| TIGNES |
France |
Glacier Resort / Guaranteed Snow |
One of the highest resorts in Europe, Tignes also offers more skiing in winter and in summer than pretty well anywhere else, thanks to its high altitude skiing on the Grande Motte glacier and its commitment to maintain a vertical of at least 1000 metres (3280 feet) for eight months of the year. Sharing the vast and exciting l`Espace Killy ski area with neighbouring Val d`Isere, purpose-built Tignes has the stronger French influence of the two, as well as being largely based at a higher and more snow-sure altitude. There are in fact five base areas to Tignes, although three of them - Le Lac, Le Lavachet and Val Claret - more or less run in to one another to form the main section. They stand together in a vast snowy bowl above the tree line resembling some sort of isolated moon base, from a distance. Further down the mountain, but lift linked to l`espace Killy are Les Boisses and Les Brevieres and there are three traditional villages along the valley floor on the road to Val d`Isere (Le Reculaz, Le Chevril and Le Villaret du Nial), but these are not lift-linked. Interestingly the original base is Le Lac, the relocated genuine village of Tignes that was submerged under Lake Chevril following the construction of a dam in 1952. The church bell was the only physical momento to be carried up to the new village site, but the spirit of skiing which began in `old Tignes` in the 1920s was certainly carried forward with spectacular results!. Apres Ski Harris Bar for a good atmosphere, Café de la Poste and the Terrachu or Crowded House for a British atmosphere. Eating Out More than 20 restaurants with menus to suit every palate and budget • 3-course set menu at around €20 • Local fondues for €24 including wine and dessert • Pizzas from €8 • Pizzeria 2000, Daffy's Tex Mex, Le Côte de Boeuf for affordable French cuisine, Le Caveau, Saint Jacques and Harris Hot Rocks. Activities Ice-skating • Sports centre with squash court, tennis courts, aerobics, weight training, Jacuzzi, sauna (Lac de Tignes) • 10 pin bowling alley • Cross country skiing around the lake • Heli-skiing • Parapenting • Husky drawn sleigh rides • Market in Le Lac twice a week • Ice climbing • Ice diving • Ski-biking Other Amenities • Weekly street market selling local produce, ski wear and gifts • Range of boutiques • Supermarkets • Cinema (Lac de Tignes and Val Claret) |
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calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
