Rating: ★★★★★ 9,2 out of 10

“Chantemerle is part of Serre Chevalier ski area, which is one of the best in France even dough you have probably never heard of it. Evenings are quiet and there is not much to do but skiing is first class, especially if you like off piste excursions. Whole area has 250 km of runs which will suit beginners and intermediate skiers the best. Prices are reasonable. For the same amount of money you would pay accommodation in some more popular resorts, you will get much better apartment here (more space, spa area…). Whole valley is beautiful and you can always visit neighbouring Briancon (only 6 km away, it has old city classified by the UNESCO as World Heritage Site).”

PROS: The best position in Serre Chevalier valley, great groomed and freeride slopes, beautiful scenery, good snow reliability, excellent value for money accommodation…

CONS: Nights are quiet

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SLOPES

Serre Chevalier ski area is consisted of: Briancon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve, and Le Monetier les Bains. Chantemerle has the best position in whole Serre Chevalier domain since it is situated in the middle. It is well connected to Villeneuve and if there is lack of snow or strong winds you will have plenty of slopes to ski on (they occupy biggest part of whole domain). That’s not the case with Briancon or Monetier les Bains, if conditions are bad there you have to catch a bus to get to the rest of the resort.

Best slopes are situated in Chantemerle and Villeneuve. Easy and intermediate slopes are dominant, they are well groomed like in the rest of the France. Black runs are icy and full of moguls. Pistes are wide, top of the area (belongs to Le Monetier les Bains) is situated at 2,800 m above sea level. Due to big altitude highest part of Serre Chevalier ski area is tree less but as you descent from the highest slopes runs will lead you into forests.

Lifts are not last word of technology, they could have been faster (especially lifts that link different areas inside the valley), but there are no long queues. Slopes are also not crowded like in some other more famous resorts. Views are spectacular, there are also nice spots from which you can enjoy panorama and where you can make picnic.

Serre Chevalier has great climate, it boasts with 300 days of sunshine per year, it also has more snow than some higher resorts in the neighborhood.

If you buy ski pass for entire area you will be also able to ski in Montgenevre (you will have to drive there) which is connected to Italian resort Sestriere (hosted skiing events during Turin Winter Olympic Games). You shouldn’t miss this opportunity.

FREE RIDE AND TERRAIN PARKS IN CHANTEMRELE

Serre Chevalier ski area is Mecca for off piste skiing. You can find million spots near lifts where you can enjoy free riding without hustle of long walks. You won’t have to pay for helicopters or snow cats either. The best spots are around La Cucumelle, where you can enjoy left and right slopes parallel to Vallons lift (if you want to walk a bit you should climb up a small hill on the right side from where you will able to go all the way down to Frejus village and to the base of Frejus lift). Also you can check area around Prorel lift. Zone around Yret lift is also interesting but be aware of avalanches.

I could go on like this for hours but you will figure all out when you get there. Great thing about Serre Che is also fact that there is so much space and lack of people who go off piste that there will be maiden spots even several days after snow fall.

The biggest snow park in the valley is between Chantemerle and Villeneuve, it is situated in Alpage area (closer to Villeneuve). Terrain park is really big and diverse, with lot of different elements, it is suited for different skill levels (from beginners to pro riders). There are 3 more snow parks but they are small and they only have rails or boarder-cross track.

HOW TO GET TO CHANTEMERLE

Chantemerleis situated in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in Serre Chevalier valley which connects Turin and Grenoble (biggest cities in the neighborhood). Italian border is only 20 min away by car.

Closest airports are in Turin Italy and Grenoble Switzerland, it will take you 1 h 50 min by car (127 km) to get there from Turin Airport. Grenoble airport is well connected to UK cities (10 different towns have direct connection) it is situated around 200 km away and you will need 2 h and 23 min by car. You can use public transport from the cities with airports but it is going to take time and you should check bus timetables.

Closest train station is in Briancon, but there are no direct trains from bigger cities thus you will have to change. There is regular local free ski bus in the valley which will take you from Briancon to Chantemerle.

WHERE TO STAY IN CHANTEMERLE

There are no luxurious hotels but accommodation in Chantemerele has great value for money. For the price of one bedroom apartment in for example Tignes or Val Thorens we stayed at Le Hameau du Rocher Blanc where we had 2 bedrooms and a living room. Our accommodation also had a spa area with pool and saunas. Similar situation concerning accommodation and prices is in Briancon. There is no ski in/ ski out lodging so be aware how distant is your accommodation from the closest ski lift.

WHAT TO DO AFTER DAY ON SNOW (APRES-SKI) IN CHANTEMERLE

If you are making brake during your skiing session you should visit restaurant on the top of Grand Alpe 2 gondola called Café Soleil, they are reasonable priced and have wide choice of meals from Italian to local food.

In the evening you won’t have much to choose from. Restaurants are situated on the main route through the valley (Route de Grenoble). Night club which you can visit is La Grotte and it is 2.5 km away, you will need 30 minutes by foot. If Chantemerle has better position when we are talking about skiing, Briancon is better choice if you want to make your time in the afternoon and evening eventful. It has UNESCO World Heritage old city, lot of restaurants, cinema, super markets and shopping mall. You can catch free ski buss to get there but check out time table on bus stops, don’t miss last one because you will have to walk. My personal experience is that it is hard to find taxi late in the evening and one evening last bus didn’t come at all.