The Sybelles ski area offers ten faces of the mountain around the Arvan valley and the Villards valley. Ten villages and more than 300 km of ski runs!
Historic resorts and new features in 2023
The ski resorts of La Toussuire and Le Corbier counteract the village resorts of Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, Saint-Jean-d'Arves, Saint-Colomban-des-Villards or Les Bottières. Albiez-Montrond offers independently 37 km of ski slopes. Another facet, the mountain villages of Saint-Alban-des-Villards, Jarrier and Albiez-le-Jeune. Located in the Maurienne, these places are united by the spirit of the mountain and are dominated by the Aiguilles d'Arves, the Etendard glacier, the Meije, the Écrins massif and the Belledonne chain. This area of 393 hectares and its 136 slopes is the first in Maurienne, the4th in France and the 7th in Europe. And for this winter 2022-2023, new features are planned with two new playful slopes for the youngest, a redesigned snowpark and, above all, the appearance of the first gondola (10 seats) of the area which will greatly facilitate the connections at the level of the Ouillon pass. All while staying warm!
The ten facets of Les Sybelles
In Les Sybelles, you will spend the vacations that are like you. The slopes are waiting for you whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier, rider, freestyler or snowboarder. Here, even the less experienced skiers can have a great time. If you need to relax, the hamlets full of history offer you a quiet and virgin space. If you prefer nature, no problem! At the bend of a path, an alley or by pushing a little more on snowshoes or on foot, you will discover hidden in an immaculate meadow a baroque chapel or, if you are attentive, wild animals: chamois, ptarmigan, ermines, black grouse stand a few steps away from the hamlets. A real paradise for children... and for parents, Les Sybelles offers activities for the little ones according to their age: daycare, kindergarten, first steps on skis, evening forbidden to the "big kids", secured sledging slopes, discovery of a donkey or ski joëring, they have fun, and the parents can relax and enjoy their vacations
Straddling two valleys, Les Sybelles is also between tradition and modernity. On one side, the Villards valley, its hamlets full of history and its old stone buildings, large blocks of crystalline rock, and wood: you are here in the main home of chimney sweeping in Maurienne. Every winter until 1914, children, from the age of 6 or 7, used to go on the roads to sweep the chimneys of big cities like Lyon, Paris...
In the other valley, the Arvan, named after its tumultuous torrent, are modern, contemporary resorts where everything is planned for a ski holiday. But a few bends further on, here are the village resorts and mountain villages on a human scale, where multiple professional activities between agriculture and tourism are often de rigueur. The grandiose, exceptional landscapes unite this ensemble. Don't miss the sunrise over the Aiguilles d'Arves and their massif; in the background you can see Italy.
From the point of Ouillon, at 2 431 meters, the view is magical: 360 degrees on the whole chain of the Alps. It is also the connection point between the resorts of Saint-Colomban-des-Villards, La Toussuire, Le Corbier, Les Bottières, Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves and Saint-Jean-d'Arves.
In the heart of this vast territory, a year-round life
The heart of the Sybelles beats to the rhythm of the seasons, revealing its human face. Because under the snow, the pastures! When the ski lifts have stopped humming, the hay is cut and brought in, the cows of the Tarine and Abondance breeds go up to the mountain pastures, shaping and maintaining the landscapes by grazing on fat grass and alpine flowers. La Toussuire has the highest meadows in Europe. In winter, they take refuge in the stables, well warm. With the children, you can attend the evening milking in some farms of Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves or La Toussuire. Behind these cows, farmers combine their passion for the mountains in several ways: ski instructors during the day, in the morning before school and in the evening, they look after, care for and milk the cows. Thus in Saint-Jean-d'Arves, there are more cows than inhabitants! You are in the production area of the A.O.C. Beaufort cheese, the prince of Gruyères. Don't miss the free and commented visit of the cheese cooperative of the Arves valley in Saint-Sorlin. And above all, plan to take home some pieces of this legendary cheese to reward the whole family for a long day of sports on the slopes.
A generous universe and an exceptional heritage
If you go a little further, a few steps from the ski lifts and the avenues that roll out the white carpet, the virgin mountain is omnipresent. The torrents caught in the ice whisper muffled songs while waiting for the first rays of sunlight to melt their gangue. Many summer pastures are transformed into playgrounds for snowshoeing. But be sure to check out the avalanche paths.
By getting off the beaten track, being quiet and attentive, you can enjoy magical moments of wildlife observation. In Jarrier, in the early morning, the chamois are near the houses and warm themselves with the first rays of the sun.
In Les Sybelles, the centuries intertwine. The baroque chapels of Fontcouverte, Jarrier, Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, Albiez-Montrond and others, religious buildings that dot the hamlets, promontories and villages, seem modest from the outside. As you push open the doors, you will be surprised by the altarpieces, masterpieces of Savoyard baroque: cherubs, gilding, domes, trompe l'oeil ceilings bursting with gold and wealth.
While walking around, look up to find sundials in churches, communal buildings or even on the walls of farms: the Maurienne valley is full of them. In Entraigues, a hamlet of Saint-Jean-d'Arves, a sundial dated 1843 displays its motto: "I refuse to give the time if the sun is silent".
Skiing of course, but not only!
The wide-open spaces of the Sybelles domain are an open door to all outdoor activities. Alpine and Nordic skiing, freeriding, telemark skiing... Teenagers can take advantage of the latest snowpark in Le Corbier.
For snowshoe enthusiasts, there are a number of hiking trails available on the resort's website, including the "Circuit des Légendes" (Legends Trail) starting from Albiez-Montrond and Albiez-le-Jeune, with signs recounting the traditional legends of the elders. Another itinerary is also open to pedestrians to enjoy the fresh air and the landscape: in La Toussuire, take the Bellard pedestrian chairlift to reach the Bellard itinerary, a groomed path going from the tip of Bellard to the foot of the Ouillon.
For a little more adrenaline, opt for U.L.M., snowmobiling, paragliding or off-piste skiing with a guide... and for paragliding, of course: surf in the air
The days are not long enough! Head for the stars and nighttime snowshoeing or the Thursday night torchlight descent for your charming little ones. You can of course applaud them with a glass of mulled wine in hand.
Smart info
When to come? The Sybelles ski area opened for the winter season on Saturday, December 17, 2022 and will remain open until Friday, April 14, 2023 (March 26 for the small resort of Saint-Colomban-des-Villards).
How to get there. By car, take the A43 freeway to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (exit 27), before going up to one of the resorts in the area. By train, TGV to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, then shuttle to the resorts.
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DOMAINE DES SYBELLES - More information on the site
TOURIST OFFICE OF SAINT-SORLIN D'ARVES - More information on the website
TOURIST OFFICE OF LA TOUSSUIRE - More information on the site
TOURIST OFFICE OF CORBIER - More information on the website
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