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CHAMPAGNY-EN-VANOISE

The Village

Champagny-en-Vanoise is a traditional Savoyard village. It has retained much of its original character despite the huge popularity of the Tarentaise for skiing, and the level of development in nearby resorts. It has more charm, and is cheaper in terms of restaurants and shops, than many of the nearby centres.

Apres-ski is quiet but pleasant, with a number of restaurants, several bars, and creperies either in the Residence complex itself, or within very short walking distance.

Champagny is 17 km from Moutiers and is situated at the edge of the Vanoise National Park, an area of outstanding and unspoiled beauty.

At 1250 m, Champagny is not often clogged with snow. Moreover, it is on a sunny south-facing slope. Pistes extend to the village and the 10 person cable car provides fast access to the higher slopes, As it is often warm and sunny during the day, it is an ideal place for non skiers to walk, enjoy the restaurants and bars and take in the atmosphere and scenery. It is also a convenient lunchtime meeting place, and the proximity of the apartment to the ski lift affords
easy access during the day.

Local buses connect Champagny to neighbouring villages and Moutiers at the base of the valley. The highest village Champagny le Haut is a centre for Nordic or cross-country skiing with 16km of pistes, and is accessed by a special navette service. There are dog-sled racing events at this location each winter.

WINTER-The Skiing

Champagny is at the foot of a high capacity cable car/gondola which gives immediate access to the Espace Plagne area. The skiing is thus first class from the village. However, there is also access by bus and by car to Courchevel and the other Trois Vallees resorts.

Since Spring 2004 there is now a cablecar link from Montchavin to Les Arcs, creating the huge new Paradiski area, which has skiing for every ability, and adds extensive high-level pistes to your range. We believe that even experienced skiiers will find enough to do in a week at Champagny and can exhaust themselves while less ambitious members of the party are challenged at intermediate and beginners level.

An extensive network of snow canons installed in 2005 now ensures that it is usually possible to ski right down to the village.

Click to see a bigger piste map

Both La Plagne and the Trois Vallees are excellent for beginners and intermediates. For experts, The Trois Vallees offer some difficult pistes, whereas La Plagne has more scope for exploring off piste, and for powder.

Our experience from the last few seasons is that La Plagne is somewhat underrated compared to The Trois Vallees; certainly we have found that when Meribel is slushy there is often still good skiing in our resort. Moreover, we have found that many areas of La Plagne get skied into a piste-like state so that you can feel like an adventurous off piste skier without taking significant risks by going miles from the beaten track.

There is a ski school and creche in Champagny; details of both are on the Office du Tourisme site Champagny.com. We have found the ski school to be good and they have facilities to teach Mono ski, Snow Boarding and Blades. Valmorel, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d'Isere are also accessible by road for day trips.

Also worthy of mention the little known resort of Pralognan la Vanoise which is a few miles up the road from Champagny. This is not an extensive resort but the skiing is first class and the scenery absolutely breathtaking. It has a range of very interesting runs from greens, through rewarding blues and reds to some interesting blacks. It also has a chairlift up the middle of a wide snowfield which is ideal for learning to surf.

Pralognan also has a swimming pool and ice rink in a large new sports complex. This was the site of the Winter Olympic curling competition.

SUMMER- Outdoors

Champagny is a wonderful spot for outdoor adventure during the summer season which lasts from June to the end of August. The skiing area is transformed into rolling green slopes and areas of heather and myrtle, and the ski gondolas run for most of the season so that walkers, cyclists and parapentes can reach the higher slopes. Most of the mountains around Champagny are covered with routes to suit all abilities, from a gentle stroll through flower covered pastures to desperate hikes to mountain refuges.

Lovers of nature will appreciate the diversity of alpine plants and insects and birds that are to be seen only a short walk away in the Vanoise National Park area.

Tourist Offices in the village can provide advice and maps, and there are also adventure sessions for children with organised games and sports.

The swimming pool in the centre of Champagny is open during the Summer months, and there are tennis courts and a playground for smaller children. A short drive away, the village of Pralognan la Vanoise has both indoor and outdoor pool and ice rink and miniature golf.

Numerous bars and restaurants in the village are open for the summer season, and most mountain refuges will provide simple meals and drinks to walkers.

ACCOMMODATION

The apartment is part of the Residence du Centre which actually adjoins the ski lift. It is furnished to a high standard and is unusual for a French ski apartment in that it has three bedrooms, not merely "cabine" accommodation. It is therefore excellent for young families.

On the fifth floor it consists of a well equipped galley kitchen and living area, a lavatory, a bathroom, a large cupboard and a double bedroom with fitted wardrobe.

Both the living area and the bedroom have access to a large south facing balcony which has a superb view over Champagny and the Bozel valley as far as the lower slopes of Courcheval. There is a TV and DVD player, and a cassette/radio.

On the sixth floor up a staircase, are two bedrooms, one with twin beds and the other with two bunks. There is also a lavatory with a wash basin. A travelling cot for infants is provided and a gate for the stairs.

On the third floor, separate from the apartment, is a lockable store room for skis and larger items

Bedding, but not linen is provided.

Skis can be hired from several shops within 50 metres of the residence; in the same block of shops is a small well-stocked supermarket and enough restaurants and bars for it to be unnecessary to leave the resort.

There is also a (free) multi storey car park behind the residence which allows easy access to the ski lift. Alternatively, skis and boots may be left in the ski room for greater security.

View towards Courcheval from the Champagny piste.

TRAVEL

It is an easy drive from the channel ports, being motorway and dual carriageway as far as Moutiers. However, it is possible to get to Champagny by flying to Geneva or Lyon and hiring a car, or taking a bus to Moutiers. Alternatively, Moutiers is served by both the French TGV and Motorail services. There is a bus service from Moutiers up the valley to Champagny.

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