Grand Domaine de Valmorel: 165km straddling two valleys

165 kilometres, two valleys

The figure marked on the piste map is 165 kilometres of marked runs, of which approximately 95km on the Valmorel side and 70km on the Saint-François-Longchamp side. 103 runs in total: 25 green, 49 blue, 21 red, 8 black. The skiable vertical drop reaches 1300 metres between the highest point and the return to the resort, and the entire area is served by 49 mechanical lifts, the majority of which are detachable chairlifts.

The topography offers two very different atmospheres. On the Tarentaise side, the runs descend through larch forests, with combes sheltered from the wind that hold snow well. On the Maurienne side, the slopes are more open, south-facing, bathed in strong sunshine from mid-morning onwards. Good skiers in good physical condition can link both slopes in the same day, passing via the Madeleine chairlift, one of the domain’s most photogenic connections, which sweeps over the eponymous pass.

Valmorel, a village born in 1976

The resort itself merits a closer look before the slopes. Valmorel is a third-generation resort opened for the end-of-year festivities in 1976, designed by urban planner and architect Michel Bezançon, who shaped the architectural vision: no towers, no concrete, but chalets of wood and stone roofed with slate, distributed across several hamlets along a pedestrian street, the rue du Bourg. It is one of the first entirely car-free resort villages in the French Alps.

The result, fifty years on, is that of a village resort that has aged better than its contemporaries: the dark wooden facades, the trompe-l’œil painted shop signs and decorated balconies lend it rare character. Cars remain in the entrance car park, luggage reaches accommodation on foot or by electric shuttle.

What to aim for when skiing

The signature runs of the domain are found at the top of Mottet and on the Madeleine combe. The Biolène run on the Valmorel side and the descent towards Celliers are among the longest. Those seeking relaxed skiing will find what they need in the Doucy-Combelouvière sector, which is more family-oriented. Experienced skiers will head down the Saint-François slope for the morning snow quality and absence of queues.

As for off-piste, the unmarked itineraries around the Col de la Madeleine require guidance from a qualified guide and offer vast terrain but one that demands skill in reading the mountain.

When to visit

The winter season typically runs from mid-December to mid-April. The February-March window combines stable snow with increasingly long daylight. The February school holidays see the entire resort in full swing; for greater peace and quiet, aim for late January or the third week of March. In summer, Valmorel opens a few lifts for hiking and downhill mountain biking, but the domain does not feel the same as in winter.

Planning a stay at Valmorel

AEC Collection selects and represents premium chalets and apartments at Valmorel, in the heart of the resort or on the heights of the Pré and Bourg-Morel hamlets.