Serre Chevalier Villages

Chantemerle (Saint-Chaffrey)

Chantemerle at 1,350m is a modern looking village 6km from Briancon and the first of three villages with lift access to the ski area. Mostly made up of hotels and apartment residences, Chantemerle also includes older properties near the base area where there is a shopping complex, tourist office, restaurants and bars. Views of the Luc Alphand balck run, vertical in appearance, can be enjoyed from the bars and restaurants at the base. The Station is a lively apres ski bar and a great place to sit and watch skiers tearing down the mountain. Farther along the road away from the base area is a parade of ski rental shops and supermarkets which are close to the residences and hotels. A foot tunnel goes under the road making the short walk to the base area easier for skiers. For ski hire, see the Skiset offer at the foot of this page. For accommodation, see our Accommodation page.

Villeneuve (La Salles-les-Alpes)

The biggest of Serre Chevalier’s villages, Villenueve at 1,400m is the hub of the ski domain and split into old and new. The newest part of the village includes a commercial centre with a parade of shops, ski schools and the tourist office. Modern apartment residences circle a large parking area and the base area of the mountain. A little further on past the main roundabout is ‘Place de Aravet’ with further access to the mountain via the Aravet gondola as well as hotels, bars, restaurants and ski schools. The newest parts of Villeneuve are equipped to satisfy all skiers’ needs and are a centre of activity in the daytimes, however, the old village across the river is a far more picturesque and worth visiting for restaurants and bars in the evening. 

La Salle-les-Alps is a street full of classic French stone buildings with beautiful balconies. Bar Mojo has an open terrace by the river that is sunlit throughout the day. The unusual looking church St Marcellin has a deep chime and is now a museum dedicated to local history. From this church there is a steep climb to the adorable St Jean’s Chapel where there are fabulous views of the valley. These churches, La Salle les Alpes and Le Bez, a tiny village that is also part of Villeneuve, are brilliantly lit at night creating a delightful nocturnal picture visible from miles around. 

For ski hire, see the Skiset offer at the foot of this page. For accommodation, see our Accommodation page.

Le Monetier-les-Bains

Monetier les Bains at 1,500m is the highest of Serre Chevalier’s villages and located just past the Col du Lautaret. This beautiful village is a small quaint place with little modern infrastructure. St Martin’s church dominates the village, whose grand stone walls typify the old French architecture found throughout the Serre Chevalier valley. Opposite the church is a small square and Bar Alpen, a lovely place to sit on sunshine days and enjoy a beer. 

Monetier is the quietest village in the domain with fewer bars and restaurants, however, the bars and restaurants that are in Monetier are quality and worth visiting. The ski lifts are located behind the village and accessed via short walk through narrow streets. Alternatively a free shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes between the village and the ski lifts. Another shuttle visits all of Serre Chevalier’s resort base stations. 

Monetier-les-Bains is also home to the thermal baths that reputedly have good healing qualities and are worth visiting after a day’s skiing to sooth-tired legs. The baths have an indoor pool at 44° C and an outdoor pool at 36° C which have been tastefully renovated and include huge windows which allow views of the surrounding mountains to be enjoyed by day or night.

For ski hire, see the Skiset offer at the foot of this page. For accommodation, see our Accommodation page.

Briancon

The majority of skiers visiting to Serre Chevalier choose to stay in Villeneuve. Monetier or Chantemerle, but Briancon at 1,326m is also equipped for tourism and has its own base area with Gondola Le Prorel accessing the ski mountain. The small town of Briancon (officially the highest city in the European Union) has a population of nearly 12,000 inhabitants and all of the facilities one would expect in a town of this size including a train station with regular trains to Paris. The new town unfolds at the foot of the ski area and climbs the other side of the valley where the walled historic town and the old fort is situated. The old town lies beneath a fort that was built in the 17th century. Within its walls are colorful buildings with wooden balconies that live on steep narrow streets full of bars, shops and restaurants and cobbled streets leading to a square and church at the pinnacle of the Fort du Chateau and spectacular views of Briancon and Serre Chevalier. For ski hire, see the Skiset offer at the foot of this page. For accommodation, see our Accommodation page. 

Ski hire and equipment rental in Serre Chevalier

There are plenty of ski rental shops throughout the valley, but their prices are quite high if you simply walk into the nearest one when you arrive. Some hotels and tour operators have recommended shops, but they rarely offer the best value even if they give a small discount (usually 5% or 10% at most) to the hotel or tour operator’s guests. Generally, if you want to save money, you’re much better off booking in advance with a reliable service provider like the one below.

Pre-book with Skiset in Serre Chevalier and save up to 50%

Skiset has an excellent reputation for hiring out good modern equipment for skiers and boarders of all standards and has outlets in Monetier, Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Briancon, so one should be close to your accommodation. If you book online in advance, you can save up to 50% on what you would pay if you walk into the shop. You will also save time when you arrive in the resort, because your ski rental equipment is reserved, fully prepared and ready and waiting for you. 

Check Skiset shop locations and advance booking discounts currently available in Serre Chevalier >>>