Travel to Puy St Vincent with travel insurance from Essential Travel

Ski resorts in Puy St Vincent

Surrounded by areas of natural beauty and comprising an array of chapels and traditional wooden and stone buildings, Puy St Vincent is rich in natural and religious heritage. Situated on the border of Les Ecrins National Park, Puy St Vincent offers staggering views across the Pelvoux to the Barres des Ecrins, some of the wildest Alpine scenery in Europe. The resort has also hosted the English ski championships, held here in 2002.

Puy St Vincent is split into two levels, 1,400m and 1,600m, and is made up of three hamlets. The village features a range of authentic churches and chapels, of which one is a 15th century listed monument. The atmosphere here is rather subdued in comparison with larger resorts, and offers a peaceful getaway and a charming alternative. With many species of Alpine fauna, and stunning views, Puy St Vincent is a well preserved gem.

Puy St Vincent has 67kms of ski runs, varying in difficulty, with some great runs for intermediates. The area is serviced by 16 lifts and has a further 100kms of cross-country skiing available. The longest run is three kilometres, with the top elevation at 2,750m. The total vertical descent is 1,350m. For snowboarders, there are some good beginner slopes plus a half-pipe and fun park.

The resort of Puy St Vincent is located close to some other fine resorts, and by purchasing the Galaxy lift pass, you can ski for the day at Montgenèvre, Serre Chavalier, Les Deux Alpes and Alpe DHuez as well. These resorts also offer a livelier alternative to the peace and quiet of Puy St Vincent.

The season runs from early December to late April with good snowfall all season. The resort is only 10kms from the nearest train station which is serviced by the high-speed TGV direct from Paris. Turin International Airport is the closest airport to the resort at only two hours away by road.

Skiing in Puy St Vincent

Puy St Vincent is a compact, relaxed resort set in beautifully preserved natural surroundings, boasting some impressive religious architecture. With a ski area that hosted the 2002 English Ski Championships, Puy St Vincent delivers on the slopes while maintaining a charming quaint atmosphere.

The resort of Puy St Vincent is rich in traditional religious architecture, with many fine examples of recent frescoes adorning some of the chapels. There is a subdued après-ski with a focus on relaxation, plus traditional wooden chalets and authentic stone houses providing quality accommodation. Children get to choose from a range of activities, clubs and schools at the resort.

Of the 67kms of ski runs at Puy St Vincent, there are 13 blue, six green, 10 red and two black runs. The area is serviced by 16 lifts with a fast quad chair rising to above the tree-line at 2,000m. The longest run is three kilometres, with the top elevation at 2,750m. The total vertical descent is 1,350m.

There are 100kms of cross-country trails available. Adventurers will enjoy some impressive black runs with some of the easier slopes feeling more like red. For snowboarders, there are some good beginner slopes plus a half-pipe and fun park.

The season at Puy St Vincent begins in early December and runs until late April, with some of the cheapest ski rates in this area.

Puy St Vincent is 130kms from Turin International Airport, with hire vehicles and transfer services to the resort available. Alternatively, you can catch the high-speed TGV to L’Argentiere Les Ecrins from Paris, leaving you 10kms and a short bus ride away from the resort.

Apres-ski in Puy St Vincent

The atmosphere at Puy St Vincent is very laid-back, with a focus on relaxation. The resort is perfect for couples and families alike, with a handful of bars and restaurants providing some off-piste entertainment. Some non-ski alternatives such as ice-skating, tobogganing and skidoo are also available, with impressive exhibitions on show at some of the many chapels in the area.

There are a small number of restaurants and bars in the village, providing a relaxed atmosphere, while the bulk of the accommodation is in charming, traditional wooden or stone chalets and bungalows. The many chapels around the village provide some impressive exhibitions while night skiing, ice-skating, tobogganing and skidoo are also available at the resort.

Children are especially well looked after here and the resort has many facilities, including the usual nurseries plus a nature school and mini club with emphasis on the environment (tel: +33492235177)

Transportation to Puy St Vincent

Puy St Vincent is located between Gap and Turin and is accessible by road, rail or combination of air and road. The most practical way of getting to the resort is by catching an international flight to either Turin or Marseilles and transferring by road or rail to Puy St Vincent. Alternatively, catch a high-speed TGV train from Paris direct to the train station at LArgentiere Les Ecrins, only 10kms from the resort and just over seven hours in travel time.

By car, take the main A6 autoroute south from Paris to Grenoble, follow signs to Briancon on the RN91. Head for Gap and at L’Argentiere le Bessee, turn right towards Vallouise, Pelvoux before heading for the resort itself. The journey should take around seven hours and cost a total of €35 in road tolls.

By train, catch the high-speed TGV direct from Paris to L’Argentiere Les Ecrins, and transfer by regular bus service to the resort, 10kms from the station. To get to Paris, catch the Eurostar direct from London Waterloo or Ashford in Kent, before transferring on to the TGV.

The nearest international airports to Puy St Vincent are in Turin and Marseilles. Turin is closest at only 130kms, making it less of a journey. Transfer services are available as well as hire vehicles, and the resort is two hours away by road.

Transfer shuttles are also available from Marseilles (260kms) to the resort with a travel time of around four hours. Alternatively, catch a train from Marseilles direct to LArgentiere Les Ecrins train station, a four- to five-hour journey; from there, board a regular bus service to the resort.

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