Les Menuires

The development of Les Menuires in the 60s and 70s was part of the Third Generation of ski resorts – the ‘Plan Neige’ idea – to build ski resorts from scratch in higher, uninhabited parts of the mountains. It started as just a cluster of high-rise apartment buildings to serve skiing and now it’s grown into five small villages – Reberty, La Croisette, Preyerand, Les Fontanettes, Les Bruyères – with a variety of architecture. Les Menuires’ modernistic church tower is instantly recognisable.

At the heart of the Three Valleys, Les Menuires has access fo 600km of marked ski runs, linked by 180 lifts giving access to Val Thorens, St Martin de Belleville, Meribel, Courchevel (and La Tania), Brides Les Bains and Orelle. 

Its high elevation at 1800m make it a pretty snow-sure area. The lifts are modern and efficient, and the resort is mostly ski-in ski-out. 

The majority of the resort’s slopes are south facing with lots of sun and are perfect for intermediate skiers with spacious blue runs down from 3 Marches and Col de la Chambre peaks. The beginner pistes are just where they should be, funnelling down into of Les Menuires’ centre, La Croisette.

The western side of the valley offers more for advanced skiers with greater pitched black slopes and off-piste skiing from Pointe de la Masse; the terrain from La Masse summit is some of the best in the Three Valleys.

To award its commitment to protecting the natural environment, the resort was granted the Flocon Vert label for sustainable tourism in May 2022. The resort was the first to publish its carbon footprint in 2007. The resort’s ski lift operator is BIOM certified – a Cop21 indicator which measures its commitment and environmental, economic and corporate social responsibility as regards winter sports. Free bus shuttles link the different parts of Les Menuires to reduce the use of cars; there are 11 recognised hitch-hiking spots around the resort, electric charging points in both Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville and for this winter, no sale of plastic cups throughout.

Now see Les Menuires in full 3D and explore the slopes with Fall Line mapping partner FatMap

Resort information provided by Altitude Holidays