| Val d'Isere, France » Location In southeast France, in the Savoie region, very close to the Italian frontier. 57 mls southeast of Albertville. 5 mls southeast of Tignes. 129 mls southeast of Geneva (Switzerland) and its airport. 138 mls east of Lyon and its airport. 84 mls east of Chambery and its airport. » Position Almost at the head of the long, narrow Isere Valley that culminates in the Col de l'Iseran mountain pass (closed in winter). » Description A small, vibrant resort made up of a charming old village with a baroque church and several small hamlets, Val d'Isere coupled with neighbouring Tignes continues to be one of France's premier winter destinations. Stretching for nearly 2 mls between the hamlets of Le Fornet and La Daille, much of its rather grim concrete architecture was successfully adapted to display a more traditional appearance for the 1992 Olympics. The largely car-free centre remains a mixture of old and modern, with much of the accommodation, shops and eateries concentrated along a lively main street and several side roads. Nearby La Daille is a less appealing hamlet dominated by a number of purpose-built 1960s apartment blocks, although skiers will appreciate its fast funicular link to the World Cup course. Le Fornet, with its own cable car, remains a traditional alpine hamlet largely unspoilt by commercialism, although many of its traditional dwellings and farm buildings have been converted into tourist accommodation. » Suitable for An established favourite with the British, who for a long time virtually made it their own; now enjoys a more balanced mix of middlemarket, international clientele young adults, older families and regularly returning, mature couples and groups. Outstanding for experienced and confident intermediate skiers. » Accommodation Various self-catering options ranging from large, purpose-built apartment blocks and residences, largely outside the resort centre, to "tourism residences" (apartment blocks equipped with restaurant, bar and lounge). A wide range of hotels in all categories to suit most pockets; numerous catered chalets and a couple of luxury hotel establishments. » Shopping Extensive and fairly sophisticated. Abundant ski-rental and sports retailers; designer boutiques, jewellers, newsagents, antiques, bakeries and a choice of supermarkets. » Entertainment Daytime: a downhill-skiing mecca with alternative winter activities, including snowboarding (snow park with half pipe, boarder cross and double bowl), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, paraskiing, snowmobiles, winter walking on cleared paths, dog-sledding, ice-climbing, ice-driving and ice-skating; indoor pool; sports and cultural centre; scenic helicopter trips; microlight flights; library. In summer, hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering and rock climbing, horse riding, kayaking, canyoning and rafting, fishing and golf; fun park with rollerblading and skating. Nightlife: lively and varied, with an abundance of bars, cafes and restaurants; numerous nightclubs; a cinema. Torchlight descents. » Eating Plenty of good-quality cafes, bistros and restaurants serving all types of fare, from local specialities (fondue, braserade and pierrade) to gastronomic experiences in stylish surroundings. Pizzerias, Tex-Mex and a choice of ethnic cuisine. » Public Transport Free ski-buses (red, green, yellow and blue lines) link the 3 parts of the resort from early morning to midnight. Frequent buses down to Bourg St Maurice and its railway station. Plentiful taxis. » Excursions In winter, limited to off-piste skiing and inter-resort guided tours. In summer, various hiking programmes and trips to the Vanoise National Park. » Skiing Descsription Around 47 lifts in the Val d'Isere ski-area, offering a range of cable cars, gondolas, chair-lifts and drag-lifts as well as an underground funicular to the top of Bellevarde; lifts provide access from all 3 centres onto the extensive Espace Killy network incorporating nearby Tignes and boasting 90 lifts in total. The ski-pass covers the Espace Killy area. 11 ski-schools and 21 independent instructor groups; the official French ski-school provides individual and group courses to suit all abilities and ages, and several private concerns specialise in snowboarding, off-piste guided tours and demanding heli-skiing on unmarked terrain; ski-kindergartens and children's lessons available. » Statistics Village: 6,070 ft. Highest lifts (Montet): 11,319 ft. Snow guaranteed Dec to May, with exceptional conditions across the entire Espace Killy ski-area owing to high altitude and many north-facing slopes; spring skiing April to May on the Pissaillas Glacier; year-round skiing on Grande Motte Glacier above Tignes. The Val d'Isere ski-area is divided into 3 sections: La Daille, Solaise/Bellevarde (which offers mainly red and black runs as well as the awe-inspiring Olympic Face) and Fornet/Iseran (a wealth of off-piste skiing and blue and green runs). 95 mls of piste around Val d'Isere comprising 22 green runs, 28 blue, 18 red and 8 black; 15 mls of slopes covered by snowmaking equipment. From La Daille and Bellevarde, the network links to the neighbouring resort of Tignes, opening up the Espace Killy region with its 155 slopes/188 mls of piste (23 green runs, 62 blue, 44 red, 26 black and 9 slalom stadiums) and 28 mls of cross-country trails; there are also plenty of off-piste opportunities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hotels in Val d'Isere, France |
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