The resort of Serre Chevalier is actually made up of a total of thirteen villages, spread over an area that encompasses Briancon, Villeneuve la Salle, Chantemerle and Monetiere les Bains. Known to its friends as
'Serre Che', the resort can be found in part of the Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azure region, situated entirely in the mountains and therefore making it one of the highest departments in the Alps. Romantically named; 'Serre Chevalier' is derived from the ancient Occitan dialect from Provence and southern France, with
serre meaning 'hill' or 'mount', and
cambeou referring to a 'herd' or 'flock'. Of all the villages in the valley, Villeneuve offers the most facilities, with accommodation suited to most budgets. Skiing here will appeal predominantly to beginners and intermediates, with the majority of down hill runs being red and blue - in total there are 250 kilometers of downhill piste, along with a snowpark and half pipe.
