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ourchevel 1850 has
always been a chic,
exclusive place to
ski for the rich and
famous. Over the
years, many different nationalities
have made it their favourite
destination - a truly worldwide
clientele with, naturally, plenty of
French and British clients.
Courchevel Moriond 1650
and Courchevel Village 1550
are the more affordable villages,
while my personal favourite is
Le Praz 1300. I just love the
original heart of the village, which
harmonises with the newer
chalets. The skiing, cross-country,
and randonnée tracks are superb.
There is a new télécabine to
1850 and a smaller beginners'
area - it's a truly welcoming and
friendly place. Add in the fact that
the Olympic ski jumps are here
alongside a lake for swimming,
diving and fi shing, and you can see
why it is popular all year round.
Off-season, Courchevel is busy
with renovations, chalet rebuilds
and even new builds. If you are
looking for a new build, then local
knowledge is everything, so do
get in touch.
Naturally, the skiing in
Courchevel is superb. The pistes
are mainly north-facing and keep
the snow well, and there are
plenty of cannons as backup. You
can also head out into the rest of
the Three Valleys, making this the
largest ski area in the world. My
favourite piste has to be "Biollay",
which is a blue run in the centre
of the resort. It is wide, with a
variable gradient, and when it's
empty, you can really blast those
cobwebs away. On powder days,
you can drop off both sides for
simple off-piste skiing. For a
more signifi cant challenge, try
"Le Grand Couloir". It is often
full of moguls and has a slightly
terrifying path leading into the
fi rst little bowl. Afterwards I will
often head to the lounge in Hotel
Peuplier, Le Praz, for a vin chaud in
front of the cosy fi replace.
There are fi ve main villages
in Courchevel, with a whole host
of world-class restaurants to
choose from. I love the cheese
dishes at Le Caveau in 1550 and
the terrace at Bel Air in 1650,
but the most spectacular dining
can be found at 1850. If you like
dancing, then the Mangeoire is
the ideal place.
Of course, there are literally
hundreds of other fabulous
resorts within the AuvergneRhône-Alpes,
far too many to
list in such a short article. Each
has a distinct personality and
will offer different experiences.
The one thing they tend to have
92 +33 (0)5 53 60 84 88 info@leggett.fr
SPOTLIGHT AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES
Sian Maher has seen Courchevel change a lot since her arrival
in 1995, and has forged a name for herself as the "go-to" agent
within the valley.
Courchevel
Beaufort, Savoie
Megève, Haute-Savoie
Auvergne
Rhône-Alpes