets prices vary depending on the trip.

From December 19th 2009 to April 10th 2010 (subject to modifications)
Serre Chevalier > Briancon / Chantemerle / La Salle les Alpes / le Monetier les Bains. The usually run until 7pm.

Village Shuttle

Make the most of the shuttle buses that operate in all the Serre Chevalier villages and take you from where you are staying to the foot of the pistes from 8.30am to 5.30pm.


Airport transfers

Please enquire for Serre Chevalier transfers (private taxi).

 

 

 

 

 

Access Plan

Serre Chevalier France

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serre Chevalier Map

 

 

 

Click on maps to enlarge

 

Resort Map

Serre Chevalier France

 

 

Serre Chevalier France Map

 

Skiing

With 250 km of north-facing pistes, Serre Chevalier is highly rated for its snow record, skiing conditions and scenery. There are many sheltered woodlands runs (trees cover two thirds of the mountain) which is an advantage providing some of France's best bad-weather terrain.
More


Most of the ski area is above 2000m and Serre Chevalier has 477 hectares of groomed and maintained ski runs. Most slopes face North or North-East and so snow is usually pretty reliable.

 

There are exceptional views with a 360 degree panorama with views over the Ecrins mountain range, Italian Alps and across to Mont Blanc in good weather. There are ski runs over 1500m long to enjoy the views from.

 

For beginners there are several easy areas at mid mountain (Serre Ratier & Grand Alpe) with green runs leading back to Chantemerle and a nursery slope at the bottom.

 

Intermediate skiers will enjoy the breadth of the ski area, its efficient lift system with some of the longest lifts in Europe and runs of varying gradient and difficulty level all above and below the tree line. Ski Serre Chevaliers knee-burning ‘Vauban’ red run that unusually brings you into the main shopping street of the busy town of Briancon is an experience not to be missed.

 

Advanced skiers have a good selection of red and black runs but should head off-piste for more challenging runs. The 6km, tricky 1000m vertical ‘Luc Alphand’ Olympic black run down to Chantemerle is a must to finish the day in style. If you’re not an expert, don’t worry you can take the green ‘La Briance’ run back to the village, a beautiful route between the larch trees.

 

Snowboarding in Serre Chevalier - with its superb natural terrain, Serre Chevalier’s skiing is regarded as one of the top snowboarding destinations in France.

        

Huge amounts of off-piste – plenty of terrain both high up and in the trees above Villeneuve and Chantemerle. La Grave is nearby also, the mecca of off-piste.

 

Chantmerle (Serre Chevalier) - ski lockers are available at the foot of the slopes.

 

Three new fast six-seater chairlifts were added above l'Arvet, Frejus and Grand Alpe.

 

SERRE CHEVALIER PISTE MAP

To see the Serre Chevalier piste map for 09/10 please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

 

SERRE CHEVALIER SNOW REPORTS

To see Serre Chevalier snow reports please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

 

What’s new with the ski area for 09/10?

See SERRE CHEVALIER RESORT NEWS

Serre Chevalier Lift passes

Save Time in resort and budget ahead by pre-booking your Serre Chevalier lift passes. See below for prices.

 

PRE-BOOK* your 6 day Grand Serre-Che lift pass

 

“Grand Serre-Che” lift-pass prices 2009-2010

 

6 Days

Adult

£184

Child (6-11yrs) + Senior (65-74 yrs)

£147

Note: Compulsory €3/pass for hands-free to pay locally (can be reused annually). NO PHOTO NECESSARY

Serre Chevalier ski pass:

Children under 6 and seniors over 75 receive a FREE lift pass. Proof of age will be required for reduced price passes.

 

Please note that there is also a cheaper pass covering only Chantemerle and Villeneuve which you can buy in resort, about €160 for 6 days.

We cannot pre-book this pass.

 

Serre Che Ski Schools

PRE-BOOK* your Group Ski/Board Lessons

 

Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will be charged

 

ESF Serre Che CHANTEMERLE Ski School Prices 2009/2010

Lessons only (lift pass not included)

Adults, Children (5-13yrs) + Kindergarten (3-5yrs)

Ski/Snowboard Group lessons

6 mornings  or afternoons

£134

6 days (am+pm)

£233

Ski school Serre Chevalier Group Lesson Times: 20/12-2/1: 09.00-11.30, 11.30-14.00 or 14.00-16.30;  7/2-6/3: 09.00-11.30, 11.45-14.15  or 14.30-17.00; Other periods: 3/1-6/2 and 7/3-24/4: Mornings Only 09.30-12.00                                                       

Serre Che Individual Tuitions (09/10 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

 

Private skiing lessons in Serre Chevalier - Chantemerle

 

(1 to 4 persons from 11h45 to 14h15).

 

 

Cost

1hr

45 €

1hr30

67 €

2hr

90 €

2hr30

110 €

3hr30

154 €

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school

Please note that prices are only an indication and are subject to change

 

Ecole du Ski Français Serre-Chevalier 1350 +33 492 24 17 41

Serre Chevalier ski hire

Ski hire Serre Chevalier prices start from £35 for children (skis and boots) & £49 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days. View here for Serre Chevalier ski hire prices.

 

Mountain restaurants in Serre Chevalier

15

     

Terrain Parks in Serre Chevalier (snowparks)

8 fun areas: snowpark – boardercross - Arva Park (Avalanche safety training zone). Beginners’s area – ‘brut de neige’ areas (where snow is not packed down) and ‘discovery’ zones.

 

Situated on the Foret chairlift above Villeneuve incorporates 20 different features for all levels (ramps, step ups, rails and kickers). Improvements include a new beginner ride-on rails and a tree trunk jib on the expert line.

A new boardercross has been shaped at Grand Alpe above Chantemerle. A half-pipe can be found at the bottom of the Aravet gondola in Villeneuve.

 

- 7 tables, with one or two ramps (depending on snow conditions):
   rails
- boxes
- waves
- 1 C Box
- 1 rainbow
- 1 step-up
- 1 Jib Tree

 

Serre Chevalier Réflexe Snowpark

Come and test how you brake!

Come to the area, take speed and brake at the orange signs. If you stay in the blue area, no probs! But if you finish in the red area, try again and again to have better control of your speed!

Thanks to electronic cells, you will also know what your speed was before braking.

Location: Snowpark area, plateau de la rouge, Villeneuve

Access: la Forêt chairlift

 

Boardercross

Location: Combe du Grand Serre - Chantemerle
Access: Le Grand Serre Chairlift, Combe I & II lifts

Fun route with 5 revamped turns, with various ramps on 80 to 100 meters denivelation.
Accessible to all.

 

Cross-country in Serre Che

There are 35km/22 miles of tracks along valley floor. 282km of cross country skiing in the surroundings. Passes available from the Tourist Information office. Day pass c €6. Weekly pass c €30.

 

Snowshoes

Serre Chevalier has several routes starting in the valley as well as four mountain circuits designed to help you explore these splendid areas, surrounded by mighty peaks. A real breath of fresh air!

A guide to these snow-shoe walks is available at the Serre Chevalier tourist office.

Snow-shoe walks in the company of a mountain professional are designed to help you discover life in the mountains in winter:
the winter fauna (chamois, ibex etc), the forests, the high-valley environments, and the different kinds of snow and its dangers (avalanches etc). Or maybe you’re simply after long, peaceful walks through untracked snow, far from the crowds, savouring the silence of the mountains.

 

Chantemerle

Ecole du Ski Français
3 hours 26 € snowshoes supplied - Tel: 33 (0)4 92 24 17 41

 

Villeneuve

Ecole du Ski Français
23 € to 25 € material, transport and arva included
Tel: 33 (0)4 92 24 71 99

 

 

*ALL PRE-BOOKABLE EXTRAS ARE PAYABLE TO PEAK RETREATS IN STIRLING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PRICES ARE IN £.

 

ANYTHING IN EUROS (€) WE ARE UNABLE TO PRE-BOOK AND

WILL BE PAYABLE LOCALLY.

 

Serre-Chevalier, Oisans

Resort Height 1350m-2800m

(4,430-9,190ft)

Serre Chevalier Ski Area

 

Grand Serre Che

Km

 250

Lifts

 63

No. of slopes 107

 

 23

 

 31

 

 39

 

 14

Beginners

***

Intermediates

****

Experts

****

Boarders

****

 

Snow cannons

559 (1/3 of ski area covered)

Driving distance from Calais to Serre-Chevalier 613 miles or 9hrs50

SERRE CHE RESORT INFO

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Serre Che Resort News

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Serre Che Snow Report

 

SERRE CHEVALIER PISTE MAP

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Serre Che Piste Map

 

SERRE CHE RESORT MAP

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Serre Che Resort Map

 

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Client Feedback

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See Serre Che in Summer



Click to enlarge map
© Peak Retreats Limited 2010