Val-d'Isère
Val-d'Isère is a commune
of the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department in southeastern France. It
lies 5km (3 mi) from the border with Italy. It is on the border of the Vanoise
National Park created in 1963. During the 1992 Winter Olympics, the Face de
Bellevarde was the site of the men’s downhill race.
It has good transport links in and out
of Lyon, Geneva and Chambery. The ski area of Val-d'Isère and Tignes forms the
Espace Killy, named after the triple olympic champion Jean-Claude Killy who
grew up in Val-d'Isère.
Val-d'Isère spreads along a remote valley, which is a dead end in winter. The road in from Bourg-St-Maurice brings you dramatically through a rocky defile to La Daille – a convenient but hideous slope-side apartment complex and the base of lifts into the major Bellevarde sector of the slopes.
Carry on into the centre of town and turn right and
you go past the nursery slopes and major lifts up to both the Bellevarde and
Solaise sectors to a lot of new development. Continue up the main valley instead,
and you come first to Le Laisinant, a peaceful little outpost with a fast lift
into the slopes, and then to Le Fornet, the fourth major lift station.
The developments up the side valley beyond the main lift station – in Le Châtelard and La Legettaz – are mainly attractive, and some offer ski-in/ski-out convenience. La Daille and Le Fornet have their (quite different) attractions for those less concerned about nightlife.
The developments up the side valley beyond the main lift station – in Le Châtelard and La Legettaz – are mainly attractive, and some offer ski-in/ski-out convenience. La Daille and Le Fornet have their (quite different) attractions for those less concerned about nightlife.
