A Chalet Village at the Heart of Three Valleys
Méribel is a ski resort in the Tarentaise valley of the French Alps, set at the centre of Les Trois Vallées and known for its timber-and-stone chalet architecture, its central position and its British heritage. The resort was founded in the 1930s by Colonel Peter Lindsay, a Scot who saw the potential of the Allues valley, and local building rules have kept its alpine style consistent ever since. Pitched roofs, carved balconies and warm interiors define the look, and the result is a village that feels cohesive rather than purpose-built.
Its location is a quiet advantage. From Méribel, lifts lead in either direction to Courchevel and Val Thorens, so skiers can roam across the whole linked area without moving hotel. The resort was one of the venues for the 1992 Winter Olympics, hosting the women's alpine events, and its slopes still carry that pedigree. Next door, Courchevel offers a more glamorous profile, while Les Arcs has a contemporary, family-minded character across the valley.
Mottaret, Les Allues and Slopes for All Levels
Méribel spreads across several settlements. Méribel Centre is the lively core, with shops, bars and restaurants clustered along the river and slopes. Méribel-Mottaret, higher up, is a ski-in, ski-out base with access to glacier-adjacent snow, and the old village of Les Allues keeps a traditional Savoyard feel. Altitudes range from roughly 1,100 metres in the valley to over 2,700 at the highest lifts, giving reliable snow cover and a wide spread of runs, from gentle blues to long, sweeping reds.
Off the slopes, the pleasures are simple and well judged: mountain-restaurant lunches of crozets, fondue and tartiflette, spa afternoons, and early evening aperitifs on sunny terraces before dinner. In summer, the same landscape turns to walking, cycling and golf, with the Vanoise National Park close by. A tourist board can use the resort's long British connection and its Olympic history to reach new audiences, and its family offering, from ski schools to toboggan runs, fits equally well. Neighbouring Val d'Isère adds a more mountaineering-minded option.
Read the full Méribel guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitMeribel.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.