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.
8 km
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max. 2018 m
min. 1755 m
394 m
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Styles : BaladeDiscovery Public : FamilySchool |
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.
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.
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.
Go past Hotel le Lana up the Bellecôte piste until you reach the Ferme de Pralong and Altiport.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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’ !
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.
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!
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.
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.