Val-d'Isère is a village in Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the Franco-Italian border.
Located about 90 km from Albertville, the town is one of the most famous winter sports resorts in Europe and even the world.
Small parish belonging to that of Tignes until the 17th century, long possession of the duchy of Savoy, the village is isolated in winter and it was not until the early 1930s that the first skiers appreciate the Val d'Isere domain. A new road, comfort facilities (water, electricity), the installation of a first cable car in 1942 concur to its development and after the war, the reputation of the station is acquired. The population has risen from 350 in 1946 to almost 1,700 today, but in terms of capacity Val-d'Isère has more than 33,000 beds. It now hosts many sporting and cultural events.
In the heart of the Vanoise National Park, it is also a summer vacation destination.
In terms of historical heritage, a visit to the church dedicated to Saint-Bernard-des-Alpes (also known as Bernard de Menthon, patron saint of the mountaineers), a baroque style building dating back to the 18th century, and chapels Bourg (chapels of Fornet, Le Laisinant or La Daille) can be interesting.
For all that, it is the potential of activities related to winter sports that makes the celebrity of Val-d'Isère and its first trump, the communal territory being from 1785 to 3599 m altitude...
The locality, which hosted some of the Olympic Games in Albertville in 1992, has a ski area (named after Jean-Claude Killy) with 79 alpine ski runs for a total of 300 km and 8 Cross-country ski runs. To make the happiness of the specialists like neophytes... All the information (tariffs, schedules, snowmaking) in +33 4 79 06 06 60.
In summer, the activities panel is also very rich, from paragliding to white water kayaking and mountain biking: information again at +33 4 79 06 06 60.
But of course many walks (with varying degrees of difficulty) are also possible. The opportunity to discover the richness of the fauna and flora of the Vanoise massif: the natural park has thus laid out discovery trails and interpretation tables. Information on +33 4 79 62 30 54.
Moreover, all year round, an aquasportive center, with swimming pool and spaces dedicated to yoga, fitness, basketball, or a driving simulator welcomes all the public. For schedules and prices, please call +33 4 79 04 26 01.
From mid-January to mid-March, the Classicaval festival offers several concerts of classical music in the Saint-Bernard-des-Alpes church.
In mid-April, the international film festival Aventure et Découverte offers projections at the congress center and meetings with directors.
At the end of April, over three days, the festival of yoga allows to discover this discipline: courses in interior and exterior and conferences succeed one another.
In mid-July, over four days, the electric vehicle show brought together hundreds of vehicles. Possible trials, convivial conferences and animations are also on the program.
The last weekend of July, feast of the Old Val in the center of the village (parade, flea market, ball and fireworks).
The first weekend of August, Savoyard fair of the Avaline. An appointment that gives pride of place to crafts and local products, with many musical animations.
