Méribel

Méribel by J. M. Gouedard

File:MéribelPhoto035.jpg

Méribel by J. M. Gouedard

Méribel is a ski resort in the French Alps, situated near the town of Moutiers. Méribel refers to three neighbouring villages in the Les Allues commune of the Savoie département of France, near the town of Moûtiers (45.401°N 6.5655°E / 45.401; 6.5655), called Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret and Méribel Village. The villages are within the Vanoise National Park.

History

Méribel Les Allues is a ski resort that was developed adjacent to the traditional hamlet of Morel, with its centre situated at about 1400 metres above sea level. The original skiing development was promoted by British Colonel Peter Lindsay, who spotted the potential of the valley in 1938; his family continue to have a financial stake and his grandchildren now ski in Meribel. Peter Lindsay's ashes and those of his wife are scattered on the Burgin mountain. Under his guidance the resort was developed in a "traditional" chalet style.

Meribel was home to the 1992 Winter Olympics (Albertville). It hosted the Ice Hockey and the Women's Downhill.

The ski resort is part of the Trois Vallées ski area. The Three Vallees area comprises over 200 lifts, 293 Marked Runs (over 600 kilometres) and over 130 km of Cross Country Tracks. The Three Vallees was expanded about ten years ago to incorporate a fourth valley, though the area kept the name 3 Vallees. There is now the Courchevel Valley, The Meribel Valley, The Val Thorens Valley and The Orelle Valley. The Trois Vallees is the world's largest ski area.

Meribel Mottaret

A more modern village, Méribel-Mottaret, has also been built near the head of the Allues valley at an altitude of 1700 metres.

Merbel Village

Méribel Village is the much less developed (Though it is becoming much more so) traditional village located on the road to Courchevel, also located at about 1400 metres. Over the past few years, a lot of the traditional chalets have been bought by developers and rebuilt.

See also

• List of ski areas and resorts in Europe

External links

• Méribel Tourist Office
• Merinet.com - popular independent Meribel resort information site featuring only Meribel based business. There are also webcams and weather forecasts
• Vanoise National Park
• French Ski School of Meribel
• A totally independent skiing guide to Meribel written by locals
• Purpleski.com - A web site offering accommodation in Meribel
• SkiMottaret.com - A web site offering self catering accommodation in Mottaret, the highest village in the Meribel valley.
• Things to do in Meribel
• Ski breaks and skiing holidays in Meribel
• Ski resort information and catered ski chalet guide - Ski Chalets Meribel