Champagny en Vanoise
Something of a hidden gem, Champagny en Vanoise, once a farming village, is a traditional Savoyard village in the southern part of La Plagne which boasts 225km of slopes. As 80% of the slopes here are red or blue, it’s a fantastic destination for intermediate skiers.
La Plagne is also part of the Paradiski ski domain which means that it is easy to access the slopes of Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry from here too. Just 11 minutes’ away from the village centre by car, lies Champagny le Haut which is the gateway to Vanoise National Park, the oldest national park in France and one of the best places in the Alps for cross-country skiing. This traditional mountain village is utterly charming and it’s located in the commune of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
There are 20 beginner runs, 195 intermediate and 29 advanced runs, offering in total 244 runs for all levels. It’s excellent for families, couples and groups of all ski abilities, who can ski along its 425km of pistes. The resort altitude is 1250m, with its highest lift of 3250m and its longest run being 10km. There are 139 lifts, 15 gondolas and cable cars, with 66 chairlifts, 58 drag lifts, 3 glaciers and 3 snow parks. The cable car can take you in 8 minutes to 2000m and 3000m to the La Plagne ski area. The ski school is located at the top of the cable car where you will find a snow garden.
Champagny en Vanoise is a low village resort, however the majority of ski runs are over 2000m meaning assured snowy slopes. Numerous snow cannons top up the white stuff when necessary. In the winter you can ski and snowboard, take part in snowshoeing, cross country skiing, dog sledding, sledging and parapenting or you can climb the ice tower. It also benefits from being a dual resort and summers are popular too. You can go walking, cycling, golf and hiking in the picturesque Vanoise National Park, whilst taking in the spectacular vistas. Fancy a night at the cinema? There are regular screenings in English where you and your family can enjoy a relaxed evening.
The Three Valleys ski domain is a neighbour of Champagny en Vanoise, meaning you can easily visit the ski resorts of Courchevel and Méribel in just a twenty minute drive. There is also a shuttle bus that takes skiers to the resort of Courchevel le Praz daily. The popular resorts of Val d’Isere and Tignes are less than a ninety minute drive from Champagny en Vanoise too, giving you many options to ski in different locations. Discussions are ongoing to construct a new ski lift which will connect nearby Bozel (seven minutes’ drive from Champagny-en-Vanoise) with Courchevel in just fifteen minutes. This new project means easier access to the Three Valleys ski domain.
Après ski serves up cafes, bars and restaurants offering rustic French dishes along with international menus. During the main winter season there are live music events and guest DJ’s you can listen to after a day on the slopes. You don’t need to miss you favourite sport events, as you can watch on a large TV in some of the bars. Why not try your hand at alpine cheese making? Or if you prefer, night skiing is magnificent as the whole of the slope is as pretty as a picture, lit by torchlight. Maybe you want to be a spectator, you can watch the professional ski instructors as they glide down the mountain side at night fall.
The beautiful Baroque Church in the village square dates back to the seventeenth century and makes a pleasant afternoon trip to marvel at it. This is also where you will find a range of shops where you can buy all your daily provisions. There are grocery shops, a bakery, deli, souvenir shop, ski shops including ski wear and ski equipment, plus several sports shops and ski hire.
How do you get to Champagny en Vanoise in France? Its nearest international airport is Chambery (CMF) which is just 1 hour and 10 minutes away from the resort. You can also fly into Grenoble (GNB) which is 1 hour and 30 minutes away and Geneva (GVA) which is a transfer of 2 hours. Transfers from the airports to the resort are by shuttle bus, private car hire, or taxi.
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