Now officially known as `Les 2 Alpes`, the resort formerly spelt `Les Deux Alpes` began life shortly after World War 2, when in 1946 the local Ski Club de la Meije was formed and three ski instructors employed, with an impressive 45 pupils on the first day.
Today with around 60 lifts, including an underground funicular, serving 200km (138 miles) of terrain including year round glacier skiing, over one of the world`s biggest lift-served vertical drops, and accommodation enough for over 35,000 guests per night, Les 2 Alpes may safely be regarded as one of the guest success stories of the global ski industry. Although now more than 50 years old, it was ten years after it began life that the resort really started to take off. Success followed the opening of the Diable gondola in 1956 and a year later the creation of one of the world`s first known ski pass - covering all the lifts in the young resort. By 1970 there were 40 hotels and 46 lifts, including two gondolas and six chairs and by 1980 150km of trails were groomed and lift-served. In 1984 the lifts extended to the current peak of 2568m giving year round access to the glacier ski area with the fast Jandri Express gondola, the world`s fastest, up to the glacier opening the following year and one of the world`s few underground funiculars, the Dome Express, following in 1989. Apres Ski Lively and cosmopolitan with a vast choice of bars, restaurants and shops. L'Opéra nightclub, The Secret for live music and games, O'Brians Irish Bar, Crowded House for a lively atmosphere or Smithy's with DJ's and live music and Windsor Pub. Eating Out Over 40 restaurants in all categories: • 3-course meal with wine from approx. €20 • Pizzas from €7.6 • Local specialities - fondues approx. €15 • The Bel' Auberge for French cuisine, L'Etable for fondue and pizzas, Smokey Joe's for Texmex and burgers. Activities Ice rink (FREE with lift-pass - skate hire extra) • Outdoor swimming-pool (FREE with lift-pass) • 2 sports centres (le Club Forme and Le Tanking Centre) offering swimming, squash, aerobics, steam bath, weights and Jacuzzis • Two bowling alleys • Rock climbing wall • Parapente • Helicopter link to Alpe d' Huez • Ice caves and sculptures Other Amenities • Cinema • Bus service to Grenoble • Torchlight descents by ski schools • Access to historic village of Venosc by telecabine. |
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