Serre Chevalier travel guide
Visit Serre Chevalier (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France)
Book a visitSerre Chevalier is an extensive ski resorts in the southern Alps, based around Briancon - and one of the biggest ski areas in the Alps. The ski region - known informally as Le Grand Serre Che and now officially known as Serre Chevalier Vallée - consists of Briancon and several other towns and villages including Villeneuve-la-Salle, Chantemerle, Les Monetier-les-Bains and others in a beautiful environment near the Ecrins National Park.
Explore the Serre-Chevalier Valley ski resorts
It is not possible to define the 'character' of Serre Chevalier, since it consists of numerous villages and towns, most of which broadly follow a line below the mountains, but you are assured of spectacular scenery in a ski resort that can perfectly meet your requirements.
Due to the southerly location, the resort has a very high number of sunny days in the year and also usually has very good snow conditions in season, helped by having north-facing slopes. There are snow cannons on the lower slopes when necessary (although the season is a bit shorter than some of the higher, more northern Alpine ski resorts).
The extensive ski slopes of Serre Chevalier are accessed by numerous ski lifts, and the wide range of slopes, with 115 ski runs available covering 250 kilometres at altitudes from 1200 metres up to 2800 metres, ensures there are suitable options for skiers of all levels and abilities (24 green runs, 31 blue runs, 44 red runs and 16 black runs, supported by more than 300 snow cannons when necessary).
Among the highlights are the ski runs that give the opportunity to ski through the larch forests of the lower Alps. There is also a good selection of off-piste runs and a Nordic-ski run through the Guisane Valley.
There are several ski and snowboard schools operating at Serre Chevalier, some specialising in beginners while others focus on more advanced and off-piste skiing. Other activities such as hot-air balloons, hanggliding and driving on ice are also popular along with all the more common ski station sports such as ice-skating, dog-sleds and hiking on snow.
Away from the snow one of the most popular attractions in Serre-Chevalier is the large spa centre where leisure and spa activities are made possible by a natural warm spring. Of course there is also a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants and Serre Chevalier has also received the 'Famille Plus' award for welcoming families.
As with all the major ski regions, Serre Chevalier is visited during the summer months for the outdoor and mountain related activities it provides, such as hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and mountain climbing. There are chairlifts in operation at Briancon, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Les Monetiers-les-Bains during the summer months to provide access to the high mountains.
Mountain biking in particular is well established in Serre-Chevalier in the summer with lots of designated descents and off-road paths to follow, and many activities based along the Guisane river are also popular.
Attractions nearby
Most winter visitors will probably arrive in their own ski village and stay there for most of a visit, but during the summer you can explore the many natural highlights of the Ecrins National Park. The most picturesque villages in the region around Serre Chevalier include La Grave and Nevache.
You can find more travel ideas in the Hautes-Alpes guide and the Provence guide.
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Map of Serre Chevalier and places nearby
Visit near Serre Chevalier with France This Way reviews
Nevache
The picturesque mountain village of Nevache is well placed to explore the scenic Vallée de la Clarée
Nevache guide
Briancon
The town of Briancon is best known for its extensive Vauban fortifications, and also has lots to discover in its old town
Briancon guide
L'Argentiere-la-Bessee
The silver mines in L'Argentiere la Bessée, very active in the 19th century, are now reopened as a popular tourist attraction
L'Argentiere-la-Bessee guideEcrins National Park
Ecrins National Park is a very popular and very scenic National Park in the heart of the French Alps
Ecrins National Park guide
La Grave
Although better known as a ski resort, the village of La Grave is also a very unspoiled traditional mountain village
La Grave guide
Mont-Dauphin
The fortified mountain town of Briancon, one of the highest towns in Europe, is dominated by its historic fortifications
Mont-Dauphin guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Hautes-Alpes
Address: Serre Chevalier, Provence, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.9769, longitude 6.64
Plan your visit to Serre Chevalier, Hautes-Alpes
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Vallee de la Claree: grand site of france (2 km)
- Briancon fortifications (Vauban fortifications): heritage site (8 km)
- Briancon: secteur sauvegarde (8 km)
- L'Argentiere-la-Bessee: recommended detour (21 km)
- Jardin alpin du Lautaret: remarkable garden (25 km)
- La Meije: site of natural beauty (26 km)
- La Grave: most beautiful village (27 km)
- Aiguilles d'Arves: site of natural beauty (29 km)
- Queyras: regional natural parc (32 km)
- Place Forte de Mont-Dauphin: national monument (34 km)
- Mont-Dauphin place forte (Vauban fortifications): heritage site (34 km)
- Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: recommended detour (40 km)
The French version of this page is at Serre Chevalier (Francais)