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Serre-Chevalier

Population : 3500h. Alt : 2800m
Department of Hautes Alpes

Access by train (Briançon railway station 5 km)
by A51 motorway (La Saulce exit 90 km)
or by A32 motorway (Oulx exit 35 km).

At the crossroads between Provence and Italy, Serre-Chevalier (known as "serre-che" to regular visitors) is the largest ski resort in the Southern Alps.

Serre-Chevalier is in fact the name of a valley which begins at the top of the passes of Lautaret and Galibier and ends 20 kilometres further down at Briançon. It consists of three entities, located in the Guisane valley at three different altitudes - hence the names " Serre Chevalier 1350", "1400" and "1500". These entities comprise a total of sixteen villages :
- Saint Chaffrey, Chantemerle, and Villard Laté for Serre Chevalier 1350.
- La Salle, Moulin Baron, La Chirouze, Les Pananches, Le Bez , Villeneuve for Serre Chevalier 1400.
- Le Monetier les Bains, Le Freyssinet, Le Serre Barbin, Les Guibertes, Le Casset, les Boussardes, Le Lauzet for Serre Chevalier 1500.

Of all these villages, the most interesting from the point of view of historical heritage is undoubtedly La Salle les Alpes (976 inhabitants). For example, its frequently altered Saint-Marcellin church has an elegant 15th century porch with columns and vaulted roof with lancet intersections.
Admire its "Lombardic" Romanesque belltower (14th century), considered to be one of the finest in the Briançon area. Inside is a 17th century altar piece depicting the Virgin with child.

Worth visiting :

At La Salle les Alpes :
Museum "My village in the old days" (no admittance charge). Saint-Marcellin church.
Chapels of Saint-Barthélémy, St Jean Baptiste, Ste Luce.
St Jacques Oratory. Sundials.
At Le Monetier-les-Bains (1500 metres) :
the museum of sacred art. Fortifications in the Briançon area.
Old graphite mines. Guided tours
(discovery of sundials, Chapels, Churches, etc.)
Museum "My village in the old days"
Serre Chevalier 1400 Museum of Sacred Art :
Collection of polychrome statues
and liturgical ornaments Serre chevalier 1500

Leisure activities :

In winter, all types of skiing, snowboarding,
Kite surf, snowpark, ski joering, cross-country skiing,
snow shoes. Ice rink, driving on ice, snow scooter
In summer : mountain hikes
in the Ecrins National Park
(very numerous GR footpaths and other paths).
Horse-riding (horse-riding centres).
Mountain-biking (waymarked circuits).
Karts and quads. Crazy golf. Paint ball, archery.
Adventure park, rafting, paragliding, tennis,
trampoline, grass scooter. Climbing (via ferrata).
Horse-drawn carriages, kite surf.
Rollerblade and skateboard areas.
Man-made lake and 3 swimming pools.
Fishing in the river and lake.
Rafting, canyoning, Air boat, Kayak, hydro speed .

France-Italy Twinning Festival (in December)
Dinner-theatre festival (in February)
Organ festival (in summer)
Book and Image festival (early August)
Music Month (in March)
Sound and Light show (in summer)

Accommodation and eating out :

A parking area for motor homes at Villeneuve.
Holiday centres at Villeneuve, Chantemerle,
Le Monetier Les Bains, La Salle les Alpes.
Numerous bed & breakfast and tables d'hôtes at
Villeneuve, Saint Chaffrey, Villard Laté,
Chantemerle, Les Boussardes, La Salle.
Numerous Gîtes at
Le Monetier Les Bains, Chantemerle, Le Casset
Numerous Hotels at
Col du Lautaret, Villeneuve, Le Monetier Les Bains, Chantemerle, Villeneuve, Pont de l' Alp,
Hameau de Fréjus-Villeneuve, Le Lauzet,
Villard Laté-Chantemerle, Le Bez Villeneuve.
A family holiday centre at
Le Monetier Les Bains.
A Refuge.
Tourist residences at
Le Monetier Les Bains, Chantemerle,
Le Bez-La Salle Les Alpes, Villeneuve
Holiday village at
illeneuve, Saint Chaffrey, Chantemerle.

Neighbouring villages not to be missed :

Villar d'Arene (20km from Le Monetier-les-Bains)
Briançon (5km from Chantemerle)