For the remainder of the summer season vehicles will no longer be allowed to park on the Montée de la Chaudanne, one of the two main roads running through Méribel centre. Until the end of August, wooden barriers will prevent cars from parking on either side of the street, effectively enlarging the pavement and allowing pedestrians more space to wander, enjoy outdoor cafes and the twice weekly market. Deliveries will still be permitted and two short stay parking spaces are still available outside the Pharmacy. After public consultation at the end of the summer, a decision will be taken by the town hall whether to make the change permanent. The town hall states that its long term objectives towards road use are:
to reduce the number of vehicles in Méribel,
reduce the noise and pollution caused by car use within the resort,
encourage tourists and locals to use the car parks close to town centre,
develop car-sharing,
and increase the use of the free communal transport.
Tag Archive for 'winter'
France has pipped Switzerland to the post in a ranking of winter resorts according to holiday homes rental specialist Interhome. The accommodation provider saw Tignes take the number one resort slot for the winter season, up three places from last year and, knocking Nendaz in Switzerland off the top slot for the first time in a number of years.
Tignes experienced a 61% increase in bookings year-on-year. Madeleine Winship, Director, Interhome Ltd said: “Tignes is high up and offers glacier skiing – an added bonus in a season when snow conditions have been unpredictable.” Chatel in France has also seen an increase in bookings year-on-year. Overall, the accommodation specialist has recorded a 1% increase in winter bookings year-on-year while turnover has increased 2.5%. Booking durations have not changed : the majority still opting for the traditional one-week stay even though Interhome offers flexible stays from three to six nights at many properties. However, short breaks have increased for the company - 19.5% with most short break bookings for three and four nights. Chamonix emerged as the resort with the highest number of short break bookings – possibly because it is within such easy reach of Geneva. Val Thorens fared less well, despite it being the highest ski resort in Europe, probably because most apartments offer less flexibility with stays from Saturday to Saturday only, thus cutting off the short break market.
Courchevel has committed to the construction of an aquatic complex where sport, relaxing, and well-being will be the name of the game. Open winter and summer, the centre will perfectly complement the numerous existing activities.
The resort’s plans for its Grandes Combes site is reported to be both ambitious and innovative by Courchevel, bringing in yet-to-be-announced but reported to be unique new ideas and equipment .
Courchevel believes that the new complex will represent a major asset for the resort’s future development. Along with the new swimming pool the facility will have an indoor sports complex with a large hall, additional outdoor sports areas, conference area, media library, restaurants, shops and parking areas.
Considered to be the ultimate record of the past by climatologists and paleontologists alike, glaciers reveal the earth’s climatic history : the further we penetrate the older the ice and the greater the discoveries to be made.
Ice Cave rates :
- Adults : € 4
- Child : € 3
And not to be missed… a 6 metre high, 10 metre wide mammoth made of ice weighing more than 6 tons. A must.
From 2007 to 2012 the resort of Les Carroz d’Araches in Haut-Savoie is putting more than €15m into its skiing area with the aim of improving skiing conditions and the safety of its clients. The investment programme involves the creation of a high quality reception centre for its skiers located at the departure point of the Kédeuze cable car, the replacement of three chair lifts by two high flow six place chair lifts, the increase in size and doubling of capacity of the Lac de L’Airon used for providing the water for artificial snow, the use of which will be further developed, and finally the improvement of the beginner’s area next to the arrival station of the Les Carroz cable car. This resort village is also linked to the Grand Massif skiing area which links up four other resorts: Flaine, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt Fer à Cheval, amounting to 265km of ski runs.
