Courchevel

Area Profile

Arguably France's most exclusive resort, well located at the eastern end of the world's largest truly inter-connected ski area (Trois Vallées) and with some of Europe's best on and off-slope in-frastructure, Courchevel would rate in the top 10 selection of resorts around the world for most dedicated skiers. Better known regulars include the Danish and Spanish royal families, Jean-Michel Jarre, Roman Polanski, President Giscard d'Estaing... Unsurprisingly Courchevel shares the reputation of St Moritz, Aspen or Lech for exclusivity and high prices but, equally unsurprisingly, the tourist board is keen to point out that it is possible to stay at and enjoy Courchevel 'on a budget'.

Not a particularly attractive resort architecturally, the view from a distance gives little clue to the presence of exclusive boutiques, luxurious chalets and the wonderful restaurants serving dishes of high gastronomic calibre. The first winter tourists arrived in the valley in the 1930s, with the resort 'taking off' in terms of popularity in the late 1950s and the '60s, particularly with the opening of the Saulire cable car in 1950.

Today Courchevel has its own special Charter which ensures hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses provide the best possible service and open as advertised throughout the season. The resort is made up of five different base stations, all self-contained villages and all known by their altitudes, (1300 which still calls itself Le Praz and the other authentic Savoyard village Saint Bon). The best known of the five, and the one on which the resort's reputation is based, is the highest and largest - Courchevel 1850.

Lodging Profile

Slopeside accomodations are available among a total of 32,000 beds. 42 additional hotels are located nearby. Chalets, apartments, and rentals available.

Services Profile

There are 11 restaurants on mountain and many more restaurants located nearby; cuisines ranging from Gastronomique, Creperie, French, Italian, Savoyard, Seafood, and West Indian. Bars, tea rooms, and piano bar. There are over 150 shops nearby, 3 cinemas, and 4 night clubs. Child care is available for ages 18 months to 12 years old. Ski schools offer lessons for ages 3 years to adults.

Area Recreation Profile

Other activities are available on location and nearby are: fitness centers, swimming, skating, bowling, climbing wall, helicopter and scenic flights, library, night skiing, savoyard evenings, snowmobiling, ski jumps, slalom and speed skiing courses, snow rafting, squash, cross country, ice karting, sledging, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing, torchlit descents and a hair-raising new floodlit toboggan run from 1850 to 1650 serviced by the Grangettes gondola. Mountain guides for off-piste or heliskiing are bookable from Bureau des Guides.

Snowboarding Profile

Snow park and baby pipe, canyons, dunes, and hoops available for snowboarding.

Common Misspellings

chourchevel, corcheval, corchevel, coucehevel, couchevel, courcevel, courcherval, courchevelle

Important Dates

Projected Days Open: N/A

Days Open Last Year: N/A

Years Open: 8

Average Snowfall: 567"

Terrain Type

Beginner Runs: 33%

Intermediate Runs: 34%

Advanced Runs: 33%

Expert Runs: 10%

Lifts

Total Number Of Lifts: 63

Gondolas & Trams: N/A

High Speed Sixes: N/A

High Speed Quads: 7

Quad Chairs: N/A

Triple Chairs: 3

Double Chairs: 6

Surface Lifts: 31

Elevation

Top: 8881 ft.

Bottom: 4265 ft.

Vertical Drop: 4593 ft.

Longest Run: 4.8 miles

Skiable Terrain: 150 acres

Snow Making: N/A