Meribel Village

Méribel owes its famous picture-book chalet style to a building code written and enforced by an English Colonel.

14 villages run the length of the valley from Mottaret to Les Allues. Les Allues, Le Raffort and Méribel Village are directly linked to the major ski areas, but Méribel and Mottaret are the major population centres. The famous picture-book chalet style of Méribel is the result of strict adherence to a building code emphasising the use of traditional local materials, propounded by designers under the control of Colonel Peter Lindsay, an Englishman who established the first ski lift back in 1945 and devoted the rest of his life to developing the resort.

The resort spreads up from the Olympic pool and ice rink at Chaudanne (1450m) along and high up the east side of the valley to the exclusive accommodation at Belvedere. Mottaret is less charming and more typically purpose-built but has the advantage of a higher altitude (1750m) with pretty much all the accommodation ski in-ski out.

There is a free bus service between Méribel and Mottaret but beware the casual adherence to the published timetable. Buses will happily depart early leaving you up to a 30 minute wait for the next one. And don't forget to press the bell if you want them to stop. The last bus out of Méribel to Mottaret is at around midnight, tiresome if you're clubbing, and miss it at your peril. A late night taxi ride between the villages will be exhorbitant.