Meribel

Méribel's position in the heart of the world-famous Three Valley ski area enables access to 600km of pistes and unlimited off-piste, making it a favourite with the British as well as the French. Unlike many purpose-built French resorts, Méribel has retained its Alpine charm and it consists entirely of chalet-style wood and stone buildings. The resort is best known for its chalet accommodation, with dozens of tour operators offering all-inclusive holidays, but there are also hotels, residences and self-catering apartments for all budgets. Méribel’s lift system is modern and continually being improved, with 16 gondola lifts and 18 chairlifts. The neighbouring resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, Val Thorens and Les Menuires can all be reached quickly, making Méribel the ideal base from which the explore the vast Trois Vallées. ... see "The Meribel Valley" for more

Méribel owes it existence to the vision of a British man, Peter Lindsay. In the late 1930s the increasing political closeness between Germany and Austria resulted in British skiers abandoning their Austrian winter resorts, so Peter Lindsay set out to find a suitable site in France to create a new ski village. With the help of legendary French skier Emile Allais he found the ideal site above the village of Les Allues: an undeveloped valley with a suitable altitude and perfect orientation. Captivated by the area, he founded a company, ‘Société Foncière de la Vallée des Allues” in 1938 and began to buy land from the local farmers. Unlike its neighbouring Three Valley resorts which were built with public money, Méribel was created with private capital and by British and French pioneers.

The first chalets were built at an altitude of 1450m, just beyond the existing hamlet of Mussillon (how incorporated into the resort). The new resort was named ‘Méribel’, the local name for a pasture situated near Méribel Village, as Mussillon was thought difficult to pronounce. The name ‘Méribel’ is believed to derive from the Latin ‘mirare’, meaning ‘to look at’ and ‘bel’, something beautiful. The first lift was a télétraineau, a 31 seat sled pulled by a fixed cable. Built in 1938, it carried skiers to 1900m, but only functioned for one winter. When war broke out in 1939, all development ceased. During the war the region was occupied by German forces and Méribel was a centre for the Resistance. Chalet Corbey, and Méribel Village were both used as hideouts for the Maquis. Work started again in 1945 when Peter Lindsay returned, now a Colonel. ... see "Meribel - From Past to Present" for more

What holiday could be more romantic than a winter break in the mountains? Imagine being snug in a wooden chalet with snow falling on fir trees outside, enjoying a cosy fireside drink with the one you love. Méribel, with its wealth of chocolate-box chalets, is a perfect destination for a holiday à deux (it even has a heart for its logo). Our Méribel insiders here offer a few suggestions for making your stay even more romantic. ... see "Meribel for Romantics" for more

Many people would not expect a ski resort to offer a great deal in the way of shopping, but Méribel provides a diverse range of shops and boutiques to suit different lifestyles and budgets ... see "Meribel Shopping" for more