Serre Chevalier 1200
Briançon
By Ray "Ray of the Mountain" Stroud
The town of Briancon is the highest in Europe and consists of two parts; the modern busy centre with rail station, a host of restaurants and lively bars and the telecabine to the top of the Prorel pistes, and the overlooking old town “Cité Vauban” which is a delightful narrow streeted walled and moated city with fantastic defenses, interesting shops and bistro style restaurants. We recommend the Temple Residance and Bar restaurant Le Spirit.
Briancon is the lowest of the four main villages in the valley, sitting at around 1250. Briancon has a good range of red and blue pistes; the best blue runs are at the top of the mountain and are served by the Prorel telecabine which passes through a “middle” station. Here skiers find a large restaurant with both self and table service available and a nursery slope just outside. The Couloir (black) has a steep challenging start and is superb fun if you dare try it?
Leaving the Prorel Telecabine at the summit skiers find a small mountain hut named Serre Chalet Blanc” This snack bar has fantastic panoramic views down the valley towards Gap and Montgenevre. A slow winding green run takes you back to Prorel middle station, perfect for novices and lazy “after lunch” skiers!
A chairlift and a draglift links Briancon to the Chantmerle ski area and a fast, modern six-person chairlift brings skiers back again into the Briancon ski area.
