Villeneuve / La Salle-les-Alpes The heart of the valley
Villeneuve - La Salle les Alpes
The Heart of the Valley
A world of possibilities! Modern-day Villeneuve features residences right at the base of the slopes, offering direct and easy access to the largest ski area in the Southern Alps.
It’s no coincidence that UCPA and Club Med chose to set up shop in the heart of this central, renowned destination for snow sports enthusiasts.
Centered around its climbing wall—erected like a totem pole to set the tone— the active town of Villeneuve offers a wide variety of activities, fromfat biking andcross-country skiing to theswimming pooland ice rink, andfrom snowshoeing todog-sled rides.
At theski schoolreception and the office for mountain guides and leaders, the list grows even longer: paragliding, mountaineering, ice climbing, sit-skiing, cross-country skiing, heliskiing, snowshoe yoga, glacier hiking… Not to mention the wild Deval’Bob toboggan run, which offers a 4-kilometer, ultra-fun descent through the larch trees.
In Pontillas Park, around the dormant natural swimming area, you can also try Nordic skiing, run, or walk along the snow-covered trails leading up the valley, immerse ourselves in nature, admire the beautiful mountains, fill our lungs with fresh air…and try to keep up with the dedicated trail runners competing in January on the Serre Chevalier Snow Trail courses (8, 10, and 20 km).
On this north-facing slope, thehamlet of Le Bez offersa getaway that blends tradition and modernity!
A village of stone houses nestled at the crossroads of the ski trails. In the narrow streets with mysterious names that converge on the Place du Touron, with its church and washhouse, you’ll come across skiers wearing helmets, wide skis slung over their shoulders, returning from an idyllic outing in powder snow. Time seems to slow down in this hamlet, which delightfully blends anachronisms and enchants visitors seeking authenticity and a change of scenery…combined with great skiing…right at your doorstep!
Simply cross theGuisane Riverto discover the old village ofLa Salle-les-Alpes, its shopping street lined with tall houses featuring colorful facades, its shops,bars, andrestaurants, its artisans’ and creators’ center, and its Sainte Luce Chapel,now converted intothe “Autrefois mon village” museum;then further up, perched on the slopes overlooking the valley, the historic hamlet organized around the 15th-century Saint-Marcellin Church, its fountain, and its community school, which is still in operation.
Pastoral life, as measured by sundials, is still evident as you wander through the narrow streets lined with barns and vegetable gardens stretching all the way to the pastures.
On these sun-drenched heights, from the Chirouze neighborhood to the Pananches, calm reigns, in stark contrast to the bustle of the vibrant resort town. Just nearby, the distillers atthe Distillerie des 4 Frèresdistill their liqueurs in a still dating back to 1921…
Did you know?
In the 1950s and 1960s, Léon Agel, the lyricist of the famous song “Mon amant de Saint-Jean,” invested his royalties in the Place de l’Aravet, where he built several residences and financed the cable car.
Across the way, in the ski area, contemplative visitors who’ve taken the gondola admire the peaks from the mountain restaurants, while those seeking fresh air get their lungs working as they trudge up the slopes, acrobats who conquer the void tackle several pitches on the climbing routes and have fun on the aerial via ferratas, naturalists observe the flora and fauna at every elevation, history buffs recount the customs and traditions of summer pasture life in the alpine hamlets. Well orchestrated, this symphony of sports and culture sets the pace for La Salle-les-Alpes.
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