Courchevel

Collection : TOP 25 RÉSISTANTE

Scale : 1:25 000

17.20€

3534OT - LES TROIS VALLÉES MODANE PARC NATIONAL DE LA VANOISE

Collection : TOP 25 ET SÉRIE BLEUE

Scale : 1:25 000

13.90€

TOP75003 - MASSIF DE LA VANOISE

TOP100D73 - SAVOIE CHAMBÉRY ALBERTVILLE PARC NATIONAL DE LA VANOISE PNR DU MASSIF DES BAUGES

202 JURA ALPES DU NORD

Collection : CARTES DÉPARTEMENTALES IGN

Scale : 1:150 000

5.90€

NR15 AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES RECTO/VERSO MASSIF ALPIN

Collection : CARTES RÉGIONALES IGN

Scale : 1:250 000

6.80€

NR14 AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES RECTO/VERSO MASSIF CENTRAL

Collection : CARTES RÉGIONALES IGN

Collection : DÉCOUVERTE DES PAYS DU MONDE IGN

Scale : 1:2 500 000

7.00€

Description

Founded in 1946 by Savoie Council to boost tourism and provide skiing to the masses, Courchevel is a pioneer in terms of planning the ski area and holiday accommodation on the mountain. It is the first French resort built on virgin territory ideal for winter sports: guaranteed snow on a northern slope, spruce forests, views as far as the eye can see, corries and white fields transformed into ski slopes, mountain passes and summits easily accessible from neighbouring valleys.

We invite you to discover the new architectural style invented in Courchevel during the 1950's.

Please respect private property by keeping to the public footpath.

Technical Information

Walking

Difficulty

Very easy

Duration

2h (1d)

Dist.

8 km

Altimetric profile

Starting point

Rue de l'Église , 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

Lat : 45.41464Lng : 6.63445

Steps

Departure from Courchevel Tourisme

LA CROISETTE (1971) La Croisette is the resort’s beating heart on which Laurent Chappis based his urban planning project in 1946. Up until the building’s construction in 1971, the snow front was only marked out by the road with parking spaces on one side and ski slopes on the other. The areas were based around this point: Chenus and Plantret to the west and the other districts (Tovets, Bellecôte, Cospillot, Nogentil, Jardin Alpin, Pralong) up to the Altiport to the east. From La Croisette go up Rue de l’église and visit Notre Dame de l’Assomption amid the trees on your left.

Rue du Rocher 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

63 Rue des Clarines 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

To the Mazots area

Follow the path beneath the church to Rue des Clarines until you reach Hotel K2. At the hairpin turn go a few metres back up the path and you’ll see La Goupille on your right.

63 Rue des Clarines 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

Rue des Clarines and Rue de Cospillot

Go back up Rue des Clarines until the crossing then go down Rue de Cospillot on your right. Visit Joliot-Curie chalet next to Hotel Le Lana.

Rue de Bellecôte 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

Bellecôte path

Go past Hotel le Lana up the Bellecôte piste until you reach the Ferme de Pralong and Altiport.

Rue de l'Altiport 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

Ferme de Pralong

LA FERME DE PRALONG (1900M) This mountain chalet and its hay-lofts were also used as an altitude chalet by skiers between 1930 and 1945. After spending the night on-site, the skiers would go up the major nearby mountains (la Vizelle, la Saulire, la Loze) in ski skins then go back down into the valley. Pastoral life reigned here in the summer, as it does today.

Rue de l'Altiport 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

Return to Courchevel Centre

To get back down, follow the 4x4 road to the Jardin Alpin ski lift station then head towards the golf course. Continue towards Verdons piste until you reach the resort centre.

Rue Park City 73120 Saint-bon-tarentaise

Les Chenus Area

When you get back on La Croisette you can keep going and explore Les Chenus. Follow the road to Le Petit Navire chalet (above hotel La Pomme de Pin). Walk to the slalom stadium and go back down along the piste until you reach La Croisette.

63 Rue des Clarines 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

Points of interest

Courchevel Chapel

NOTRE DAME DE L’ASSOMPTION CHAPEL (1953) – listed as a Monument Historique on January 17th 2005 The chapel in a peaceful setting was built in several stages (1953, 1955, 1970, 1992) not far from the hustle and bustle of the resort. What’s special about this chapel is its French window which enables the congregation to take part in services from outside and the priest has a round altar!

63 Rue des Clarines 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

La Goupille

LES MAZOTS AREA AND LA GOUPILLE GRANARY(1953) – listed as a Monument Historique on January 23rd 2005 There are forty or so granaries built on a plot with a spruce forest in this area. Some are untouched and some have been renovated. The most impressive is La Goupille. Laurent Chappis had the idea to bring a granary from Maurienne and rebuild it in Courchevel for winter sports holidays! Eugène Claudius-Petit (then Urban Planning and Reconstruction Minister) loved the idea and had his La Goupille built next to Chappis’ !

Rue Cospillot 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

Joliot Curie Chalet

JOLIOT-CURIE CHALET (1949) – listed as a Monument Historique on January 17th 2005 It is the first mountain dwelling designed by Denys Pradelle. Using local materials and modern building techniques, the architect developed a new way of building on the mountain for townsfolk.

Rue de l'Altiport 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

L'Altiport

ALTIPORT (1961) This "mountain airport" was founded in 1961 by Michel Ziegler at an altitude of 2007m making it the first and highest landing strip in Europe with a clear runway all year round!

Rue Park City 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

Courchevel Centre

LA CROISETTE (1971) La Croisette is the resort’s beating heart on which Laurent Chappis based his urban planning project in 1946. Up until the building’s construction in 1971, the snow front was only marked out by the road with parking spaces on one side and ski slopes on the other. The areas were based around this point: Chenus and Plantret to the west and the other districts (Tovets, Bellecôte, Cospillot, Nogentil, Jardin Alpin, Pralong) up to the Altiport to the east. LE FORUM (1991) This shopping and leisure centre was originally built for the 16th Winter Olympics in Albertville in 1992. The hockey teams trained on the skating rink during the 1992 Winter Olympics.

21 Rue des Chenus 73120 Saint-Bon-Tarentaise

Le Petit Navire Chalet

LE PETIT NAVIRE CHALET (1951-1952) – listed as a Monument Historique on January 25th 2005 This is Denys Pradelle’s own chalet built for his family. It is the first detached house to be built in a ski resort with French council housing funding and assisted home buying scheme.