| "> | | | | Valmeinier as there are plenty of slopes to fit |
| Valmeinier, one of the newer ski resorts in the | | | | their level of experience: 34 green runs, 25 black |
| French Alps, is located in the area of France called | | | | runs, 31 red runs, and 6 black runs. Experts will |
| Galibier-Thabor. Before 1973, when the village was | | | | find a thrill with the tree-lined slopes, moguls, and |
| first able to boast of having its own chair lift, | | | | steep runs, and beginners will be able to practice |
| Valmeinier was known not as a place to ski, but | | | | at the ski center before hitting the slopes proper. |
| rather for its primary industry, mining (Valmeinier | | | | If you are not the winter sports type, there is still |
| translates as the "Valley of the Mines"). | | | | plenty to keep you busy in Valmeinier. The new |
| Believed to have been inhabited as early as the | | | | resort is divided into two parts: the traditional |
| 1100s, Valmierier existed in relative obscurity for | | | | mountain village at 1,500 meters and the modern |
| hundreds of years, until the presence of the | | | | center located at 1,800 meters. The village is |
| mineral coal anthracite was uncovered in the | | | | home to a cinema, a pub and three |
| vicinity in the late 1600s. After the discovery of | | | | bar-restaurants. Local produce is also presented |
| the high quality resource, the entire surrounding | | | | by the locals in food displays and there is a |
| valley saw the mining industry join agriculture as | | | | café-theater and cabaret where information |
| the most imortant economic activities in the area. | | | | about the local history and culture is on hand for |
| In the last century when the mining industry was | | | | tourists. Modern Valmeinier, meanwhile, has three |
| losing steam, the inhabitants of Valmeinier, who | | | | pubs, two cinemas, one disco, one pizzeria and |
| numbered just some 80 people in the 1960s, had | | | | eleven bar-restaurants. While the older village of |
| to shift to other ways to bring revenue to their | | | | Valmeinier at 1,500 meters suits the all-around |
| town. As ski resorts were springing up all over | | | | holidaymaker, the more modern part of |
| the French Alps at the time, Valmeinier joined in | | | | Valmeinier at 1,800 meters is where the |
| and underwent a change from mining town to | | | | hard-core skiers head. The most popular places to |
| international ski resort. Opened officially in the | | | | stay in Valmeinier are the Residence Le Thabor, |
| year 1986 with a large, newly-built network of ski | | | | the Residence Les Lodges des Pierres, and the |
| lifts, Valmeinier has since been continually | | | | Residence l'Ecrin des Neiges. From the town |
| expanding and raising its already high standard. In | | | | visitors will enjoy breathtakingmountain views and |
| addition to its famous snow park, the resort | | | | scenery. There is certainly no lack of snow in |
| today boasts an impressive 150 kilometers of | | | | Valmeinier, since it is situated near the northern |
| slopes. Skiing, however, is but one of the many | | | | Alps, and children will be able to enjoy the plentiful |
| winter activities that make up a wide assortment | | | | snow in the sledding and hiking areas, which are |
| of fun things to do in Valmeinier. Ice-skating, | | | | only two of the many activities and amenities for |
| paragliding, dog sledding and microlight flying are all | | | | children. All of this is why families planning to take |
| on offer, as well as the always popular nighttime | | | | a vacation in the French Alps should look no |
| skiing. Intermediate skiers will not be bored in | | | | further than the modern ski resort of Valmeinier. |