Tignes Les Brevieres
Originally, there were just two villages making up Tignes - Tignes Les Brevieres and Tignes itself. Both had existed since the 13th century. Les Brevieres housed 5000 workers in a series of huts when the dam was built. This had earned the village the title of the 'Wild West of Savoie' during the construction as men came from all over France to earn fortunes only to lose them again gambling, drinking and fighting in the many temporary bars and casinos. Fortunately, once the clean up was completed, Les Brevieres remained pretty much intact.
Unspoilt by large-scale modern development, this is still very much a corner of the real France - most of the village restaurants and bars are family run. It is also considerably cheaper to stay in than its better-known altitude neighbours, each 15 minutes away by road.
Tignes nowadays is made up of Tignes Les Brévières (1550m), Tignes 1800, Tignes Le Lavachet, and the purpose-built villages of Tignes le Lac and Val Claret (2100m).
Tignes is host to a whole array of activities in the summer including mountain biking sports. Tignes is a very popular destination with many British and French tourists alike due to the range of activities available. There are many bars and restaurants in each of the Tignes villages and 4 nightclubs up at 2100m.
Interested in buying an apartment in Tignes? See our Buying in the Alps section
Top summer activities to experience in Tignes
Please note Peak Retreats do not book any activities and most activities are payable therefore the below is just for information. More detailed information and how to book can be found on the tourist office website
Here are some ideas of activities, however there is plenty more on offer!
Tignes mountain biking
Tignes Val d'Isère Bike Park is open in July and August. The Tignes area is a perfect spot for downhill mountain bike enthusiasts. It is possible to practice this complete and demanding sport in the heart of the big bike park of Tignes. You can ride down the 220km of trails, thanks to the mountain bike lifts
Enjoy unlimited trails and MTB lifts with Tignes and Val d’Isère, accessible by these lifts: Tovière gondola: access allowed to all. Palafour chairlift: access authorised for child bikers from 1.10m
Tufs chairlift: access authorised for child bikers from 1.10m. Fresse chairlift: access allowed to all.
There are also E-Bike trails. E-Bike is the solution to make mountain biking accessible to as many people as possible. There are 5 circuits of 3 progressive levels will allow you to evolve at your own pace.
Tignes lake
With water that has come straight from the Grande Motte glacier, the natural lake in Tignes offers water-jumping, hot-jumping, blob jumping, stand-up paddling, pedaloes, canoeing, kayaking and trout fishing, the watersports base in Tignes is a veritable paradise for both adrenaline-hunters and those who enjoy the classics. It is the place to be for those who love a “beach in the mountains” atmosphere! 'Le restaurant du golf' is open every day for lunch and dinner. Rental of wetsuits and life jackets. The water in the summer is on average only 9c. The building of the nautical base welcomes you with lockers, changing rooms, toilets, showers, and a panoramic terrace.
Golf
Home to the highest course in Europe. The 18-hole golf course in Tignes, located at an altitude of 2100m, below the Grande Motte glacier, offers an exceptional panorama of the Tignes lake. The contrast of colours between the green of the greens, the blue of the lake and the white of the glaciers is striking. A unique experience... nicknamed the 'marmot course', you mustn't take your eyes off your ball or it will disappear into one of the many burrows visible around the fairways.
Mini-golf
Located in Tignes Val Claret. Open every day in summer.
The Lagon
Open every day in summer. Le Lagon is an aquatic area, spa, exercise and gym area at the heart of the mountains and includes a recreational pool with 3-lane water slide, waterfall, bubble bed, swimming against the current, shallow pool etc, a 25m swimming pool and paddling pool with mini-slide, bubbles and mini-waterfall. There are also 3 saunas, a steam room, 4 hot tubs.
Tignespace sports centre
Dedicated to team and individual sports including handball, volleyball, basketball, trampolines, tennis, badminton, squash, ping pong, athletics zone (5 lanes 80m sprint/hurdle track, pole vaulting pit, long/triple jump, high jump, golf simulator, climbing wall. Close to Le Lagon.
Climbing wall - An FFME (French Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) certified climbing wall with:
- Bouldering wall (bloc): 9m long x 5m high
- Beginner wall: 15 belay stations, 8m long x 7m high
- Experienced to expert area: 55 belay stations, 34m climbing wall x 16m high, 6 and 8m high overhangs
Sports beach
Located in Tignes le Lac, behind the Maison de Tignes le Lac and includes:
Racket sports: tennis, table tennis,
Team sports: beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach rugby, basketball, football, multisports areas,
Trampolining,
Slackline,
Pétanque,
Balance bike, roller skate and skateboard hire,
Table football,
Club Jeunes,
Children’s games.
Hiking
Hiking in the Alps is good for the body and the mind. Alone or supervised by professionals, you will discover many hiking trails adapted to your level. In Tignes, you can enjoy an exceptional setting in the heart of a renowned National Park. 5 lifts are open to pedestrians - Toviere gondola, Paralfour chairlift, Tufs chairlift, Fresse chairlift, funicular. Note, the ascent to the Glacier de la Grande Motte is for contemplative purposes only; no hikes are accessible from the funicular arrival point. The chairlifts are forbidden to children under 1.10m.
For an easy family walk, follow the botanical path from Le Lavachet, and reach the Gouille du Salin (Caribbean colored ice water resurgence... directly from the glacier!), then go down to the "voile de la mariée" waterfall.
Trampolining
Le Lac - Trampo-jump (2 trampolines: 6 nets and 4 nets): 10-minute session,
Lavachet - Trampo-jump but also gun shooting, volley-ball, ping-pong, pétanque, baby-foot, trampoline, tennis, tennis paddle, slackline, lending equipment,
Val Claret - 4 trampolines
Skate ramp
In summer, the skatepark is set up outside, right next to the asphalt pumptrack at Tignes le Lac. Helmet rental, protective gear rental and skate board rental available.
Cinema
2 cinemas next to the golf car park in Val Claret, with a varied selection of films for all the family: digital projection and a 3D cinema. Open every day, 4 screenings per day.
Tignes restaurants and bars
There is no shortage of restaurants or bars with over 60 of each to choose from in the Tignes area. There are also a few nightclubs open until the early (or late!) hours (2 in Val Claret and 1 in Le Lac).
There are approx. 5 restaurants and 2 bars in Les Brevieres and also approx. 3 restaurants (plus 2 bars) in Tignes 1800.
Supermarkets (mini), sports shops, bakeries, boulangeries, gift shops, tabac...plus many more. The bulk of the shops are in Tignes le Lac and Tignes Val Claret.
Getting to Tignes, France
By road
Driving distance from Calais to Tignes is approx. 998km (620 miles) (approx. 10hrs). A430 Chambery – Albertville, dual carriageway to Moutiers, N90 to Bourg-St-Maurice, D902 to Tignes.
By rail & air
The nearest train station for Tignes is Bourg St Maurice, 30-35km away.
4 international airports are nearby. We don't book flights, we invite you to do your own research.
Geneva Airport to Tignes is roughly 214km, approximately 2hr 15 mins
Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Airport to Tignes is roughly 135km, approximately 1hr 45 mins
Grenoble Alpes Isere Airport to Tignes is roughly 204km, approximately 2hr 30 mins
Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport to Tignes is roughly 211km, approximately 2hr 30 mins
Private taxi transfers
Private taxi transfers from airports and train stations are pre-bookable with Peak Retreats. See our airport & station transfers page for more information.
Tignes Resort News
Tignes Unveils World's Largest & Highest Open-Top Cable Car
Last year, Tignes has unveiled its upgraded Grande Motte glacier cable car, and the big news is that now you can ride up on top of the cabins. Climbing from 3,034m to 3456m in five minutes, the cable car originally opened in 1975 and the new cabins are part of a full overhaul of the area. The two new ‘open-top’ cabins offer passengers a unique 360-degree view of one of the most beautiful panoramas of the French Alps with views of Mont Blanc, the Cime de Bellecôte and the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière. Each cabin can hold 100 people indoors and 20 on the roof.
MY TIGNES (Summer Activities Card)
Available to purchase in the resort, the MyTignes card is valid for summer stays. With the card, you can enjoy a number of free activities per day such as stand-up paddleboarding, canoe, swimming pool, tennis and mini-golf to name a few. You also get unlimited access to the bike park in Tignes-Val d’Isère. More than 150km of trails await you. And lastly, the pedestrian lifts are also unlimited during your stay.
