Valloire

Valloire

A general view of Valloire

Coat of arms
Valloire

Coordinates: 45°09′57″N 6°25′45″E / 45.1658°N 6.4292°E / 45.1658; 6.4292Coordinates: 45°09′57″N 6°25′45″E / 45.1658°N 6.4292°E / 45.1658; 6.4292
Country France
Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department Savoie
Arrondissement Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
Canton Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne
Intercommunality Maurienne-Galibier
Government
  Mayor (20082014) Christian Grange
Area1 137.48 km2 (53.08 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 1,329
  Density 9.7/km2 (25/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 73306 / 73450
Elevation 694–3,504 m (2,277–11,496 ft)
Website http://www.valloire.net/ Valloire.net

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.
Valloire-Galibier

Image of valloire village and two of its mountains, le Setaz and Du Crey Du Quart.
Location Valloire, France
Runs 80
Website http://www.valloire.net/fr/hiver/

Valloire is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

The ski resort Valloire-Galibier is located in the commune, at the foot of the Col du Télégraphe and next to the ski resort of Valmeinier, (the alps) France.

70% of the Valloire/Valmeinier ski area is above 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It offers over 150 km of slopes, 33 lifts 2 gondolas, 17 chairlift & 14 drag lifts), and 85 slopes, (21 Green, 25 Blue, 31 Red and 6 Black[1]). There is also a considerable amount of backcountry skiing available.

Valloire has two main skiing areas which can be accessed by lifts from the village. They are the Sétaz and the Crey du Quart. From the Crey du Quart you can ski across to Valmeinier,[2] which is included in the ski pass. The Crey du Quart also houses a large snowpark (with a dedicated daily ticket only for this park) which is designed to offer something to people of all skill levels. In the Arva Parc on the Sétaz one can learn how to rescue avalanche victims. The French Foreign Legion has a mountain outpost at Valloire Les Verneys and teaches beginning legionnaires on the slopes.

It is a traditional village known for its après-ski and restaurants. The resort includes the use of ski school École du Ski Français, which is the largest ski school company in France.

It is ideally located in the Savoie region with good transport links in and out of Modane, Lyon, Geneva and Chambery.

History

During the early 1930s, Valloire was a simple village, void of tourism. In 1935-36, the first ski club arrived; "Le Ski club de Paris". New hotels and an ice skating rink were opened. In the next two years, Valloire constructed its first ski lift. By 1945, it had added another 5 lifts. In 1970 Valloire expanded from the Sétaz and began developing the Crey du Quart. Four years later, Valloire and Valmeinier joined together to form one ski resort.

In 1989 the first snow cannons were unveiled, allowing for a more lengthy tourism season. Similar progress was made until 2007, when Valloire switched from conventional ski passes to "hands-free" ones, imbedded with a chip. Valloire has recently gained fame as the home of Jean-Baptiste Grange, a slalom World Cup winner.

See also

References

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