Grand Domaine de Valmorel: 165km spanning two valleys

165 kilometres, two valleys

The figure shown on the piste map is 165 kilometres of marked pistes, of which approximately 95km on the Valmorel side and 70km on the Saint-François-Longchamp side. 103 pistes in total: 25 green, 49 blue, 21 red, 8 black. The skiable vertical reach is 1,300 metres between the highest point and the return to the resort, and the whole domain is served by around forty ski lifts.

The topography offers two very different atmospheres. On the Tarentaise side, pistes descend through forests of larch, with sheltered combes that hold snow well. On the Maurienne side, the slopes are more open, south-facing, bathed in clear sunshine from mid-morning onwards. Strong skiers in good physical condition can link the two aspects in a single day, passing via the Col de la Madeleine, one of the domain’s most photogenic connections.

Valmorel, village established in 1976

The resort itself merits a visit before the pistes. Valmorel is a village resort opened in 1976, designed by urbanist-architect Michel Bezançon, to whom the architectural approach is owed: no tower blocks, no concrete, but chalets of wood and stone roofed with stone slates, dispersed across several hamlets along a pedestrian street, the rue du Bourg. Its heart, the Bourg, is entirely pedestrianised.

Fifty years on, the effect is that of a village resort that has aged better than its contemporaries: dark wooden façades, trompe-l’œil painted signs and decorated balconies give it rare character. Cars remain in the car park at the entrance; luggage reaches accommodation on foot or by shuttle.

What to aim for when skiing

The signature pistes of the domain are found at the top of Mottet and on the Madeleine combe. The descent towards Celliers ranks amongst the longest. Those seeking leisurely skiing will find what they want in the Doucy-Combelouvière sector, which is more family-oriented. Experienced skiers will descend the Saint-François aspect for the quality of snow in the mornings.

As for off-piste, unmarked itineraries around the Col de la Madeleine require guidance by a mountain guide and offer extensive but demanding terrain requiring careful route-finding.

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 operating at full capacity; for greater tranquillity, aim for late January or the third week of March. In summer, Valmorel opens a few lifts for hiking and downhill mountain biking, though the domain is not experienced as it is in winter.

Planning a stay at Valmorel

AEC Collection selects and represents quality chalets and apartments at Valmorel, in the heart of the resort or in the Mottet and Crève-Cœur hamlets.