Tignes

Visit Tignes, Rhone-Alpes

Tignes is a ski resort in the Savoie department, and is part of the Espace Killy ski region. The resort comprises several villages - all are new except for Les Brevieres which was a traditional Savoyard village before skiing arrived. Tignes itself was also a village here but it was submerged in the early 1950's when the barrage was constructed.

The resort was developed in an attractive location in the mountains above Les Brevieres and around the lake after the dam was finished.

The main villages are called Val Claret, Le Lavachet, Le Lac, Les Boisses and Les Brevieres, the first three of these being at the higher altitude and the last two a little down the mountain. Le Lac is both the highest village of the group and the best placed for access to the ski slopes.

Having been developed during the 1960's Tignes was becoming 'rather dated' by the 1990's but in recent years the resort has been taken in hand a little, substantially smartened up, and new developments are subject to much tighter constraints than were applied previously, in an attempt to return to a more Alpine feel for the resort.

For a long time the location was unusual in that it offered year round skiing, because of the glacier that lies behind the village - climate change has reduced this a little but there is still a very long ski season at Tignes.

The region is ideal for skiing, is at high altitude (2100 metres), and has a very wide range of skiing opportunities for all levels of skier - for the more experienced there are a good selection of  green runs and black runs, and off-piste possibilities close to hand.

As you would expect, Tignes also offers a very wide selection of shops, bars and restaurants and nightlife for the times when you aren't out on the slopes. Because of the late season skiing available, and the popularity of the resort as a summer base for hiking and outdoor activities, the town is busy for much of the year, except autumn when the summer crowds have left and the first winter sport enthusiasts not yet arrived.

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Suggested places to visit near Tignes, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Courchevel 23km; Meribel 28km; Val Thorens 33km; Valmorel 36km; Albertville 46km; Megeve 49km; Saint Gervais Les Bains 49km;

Tignes tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Col de l'Iseran - site of natural beauty (11km) : Glacier des Bossons - site of natural beauty (45km) : Aiguille du Midi - site of natural beauty (45km) : Mer de Glace - site of natural beauty (48km) : Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - recommended detour (49km) :

See more places and a map at places near Tignes