Val d'Isere - Resort Review
Val d'Isere remains a firm favourite with both the British and French, with over 300km of marked runs, endless traditional chalets and unbeatable skiing. Val d'Isere and the neighbouring resort of Tignes, makes it an ideal location for skiers and boarders of all abilities to find something that satisfies. There is also a wealth of bars and restaurants, so from aprés ski until the end of the night, you will never get bored in Val d'Isere. The village also has a lot of other activities to keep you entertained with an indoor swimming pool, English cinema, skidoo-ing, fitness centre, paparpenting, ice-climing, ice rink, husky rides, ice-dving and snow-shoeing
Until the late 1920s Val d'Isere was just a small farming village nestled in a wide valley beneath the imposing faces of the Solaise and Belvard peaks, linked by a rough mule track that is now probably makes up part of the skiing.. The farms themselves lay dormant for 8 months of the year due to snow and it wasn't until the 1930s that winter sports started to gain popularity in this now vibrant resort. Located in the Savoie area of France, at its lowest point, 1850 metres above sea level, it was the Parisian Jacques Mouflier who saw the resorts ideal potential for snow sports. Mouflier managed to get the backing of wealthy Parisians to open Hotel de Paris in 1932, which then brought the opening of the first drag lift in 1936 taking the first skiers up the Solaise slope, followed shortly after by the first cable car in 1936.
After the war, skiing became more and more accessible and Val d'Isere was becoming a much more established ski resort. It was in Val d'Isere where the skiing legend Jean Claude-Killy learnt his trade. He was a triple Olympic champion winning all 3 events in the 1968 Grenoble winter Olympics. It is him to which the Esapce Killy region derives its name. It was at the end of the 1960s when an agreement was made between Val d'Isere and their neighbours Tignes to open a lift in La Daille to link the two areas. Today, this region encompasses 300km of skiable terrain, serviced by 96 lifts with a carrying capacity of 149,425 persons every hour. Later, Killy spearheaded the organisation of the Albertville Olympic games in 1992, and more recently Val d'Isere's successful bid to host the World Alpine Skiing Championship in 2009 bore witness to the spirit of Killys. The local inhabitants worked hard to bring the Championships to the resort, and keep the flame of a living legend alive.
The town itself saw rapid development in the 50's and 60's, leading to the construction of less than aesthetically pleasing buildings. The 1992 Albertville Olympics spurred further redevelopment in Val d'Isere, but this time in a more Savoyard style with the use of Lauze (stone roof tiles) quarried from the Manchet valley and other local materials to make it far more attractive. Now attracting thousands of tourists annually, Val d'Isere has established itself as one of the leading ski resorts in the world, for both the look and atmosphere of the village along with the great skiing on offer.
Working in Val d'Isere, you are assured of getting a great taste of the wonderful atmosphere that makes Val d'Isere such a popular ski resort. Not only will you experience this world renowned ski area on your doorstep, but there is also plenty more on offer off the slopes during the season from the challenge of la Face to the X Games!! This stunning backdrop provides a superb base for 5 months in the snow, experiencing a whole new way of life.