Val-d'Isère

French commune
nomcommune=Val-d'Isère
Val-d'Isere ski resort
région=Rhône-Alpes
département=Savoie
arrondissement=Albertville
canton=Bourg-Saint-Maurice
insee=73304
cp=73150
maire=Bernard Catelan
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=
longitude=6.97806
latitude=45.45056
alt moy=1849 m
alt mini=1785 m
alt maxi=3599 m
hectares=9439
km²=94,39
sans=1632
date-sans=1999
dens=17|

Val-d'Isère is a ski resort and a commune located (coord|45|27|N|6|58|E|) in the Savoie "département", in France, 5 km (3 miles) from the border with Italy. Population (1999): 1,628. It is on the border of the Vanoise National Park created in 1963.

The Face du Bellevarde was the scene of the men's downhill race as part of the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Val-d'Isère will host the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2009.

The skiing

The Eastern and Central areas of Val-d'Isère are most recognizable by its "chalet" architecture, while at the Western part of the town high-rise architecture dominates the landscape. Along with nearby Tignes the area forms part of the "l'Espace Killy", the self-titled "Most Beautiful Ski Area in the World." Beauty aside, the combined space is one of the largest ski areas in the world.

The glacier de pissaillas (Pissaillas Glacier) offers summer skiing, as well as the usual winter fare. Summer skiing has not operated recently as the glacier has shrunk due to the effects of climate change. Snow cannons are placed on certain slopes to accommodate heavy skiing. The ski slopes themselves are equipped with a high-volume gondola, able to transport standing skiers, the funicular from La Daille via a tunnel to the top of Bellevarde, traditional chair lifts--some with windshields and many detachable, button/disc-pulls and tow-ropes. There are both groomed slopes and backcountry (off-piste) skiing. It should be noted that some runs, particularly down to the village are shown as easier than they are - a blue run at this may be closer to the difficulty level of a red. However, as in Tignes there are grand, easy motorway pistes as well to let rip on. It is first class off piste country for powder addicts and there are many good guides available.

Tignes possesses more of the same, with a funicular shuttling skiers up through one of the mountains to the Grande Motte glacier. The slopes in both areas cover all four of the French slope difficulty designations: from green (very easy) through blue and red to black (difficult). In the village, après-ski (nightlife) is lively, with a good selection of bars and clubs. A free shuttle bus runs between the villages in the valley every five minutes from 08.00 to 18.00 thereafter every 30 minutes, providing free transport throughout the town of Val d'Isère proper.

History

Human habitation of the valley dates back to before Roman times. The town received parish rights in 1637 and the parish church which still is a landmark in the town centre today was build in 1664.

Skiing in Val-d'Isère has its roots in the 1930s when a drag lift was built on the slopes of the Solaise. This was followed by an aerial tramway (cable car).

Famous Val-d'Isere Families

* Bazile
* Killy
* Mattis

Tour de France

The resort was the start of Stage 9 to Briancon in the 2007 Tour de France.

Popular culture

Val-d'Isère was made well-known as the vacation spot of characters Edina and Patsy in the British sitcom, "Absolutely Fabulous".

See also

* Jean-Claude Killy grew up in Val-d'Isère.

References

* [http://www.valdisere.com Val-d'Isère Tourist Office]
* [http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Savoie/Val-D-Isere-History Val-d'Isère history]
* [http://www.valdisere2009.org 2009 World Ski Championships] - organizing committee website
* Chris Gill & Dave Watts, "Where to Ski and Snowboard 2007", ISBN 0-95363718-2.

External links

* [http://www.unpluggedvaldisere.com Val d'Isere Unplugged Resort Information - Hotels, Bars, Restaurants, Webcams, Snow Reports Weather & much more]

* [http://www.valdiserechalets.co.uk Val d'Isere Chalets contains comprehensive resort information including detailed catered chalet holiday descriptions]