Catered Chalet Holidays
in St Gervais Mont Blanc St Gervais
- 445km ski area (3rd biggest in the whole of France)
- 219 different pistes (107 ski lifts)
- Less than an hour form Geneva Airport
- A real French mountain town
- A natural thermal spa
- On the foothills of Mont Blanc
For a virtual tour, click here
St Gervais is a beautiful historic town, dating back to the middle ages, and as such, the village has a developed very organically, and thats how it feels, relaxed and peaceful.
Founded in the Roman era, the town flourished during the middle ages as one of the largest market towns in the Alps, and was bringing in tourists in 1806. St Gervais is that very rare thing, a ski resort with real character and real history. The first ski lift, the famous rack and pinion railway 'The Tramway du Mont Blanc', (originally designed to go all the way tho the top of Mont Blanc!) is situated just 200m from our chalet, was installed in 1904 and still runs today as the highest rack and pinion railway in Europe!
The area is famous for the thermal springs and spa. In the village itself there are numerous fountains and basins, flowing endlessly with ice-cold water, and in St Gervais Le Fayet (a couple of minutes down the valley) sits Les Thermes Spa. Initially built as a largely medicinal center, the spa was hit by tregedy in the mid 1800's when a landslide destroyed the buildings and killed numerous people.
The whole site has been completely rebuilt in it own stunning and tranquil gardens, and a multi million euro investment has brought with it top-quality beauty therapy services to add to the world-class reputation the center carries for its healing side, mostly skin related, the water is rich in potassium and sulphur, excellent for burns victims and those suffering from eczema and psorisis.
St Gervais balances well the developement needed to compete, and also the need to retain authenticty. An excellent free bus services runs from all over the village to the lift and tourist office, running every 10 minutes in the mornings and afternoons, and the town's commitment to keeping everything looking great is evident in their subsidiation for every building to repaint all their exteriors every five years.
The village comprises half a dozen bars, more than a dozen restaurants and cafes, two potteries, three art galleries/showrooms, flower shops, artisanal bakeries, a park with beautiful carousel, an excellent butchers, homeware shops with local works,three small supermakets, an internet cafe, a pizzeria, a handful of hairdressers, the big, friendly, informative tourist info centre, a primary school, a post office, the baroque 17th Century church, and a few ski hire shops. Combined with 300 free underground parking space right in the town centre, under the 'Espace Mont Blanc' which acts as the location of many local events such as bingo, art shows, music events, conferences and expositions.
The restaurants are varied in terms of theme. A couple of brasserie style restaurants and cafes sit invitingly in the square, with outside seating and a big choice on the menus. There is a very good pizzeria, a couple of heavily savoie-oriented cheese melting restaurants, and a couple of cheerful and cheaper family friendly eatieries. But the best finds are in the shape of small, cosy, very marginally intimidating little bistrots and restaurants. 'Le Galletta', a good deal larger, but with the same excellent atmosphere and traditional decor, is the site of the best steak I've ever had, and that's quite a statement from me!
'Pur' bar offers classy cocktails and good wines in funky decor and cheerful service for the trendier of you.
'Le Grave' is the locals spot, full of the mountain guides and old-boys. 'Brasserie du Mont Blanc' offers pool and table-football, plus decent music and some late night atmosphere. 'Oboose Cafe' is a atmospheric little bar, with good drinks and (often unplanned and fairly unannounced!) live bands.
Our ski area - the Evasion Mont Blanc, consisting of 5 different resorts, with St Gervais right in the middle- consists of 445km of runs, and non-existent lift queues.
There are pistes range from confidence building greens and endless scenic blues to fast and fun reds, and challenging blacks; though this is a resort that beginners and intermediates will get the most out of.
This is not to say that there isn't a whole selection of steep and deep slopes, because there is; but few resorts are quite so easily accessible to those not confident on blacks and tricky reds.
Piste Maps: (they will open in a new window)
Evasion Mont Blanc (St Gervais, Megeve, St Nicolas, Combloux, Jaillet)
Les Houches
Les Contamines (included in the Evasion Mont Blanc Pass)
Chamonix
This area does have something for everyone. With short-to-non-existent lift queues and many traditional mountiain restaurants, this feels a million miles away from the motorway cruising style of the 3 valleys, or the ram-packed Espace Killy.
The different zones within our area:
St Gervais has countless tree runs and some great bowl skiing. Beginners will enjoy the long greens whilst experts can push themselves on the steep slopes of Mont Joly.
Drop into St Nicolas de Veroce for fast blues and empty reds with great snow conditions thanks to the bowl it inhabits.
Megève offers endless tree-lined runs and some top quality mountain restaraunts; while in Cote 2000 there is always great snow and powder bowls.
Combloux and Jaillet - always quiet and are always very popular with beginners looking for confidence building greens and blues, but on a powder day it has some great steep sections hidden away for your enjoyment.
Les Contamines is a fantastic ski area in his own right, it holds onto its snow brilliantly and has great wide pistes for all levels accompanied by massive open powder fields and fantastic views.
Les Houches, accessed by the Tramway Du Mont Blanc (just 200m from us) gives you a chance to see the Chamonix valley, and is famous for its Kandahar world cup downhill run.
Nearby Chamonix is the birthplace of European Alpinism and extreme skiing. Its well worth a day for those who love the steep and scary.
EVASION MONT BLANC - The honest ratings:
Beginners: **** - a wide choice of gentle beginner slopes, and an empty ski area to build confidence in.
Intermediates: ***** - a seriously good area for intermediate skiers, long runs, no queues, great variety.
Experts: *** - a good few tough and steep slopes and slalom courses to test yourself on, plus a choice of snowparks to play in.
Off-Piste: *** - extensive, if mainly genlte off pists options, with fantastic tree skiing choices.