Recent snowfalls have transformed the landscape of Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon into a winter wonderland. This year, the official opening of the resort, known as Les Premières Glisses, is scheduled for Saturday 7 December 2024. This event marks the start of the ski season in one of the largest resorts in the Southern Alps of France, offering visitors a festive skiing season in an exceptional area.
Serre Chevalier unfurls its white blanket from 7 December
This season, Serre Chevalier is strengthening its position as a top resort with the introduction of a number of new features. The ski area, which covers 410 hectares and offers 250 km of slopes, will welcome skiers with an enhanced experience. Among the new features, a new beginners’ area on the Méa plateau, equipped with a 150-metre covered carpet, will make it easier to learn to ski in ideal conditions.
The meeting point is at 8.45 am at the Place du Téléphérique in Chantemerle and at the snow front of Le Monêtier. Skiers will be greeted with a free breakfast and live music. With (hopefully!) favourable weather forecasts and an optimised snow cover thanks to 600 cannons covering 30% of the surface, conditions should be ideal for the start of the season.
Technological innovations and a strong commitment to the environment
This year Serre Chevalier is innovating with a new paperless ski pass system based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. Skiers will be able to activate their ski pass directly from their phone, simplifying access to the lifts and reducing waiting times. The new system is part of the resort’s ongoing commitment to providing a better customer experience while reducing its environmental impact.
Serre Chevalier also continues to stand out for its sustainability efforts. Since the launch of its renewable energy programme in 2018, the resort has self-generated 30% of its electricity needs through a combination of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric power plants. In addition, the resort has reduced its electricity consumption by 20% in the last three years.
A day of discounted skiing and after-skiing celebrations
To mark the start of the season, the ski resort is offering discounted ski passes, available on the Ouik platform. This is a great opportunity for skiers of all levels to enjoy their first snowfall, on slopes suitable for beginners and experts alike. The area offers a wide variety of slopes, from 13 green slopes ideal for beginners, to 30 red and 12 black slopes for more experienced skiers.
After skiing, the atmosphere continues at the Place du Téléphérique in Chantemerle, where the resort has scheduled a series of free concerts in partnership with Bruit Blanc. From 4pm, the group Social Dance will give a pop performance, followed at 5.30pm by LGMX, an electro-acoustic band that promises a festive and dynamic evening.
For those wishing to extend the experience, the resort also offers a new range of quality accommodation. The Club Med de Serre Chevalier reopens after a complete €50 million renovation and now offers an indoor swimming pool overlooking the valley, a Payot Spa and rooms with a mountain design inspired by the sundial, the valley’s emblem.
Serre Chevalier, an exceptional resort
Situated at the foot of the Ecrins National Park, the resort of Serre Chevalier offers an exceptional natural environment. The valley, famous for its 300 days of sunshine a year, stretches from the Col du Galibier to Briançon, the highest town in France. The resort offers a multitude of activities to suit all tastes, including 45km of Nordic ski runs, a biathlon stadium and marked ski mountaineering routes.
In 2024, Briançon is preparing to become an Olympic hub, hosting the freestyle events of the 2030 Winter Olympics. The city will also serve as an Olympic Village, hosting more than 1,200 athletes in a unique historic setting, the Fort des Têtes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visitors will find a wide range of accommodation options, from charming hotels to traditional chalets and tourist residences. For those who want to take advantage of the thermal baths, the Grands Bains de Monêtier offer a unique relaxation experience, with hot pools and spas offering breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains.
