New Lifts, Improvements, Building Work etc going on this Summer

New Lifts, Improvements, Building Work etc going on this Summer

Thanks to Nick Ski for the pics

Work is beginning on a new 8 seater gondola to replace the Saulire Bubble from Meribel (the one that used to be called Burgin Saulire) up to the Saulire Summit. This will give access to The Grand Couloir in 12 minutes from Meribel and first tracks down to Courchevel long before anyone else coming up from that side.

 The top section is due to be completed for December 2011 and the lower section the year after.

This concrete post/base was spotted at the beginning of this season and they’ve now put up a sign at the top of the Portettes lifts regarding a new Funitel in Val Thorens being built this summer ready for Winter 2011/12.

Meanwhile S3V who cover the Courchevel Valley (including La Tania) and Meribel Mottaret areas are to begin construction of a new 8 seater Plattieres gondola to replacing the old small bubble type first and second sections with a single lift. This will give fast access up to the Cote Brun lift and over to Val Thornes.

We also hear that the Plantrey lift (a favourite chair to get back to La Tania) out of 1850 is to be upgraded to a 6 seater – a strange one this as there’s not usually big queues here, upgrading Biollay would probably a better option in our opinion.

More snow cannons are going in down to Le Praz via the Murette piste as we spotted last summer and lots more Magnestick safety devices are being installed on chairs across the Courchevel Valley.

Meanwhile in La Tania discussions continue regarding the refurbishment of the La Tania gondola and the possibilities of a chairlift being installed to replace the drag lift, nothing confirmed yet though – there was a serious breakdown for a couple of days this season with the gondola not working and insufficient snow for the drag lift to operate. Improvements for beginners pistes down back to La Tania are also on the agenda.

The public building and chalets opposite should be completed this Summer but the proposed development “Village Moretta” on the car park near the Gondola (new hotel & apartments plus commercial units etc) is still on hold.

A huge new “Aqua Centre” is to be built near the tennis courts and go-kart track in Courchevel 1550. Work is supposed to be starting this summer with an opening date in 2014. A video on the development below…

Finally news on the French Hotel Classification – a new “Palace” grade has been added for top, luxury hotels. There are so far 8 in France with 4 in Paris (although not the Ritz or George V), one in Biarritz, one in Cap Ferrat and 2 in Courchevel 1850! – The Cheval Blanc and The Airelles make it to “Palace” grade.  As ever we’ll be on the lookout this Summer and have news of all the developments with a What’s New Page for next Winter.