RESORT INFO - FRANCIS SPORTS - BRIANÇON : Webcams, Weather...

The ski area is not a single resort, rather, it is made up of a dozen villages including Briançon, Chantemerle, Monêtier les Bains and Villeneuve which are connected by a bus service. The area comprises 250km of well-linked pistes along the Serre Chevalier Valley between Briançon and Le Monêtier-les-Bains and forms part of the Grande Galaxie ski area. This vast region provides access to 530km of alpine skiing, with 264 individual pistes and is served by 151 ski lifts.

The resort’s altitude ranges from 1200m to 2800m so you can enjoy great skiing in a high mountain atmosphere. The runs, cut in and above a large larch forest, are on the North side of the high long ridge. There are loads of bowls, valley descents and high off-peak faces. Serre Chevalier has phenomenal tree skiing too and is famed for its off-piste.

Snow cover is exceptionally good which is down to the resort’s north facing position. Slopes are colder for longer and they tend to hold onto more of the white stuff. The majority of the skiing is on the top half of the mountain and the trees protect the lower slopes. Snow making machines protect the base of the valley pistes and the grooming is consistently well done.

Snowboarders love it here too and there is a dedicated freestyle zone, located in the ski area next to Villeneuve, which is divided according to level of expertise. There’s also a boardercross zone in Chantemerle with banked turns and modules which are perfect for slalom addicts. If you’re not quite ready to bomb down the mountain, there are many highly regarded ski schools which can help you reach your goals. We rate Ski Connections and ESI Monetier.

Serre Chavalier is an attractive resort, with narrow cobbled streets and pretty shops lining the village’s main road. Most of the accommodation consists of small chalets, family run B&B’s, or is self-catered.