🇫🇷France · Places to discover
What to see in Courchevel?
23 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Courchevel isn't a ski resort, it's a multi-tiered system. The 1850 level draws Russian fortunes and palace hotels, whilst 1650 and 1550 operate at a more ordinary, almost discreet pace. This stratification by altitude reflects an accepted social reality, and that's precisely what makes the place fascinating to observe, not merely to ski. The Croisette and its luxury shops sit alongside ski lifts that any intermediate skier can use.
High season runs December to March, with a peak between Christmas and mid-February when prices double without warning. Three to five days suffice to explore the Trois Vallées domain without retracing your steps. You ascend from Moutiers by shuttle or car; the train remains the most reliable option in snow. Don't confine yourself to 1850 if your budget is tight: the lower villages offer the same slopes for half the price.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5Landmark
Courchevel Olympic Ski Jump
A ski jump built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, still operational and visible from Le Praz village. A monument to winter sport that few visitors take the trouble to visit up close.
- 2
Landmark
Landmark
French Ski School of Courchevel - Guides Bureau
Courchevel's guides bureau, founded in the 1950s by the resort's first instructors. A repository of French alpine skiing heritage, housing archives and photographs of the station's pioneering figures.
- 3
Landmark
Landmark
Courchevel Cultural Centre
A municipal cultural hub housing a library, performance venue and rotating exhibitions of local artists' work. Where valley residents gather outside the season, far from the palace hotels.
- 4
Landmark
Landmark
Le Praz de Courchevel (Courchevel 1300)
The valley's original village, predating the modern resort's construction. Authentic Savoyard character preserved, the 1992 Olympic ski jump visible from the streets, and genuine mountain village atmosphere intact.
- 5
Landmark
Landmark
Courchevel Altiport
One of the world's most spectacular high-altitude airports, with a runway inclined at 18.5° at 2008m elevation. The takeoffs and landings of small aircraft are a spectacle in themselves, accessible from the adjacent ski slope.
Religious sites
2 places
- 6
Religious site
Religious site
Church of Saint-Bon in Courchevel
18th-century Baroque church in the village of Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, the commune to which Courchevel belongs. Richly decorated interior exemplifying Savoyard Baroque art, often overlooked in favour of the slopes.
- 7
Religious site
Religious site
Chapel of Saint-François de Sales, Courchevel 1850
A diminutive 17th-century alpine chapel at the heart of the village, spared from the property development boom of the 1950s. A rare testament to Savoyard religious architecture amidst an ultra-modern ski resort.
Nature
4 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Nature
Vanoise Refuge from Courchevel
Hiking departure from Courchevel towards the heart of Vanoise National Park, with frequent sightings of ibex and chamois from 2500m upwards. The favourite route of locals for a restorative day in the mountains.
- 9
Nature
Nature
Sentier du Marquis
A summer hiking trail tracing the forest between Courchevel 1650 and 1850, punctuated with sculptures and open-air artworks. Little known to tourists yet beloved by local families.
- 10
Nature
Nature
Lake Courchevel (Plan de l'Homme)
A modest mountain lake at 1,750m altitude, frozen in winter and accessible on foot in summer via a marked trail from Le Praz. Wild setting with views across to the Peclet peaks, mercifully removed from the tourist throng.
- 11
Nature
Nature
Courchevel 1550 Forest
Hundred-year-old larch forest crossed by quiet snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails. Winter and summer alike, it's the refuge for residents escaping the bustle of 1850.
Parks & gardens
2 places
- 12
Park
Park
Courchevel Alpine Garden
High-altitude botanic garden showcasing over 300 species of alpine and mountain plants in their natural habitat. Open in summer, it reveals the rich flora of the Vanoise massif.
- 13
Park
Park
Courchevel Sculpture Park
Contemporary art trail set throughout the streets and green spaces of Courchevel 1850, featuring permanent works by international artists. An open-air museum waiting to be discovered on a stroll.
Viewpoints
3 places
14Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
Saulire Summit
Highest point reachable by cable car at 2738m, offering a 360° panorama across the Three Valleys, Mont Blanc and the Écrins. Locals' favourite spot for watching the winter sunrise.
- 15
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Crête de la Vizelle
Ridge at 2600m accessible by ski from the Chenus sector, commanding a sweeping view over the Tarentaise and the Beaufortain massif. An insider's spot that ski patrollers treasure for its photogenic cornices.
- 16
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Signal Chairlift
Historic chairlift accessing Signal at 2,050m, offering some of the finest panoramas over the Saint-Bon valley and the villages below. Less crowded than the major cable cars, for a serene ascent.
Activities
3 places
17Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Chenus Toboggan Run
Floodlit 1.5km night-time toboggan run departing from Chenus, open several evenings weekly. An authentic family activity that village children have enjoyed for generations.
- 18
Activity
Activity
Éclipse Run
Mythical black run at Courchevel 1850, a technical descent lit by floodlights during evening ski shows. One of the Alps' most photographed couloirs, with direct views over the resort.
- 19
Activity
Activity
Courchevel 1850 Open-Air Ice Rink
Open-air skating rink at the heart of the resort, lit and set to music in the evenings. Local guides and ski instructors gather here after their day's work for impromptu sessions.
More to discover
4 places
- 20
Place
Place
Christmas Market of Courchevel Village (1550)
Authentic Christmas market held at Courchevel 1550, showcasing Savoyard craftspeople and local producers. A world away from the glitz of 1850, it captures the genuine spirit of an alpine village in celebration.
- 21
Place
Place
Bakery-Patisserie Gallay au Praz
Artisanal bakery in the village of Praz, supplying bread and pastries to valley residents for several decades. Cream brioches and Savoyard cakes are prepared here according to time-honoured recipes.
- 22
Place
Place
Bar le Kalico
Historic resort bar at Courchevel 1850, a haunt of seasonal workers and ski instructors since the 1980s. Genuine atmosphere far removed from palace lounges, with live music on certain evenings.
- 23
Place
Place
Fromagerie des Belleville in Courchevel
Artisanal cheesery offering Beaufort, Reblochon and Tomme de Savoie from local alpine pastures. The essential stop for taking home genuine edible souvenirs rather than luxury shop trinkets.
Also 🇫🇷 in France
