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Three Valleys news
We bring you the latest Three
Valleys news.
We'll keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in the
Three Valleys, in
anticipation of a new winter season. Then, once the ski
season kicks off, we'll bring you reports,
photos, and videos, so you can see what's going on in the Three
Valleys.
Read all the news from the Three Valleys.
Three Valleys news
Here you can find reports on the events in the Three Valleys, and all the Three Valleys news throughout the season.
Three Valleys news: what's new for 2014-15
12th August 2014
There are new developments for the 2014-15 season in various resorts around the Three Valleys.
Courchevel Moriond (1650) is to have a new freeride area, which will be made safe from avalanches, but not pisted. It'll be called the Espace Liberty Freeride. Also in Courchevel, this time in the Le Praz sector, there is to be a new 6-seater chairlift (with pull-down perspex covers) replacing Foret, and another new 6-seater chair to replace Aiguille du Fruit and Gravelle.
In Méribel, the old la Loze chairlift will be replaced with a modern detachable chair. The journey time will go from 11 minutes down to 6 minutes.
In Les Menuires, the Masse piste, currently black, is going to be made accessible to less experienced skiers, with a blue option. The 'Espace Liberty Ride', from the top of La Masse, is to be developed as an area made safe from avalanches, but not pisted. In Les Bruyeres, a new swimming pool will open.
Three Valleys news: what's new for 2013-14
10th December 2013This is a round-up of what's new in the rest of the Three Valleys. In Les Menuires, there'll be a mini speed skiing run, accessible from the Sunny Express chair, where you can measure your speed.
In Courchevel, one of the two cabins of the Saulire cable car has been re-painted brown, in a way that makes it look like leather. Inside, unbelievably the decoration on the walls looks like wallpaper, with a grandfather clock! (See photo below right). Who thinks that was a good idea?
Meribel has made a few alterations to pistes, and there's a children's fun zone on the Louveteaux piste, in the Altiport area, with eskimo-themed games.
La Tania has installed a new 6-seater detachable Bouc Blanc chairlift, which replaces three older lifts.
Three Valleys news: Hotel l' Apogée to open in Courchevel
10th June 2013A new luxury hotel in Courchevel, L' Apogée, will open its doors on 11th December 2013. It is sited in the Jardin Alpin area of Courchevel (1850). Bookings are now open for the hotel, which has 33 suites, 20 spacious rooms, and one penthouse with jacuzzi and private terrace. There'll also be a separate chalet with 5 bedrooms, spa, and private cinema.
The hotel's restaurant is to be run by chef Yannick Franques, who has two Michelin stars. Facilities at the hotel include a spa area, with gym, pool, and Russian Banya, and a children's games room.
Three Valleys news: Magnestick chairlifts in Courchevel and Mottaret
31st October 2012Regular Three Valleys skiers will already have come across the 'Magnestick Kid' chairlifts, notably out of Méribel Mottaret.
For the upcoming 2012/13 season, there'll be six chairlifts in Courchevel (1850), and four in Méribel Mottaret, equipped with magnets. Children taking lessons with the ESF will wear back protectors, with integrated magnets, preventing them from falling off the lifts. (The protectors will also be on sale at Ski 'n' Souvenirs at La Croisette in Courchevel).
The 'Magnestick Bar' will be extended to all the lifts in Courchevel (1850), La Tania, and Méribel Mottaret. This means that the security bar will effectively be locked down by a magnet, until the the arrival point. (In our experience, the bar stays locked until the very last moment, after you would normally have lifted it up, so don't panic if you can't lift it.)
A third security measure that's new for the 2012/13 season, is the introduction of La Security Patrol! The teams will be charged with ensuring safety, and promoting the rules of conduct on the piste, through prevention, education, and information.
Three Valleys news: new names of the Courchevel resorts
31st October 2012Don't be surprised if the different villages around Courchevel have slightly different names this year. Courchevel 1850 has become Courchevel, and 1650 is now known as Courchevel Moriond. The full changes are as follows:
| Old name | New name |
|---|---|
| Courchevel 1850 | Courchevel |
| Courchevel 1650 | Couchevel Moriond |
| Courchevel 1550 | Courchevel Village |
| Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz) | Courchevel le Praz |
Three Valleys news: return of the Saulire cable car
23rd October 2012The Saulire cable car has returned to Courchevel on the back of a truck. It had been taken away for renovation, but came back on 10th October 2012. See photos of the return of the Saulire cable car...
Three Valleys news: new Plattieres gondola
23rd October 2012The Plattieres gondola out of Méribel Mottaret, which takes skiers back towards Les Menuires and Val Thorens, will have its first and second sections replaced in time for the 2012/13 season. The travel time on the new lifts will be 9 minutes, instead of 22 minutes on the old lifts. It's due to open in early December, at the start of Méribel's season.
For more information, and a couple of photos of the new Plattieres lift station, see the s3v website.
Elsewhere in the Three Valleys, Courchevel's Biollay chair has been replaced over the summer. The new six-seater cost €7 million, and will transport 3300 people per hour, instead of the 2500/h the old lift could move.
