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Ski resorts in Saint Gervais

An historic spa village that has been around since Roman times, Saint Gervais has been operating as a ski resort since before WWI. Situated at the foot of Mont Blanc (Europe’s highest peak) and located within the Pays Du Mont Blanc pass area, Saint Gervais is perfectly placed for access to one of the best ski areas in the world.

Saint Gervais is a quaint village that combines last century architecture with a modern high-tech lift system. It also provides some great ski options, plus terrific health and beauty treatments, due to its history as a spa town. With all the beauty of a petit Savoyard market town, a rich heritage, a baroque church, traditional buildings, and pedestrian areas, Saint Gervais is a popular resort with families.

Saint Gervais has 47 slopes adding up to 65kms of ski runs, with access to a further 700kms of ski runs in the area. The resort is serviced by 27 lifts, moving 24,000 skiers an hour, with the highest lift reaching 2,350m.

The village sits at 850m, with a vertical drop of 1,200m. Skiing here is suitable for all levels and ages with over 40 per cent of runs dedicated to beginners. There are also an additional 30kms of cross-country trails and a snowboard park.

Saint Gervais is ideally situated within the Pays Du Mont Blanc pass area, lending access to some of the best ski resorts in the region with one ski pass. For an extra small payment and with a short drive, the legendary resorts of Chamonix and Courmayeur in Italy can also be accessed, making Saint Gervais a fantastic gateway to an amazing ski experience.

The season runs from early January to late April, with ski pass rates staying the same throughout the season. However, there are some tempting combination passes available for part of or the whole Mont Blanc region. The most convenient way to reach the resort is by flying direct to Geneva International Airport and taking a short taxi or bus transfer to the resort.

Skiing in Saint Gervais

Saint Gervais is an authentic Roman spa village, set at the foot of Mont Blanc and boasting access to over 700kms of ski runs and some of the finest ski resorts in Europe. It is a typically quaint Savoyard market town with some interesting architecture.

Saint Gervais sits at an elevation of 850m, making the area between the village and the summit at Mont Blanc (2,300m) one of the longest in the region. The resort itself is host to a number of different architectural styles, from the traditional mountain lodge to baroque churches, and has a range of facilities including a health spa, cinema, casino and youth club. Accommodation ranges from traditional chalets to rented apartments.

Saint Gervais has a total of 65kms of ski runs made up of 47 slopes. As part of the Pays Du Mont Blanc pass area, there are a further 700kms of runs in the area accessible from the resort. Twenty-four thousand skiers are looked after by the 27 lifts here, with the highest lift reaching 2,350m.

Slopes are divided into 45 per cent for beginners, 38 per cent for intermediates and 17 per cent for experts. The resort offers a fun park and half-pipes for snowboarders with some good terrain for free-riding. There are also an additional 30kms of cross-country trails.

The season runs from early January to the end of April, with ski pass rates staying the same all season. Buy one of the special passes giving you access to some other fantastic resorts in the region, available from the resort itself.

Saint Gervais is 70kms and just under an hour by car from Geneva Airport. A direct flight and a bus or taxi transfer is the most convenient way to get to the resort. Alternatively, you can catch the high-speed TGV from Paris to Saint Gervais during the season, taking just five hours in total travel time.

Apres-ski in Saint Gervais

There are over 50 restaurants and bars in the village, plus a nightclub, a casino, two cinemas, a free internet service and a youth club for children. The village offers a whole range of non-ski activities, including: paragliding, ice-skating, curling, swimming and walks along snow-covered mountain trails.

Other attractions include: an artist’s studio, traditional pottery-making and some great local markets. The resort offers accommodation in a range of beautiful buildings from the baroque to the traditional mountain chalet.

The resort has a good selection of interesting diversions and non-ski activities away from the slopes, including: paragliding, ice-skating, curling, swimming and walks along snow-covered mountain trails. The village also plays host to a collection of attractions such as an artist’s studio, traditional pottery-making and some great local markets. There are two cinemas, a casino, over 50 bars and restaurants, plus a nightclub at this family orientated resort.

Transportation to Saint Gervais

Saint Gervais lies at the foot of Mont Blanc and travel to the resort involves a flight and road transfer, or a direct high-speed TGV to the resort during the season. The closest international airport is at Geneva, 70kms from the resort, with a transfer taking just under an hour. Alternatively, a train direct to Saint Gervais from Paris during the season will take just five hours.

By road, Saint Gervais is 600kms and 5 hours, 30 minutes from Paris. Take the A6 to Mâcon, and then the A40 (autoroute Blanche) to Saint-Gervais/Le Fayet and the resort. The journey will cost around €40 for all road tolls. By car from Geneva Airport, enter France via the E21 and head on to the A411. Follow directions to Chamonix along the A40/E25 and take the Saint Gervais turnoff.

By train, catch the high-speed TGV to Saint Gervais train station direct from Paris from December to April; the journey takes just five hours. To Paris, catch the Eurostar from London Waterloo or Ashford in Kent and transfer to the TGV service.

Genava International Airport is the nearest airport servicing the area and is within easy reach of the resort. A direct flight will leave you just 70kms from the resort and you can complete the journey by hire car, taxi or bus.

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