Ski areas
New products
This winter, the region’s ski resorts are all moving forward in the same direction: towards a mountain that’s more fluid, more modern, but also more responsible. Behind the silhouettes of the peaks, the ski areas are reorganizing their networks, rethinking their flows, optimizing their equipment and setting this transformation on a clear trajectory: more skiing, less waiting, less impact.
Vars
A new place to live
This winter, Vars is pulling out all the stops. Right in the heart of the resort, a new building stands out as the symbol of a modern era: the tourist office and SEM SEDEV (lift operator) now united under one roof. More than just a reception point, it’s a hub where information, services and technology come together. Interactive kiosks, connected spaces, rest areas: everything is designed to make the holiday experience as smooth as possible, guided by a dedicated team.
This achievement marks the culmination of a vast project to modernize the ski lifts, and affirms a clear ambition: to make every arrival in Vars simple, comfortable and memorable. And the story is just beginning. Day nursery, multi-purpose hall by 2027… The resort is charting its future with a single guiding principle: to reinvent the way we welcome guests to the resort, season after season.
Montgenèvre
A descent in the footsteps of the Maginot Line
This winter, Montgenèvre has a new blue run: the Citadelle. Starting at the top of the Gondrans chairlift, this run has all the makings of a must-see. Conceived as
a playful adventure, it appeals to young and old alike, with its sequence of banked turns, mischievous hoops and interactive modules that react to the slightest passage. But the real stroke of genius is the setting: a world inspired by the fortifications of the Maginot Line, a nod to the singular history of the border station. More than just a trail, La Citadelle is an experience.
Serre Chevalier
The high altitude beginners’ area on the Méa plateau
On the Méa plateau, the beginners’ area has been expanded with the arrival of a new ski lift, the Pré de Jeanne. This 450-metre-long lift has been added to the arsenal of existing lifts at Le Clot and Méa. Perched at an altitude of 2,300 metres, this sector guarantees beginners optimal, safe conditions from the first to the last day of the season. A strategic choice, but also an ecological one: Serre Chevalier is banking on high-altitude skiing to meet the challenges of the climate. The offer is also designed to be fun and progressive, with the Easyboarder, its playful woops and banked turns. A real playground awaits skiers and snowboarders of all ages at Serre Chevalier.
Puy Saint Vincent
Transformed ski area
The 2025-2026 season gets off to a daring start at Puy Saint Vincent, with a salvo of improvements that will transform the skier’s experience. The Prés telemix is getting a facelift: sixteen brand-new cabins, each with eight seats, to swallow the queues and get to the Nordic area in a flash.
On the slopes, the snow guns at Les Coqs and Le Clot d’Aval have been renovated to guarantee more even coverage, while the boardercross now benefits from reinforced snowmaking, ensuring ideal conditions for training and competitions, including the prestigious European Snowboardcross Cup.
The snow front has not been left behind: a refurbished sales point, a latest-generation, greener and more efficient snow groomer and, at the summit, four stations and a chalet topped with photovoltaic panels. Puy Saint Vincent affirms its commitment to more responsible operations.
Orcières Merlette 1850
The ski area gets a makeover
The resort of Orcières Merlette 1850 is equipped with the brand-new La Muande detachable 6-seater chairlift: a technological colossus capable of propelling 3,000 skiers per hour to the heights, covering 650 m of vertical in just six minutes. Gone are the three existing lifts, replaced by a slimmer, more economical line that is more respectful of the landscape. At the summit, the resort opens up: the Camille Ricou piste, FIS-approved and a training ground for champions, the Vallons blue run remodeled for fluid pleasure, a series of blue runs from the summit to the snow front.
For the entire face of the resort has changed:
covered conveyor belt for beginners, pylons reduced from 56 to 17, panoramic terrace for a breath of fresh air overlooking the Champsaur. A visionary project that combines comfort, top-level sport and respect for the mountains.
Risoul
L’homme de pierre: the new
emblem of modernity in Risoul
L’homme de pierre, Risoul’s latest 6-seater detachable chairlift, has taken pride of place since last winter. It’s all about speed and comfort. In just six minutes, compared with 25 previously, it transports up to 2,800 skiers an hour to the heights, while consuming less energy. The new lift runs directly from the snow front to the top of the sector, serving a panoramic blue run ideal for beginners and intermediates. The result: a fluid, better-distributed ski area where everyone can find their way. And pedestrians haven’t been forgotten: high altitude restaurants, snowshoe itineraries and Nordic walking trails are all available to them, guaranteed by faithful snow cover.
Lands of Gap
New Maison de Pays in Gap-Bayard
A new Maison de Pays is being built at the entrance to the Gap-Bayard plateau, at an altitude of 1,250 meters. The 400 m2 wooden building will replace the former bar-restaurant Le Chastelas. Located on the RN 85, it will serve as an information and promotional center for tourists and road users. The aim is to provide a showcase for the Gapençais region and its surrounding valleys. Inside, visitors will find information on the activities and history of Bayard, a sports mecca with its Nordic ski and golf oxygenation center, and all the local produce.
Gap Bayard golf course in its white coat
Find out all about the highlights and news of the winter season in the Hautes-Alpes press kit.
