TIGNES LES BREVIERES - Introduction
Due to its high villagealtitude Tignes has a very reliable snow record that has proved increasingly popular with skiers encouraged to choose higher mountain resorts. This purpose built resort, set mostly above the tree line, is comprised of 5 villages, Les Brevières, Les Boisses,Val Claret, Le Lac and La Lavachet, connected by a regular free ski shuttle bus that operates late into the night. Tignes Val Claret is ideally situated at the base of La Grande Motte lifts and the high speed Funicular giving quick and easy access to the glacier above. Tignes shares the legendary ‘Espace Killy’ Pass, a vast region with over 300 km (nearly 200 miles) of lift-linked trails, with Val d’Isère. Generally regarded as one of Europe’s best ski areas, the skiing offers something for everyone. However, it is advanced skiers who will be most impressed with the limitless off piste options.
Skiing
Tignes’ ski area is directly linked by gondola and high-speed chair-lift to neighbouring Val d’Isère, and the two resorts form the world famous L’Espace Killy, after its most revered son Jean-Claude Killy, who swept the board of gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics. A vertical drop of 1,900m coupled with 97 lifts, including two high-speed funiculars, four gondolas and four cable-cars, form a hard-core infrastructure for mountain access that few resorts can match.
Snowboarding
L'Espace Killy is known for its incredible off-piste with good lift access. Boarders will also find a half pipe, boardercross course and some great freeriding. Tignes really does have it all and is one of the best playgrounds in Europe. Check out the Lanches chairlift in Val Claret for the boardpark full of kickers to suit all.
Ski Schools
There are a number of Ski/Snowboard Schools serving Tignes, offering all types of lessons to all standards of ability. SkiExtras recommends Evolution 2 Ski School because of their great lesson choice and professional service, and don’t forget you can book your lessons directly with us saving you time and hassel in resort.
Eating Out
Tignes has 60 restaurants divided between the 5 villages. In Le Lac The Hotel L’Arbina is considered by many to be the best gourmet restaurant in the whole region. La Côte de Boeuf is ‘heaven for meat-lovers’. In Le Lavachet at La Ferme des Trois Capucines, which claims to be the highest working farm in Europe, you can watch the cows behind a glass wall as you eat. In Val Claret, Le Caveau is ‘a lovely underground restaurant with friendly service and lots of atmosphere’. La Pignatta is recommended as ‘an Italian restaurant with huge courses and a lovely atmosphere’. Daffy’s Café is a lively Tex-Mex, and Le Ski d’Or is praised for its fresh fish. La Pizzéria 2000 ‘is much more than your standard pizzeria – it also has fondue and raclette’.
Bars and clubs
In Le Lavachet Scotty’s is a very popular bar for the brits. In Le Lac, Le Café de la Poste has live music, and in Val Claret, Grizzly’s Bar, is warmly recommended: ‘one of the few drinking joints with character’, while the Saloon bar is often rammed with the hardened Après skiers.
Off the slopes
If you want to try something new; ice diving, dog sledding, hang gliding, skidoo riding, ice climbing, parascending, ski-joring (being pulled along by horses), skating, snowshoeing, indoor tennis, heliskiing are all fun options.