Serre-Chevalier ski resort, Hautes-Alpes, France

This is one of the biggest ski resorts in Europe. Covering 250km of trails at altitudes between 1,200m and 2,800m, there’s something for every skill level.

This is a long south-facing valley that is home to several villages and hamlets, some of them very modern; others traditional. Serre-Chevalier is located in France’s Hautes-Alpes, the highest area in the Alps. The highest point served by a lift is 2,830m and is called the Yret pike.

Today’s Serre Chevalier is a combination of the original Serre-Chevalier, Mônetier les Bains (1984), and a completely new ski area (1990) known as Briançon. The climate here is a combination of Mediterranean and alpine. Known for its clean and pure air, visitors come here for the health benefits as well as for the skiing. Of the 107 runs, 14 are black, 39 red, 31 blue, and 23 green. The 63 lifts are made up of 2 cable cars, 5 gondola lifts, 9 high-speed chair lifts, 12 standard chair lifts, and 35 ski or drag lifts.

This resort has a large snow-making network that assures good skiing conditions all season long. It’s children- and family-friendly.