Chamrousse Ski Resort Guide

Chamrousse Ski Property 

• Family friendly resort which is famous for its role in the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics
• A 50-minute drive from Grenoble or 1hr 15 minutes from Chambery
• A primarily French resort unknown to British tourists
• Incredible value for money – from lift passes to property, the prices are more similar to Eastern Europe than the Alps
• Currently undergoing a massive revamp to become France’s first ‘smart resort’ (read more here) in a bid to attract visitors year-round, rather than primarily in the winter 

Summary

Tucked in between the resorts of Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes, Chamrousse is often overlooked in the shadow of these giants, but it shouldn’t be! A short drive from Grenoble and Chambery, this quaint resort is perfect for families and those looking for decent skiing away from the crowds of its more famous neighbours. The village is actually two small towns – Le Recoin and Chamrousse 1650 – and both are nestled within the forest with stunning panoramic views of Grenoble. Despite its past being steeped in the history of the winter Olympics, Chamrousse is all about the future, constantly evolving and innovating to ensure its place in the future of mountain resorts in the Alps.

Winter

The 90km of pistes are impressively varied considering the small size. Well designed, the resort caters well to intermediate skiers, though even experts will find plenty to do if they take the time to search. There is nothing incredibly steep in Chamrousse, but the beginning of the Casserousse run – the site of the 1968 Winter Olympic downhill race – will excite the more experienced riders of the group.  There are some nice off-piste areas (particularly around the Telesiege des Amoureux) and as it is a relatively quiet resort it is unlikely to be tracked out quickly. If skiing or boarding isn’t your thing, there are plenty of non-skiing related activities such as snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, paragliding and dog-sledding, and the cross-country skiing is second to none.

Summer

Hiking and mountain biking are the main drawcards to Chamrousse in the summer, but there is plenty more on offer! From climbing and horse-riding to tennis and archery, the variety of activities in Chamrousse in the summer ensures everyone in the family will find something that appeals to them. A recent partnership announced by Chamrousse and Aktis Architecture aims to create a ski village for all seasons, and a new outdoor sports centre for the summer will be completed to ensure this. 

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