La Maison Clarée

Les Alberts (1400m above sea level) is a small, quiet village in the beautiful valley of Névache in the French Alps, close to the Italian border. It is a ten-minute drive from Briançon, an impressive fortified town (one of the highest in Europe) and a fascinating place to explore, with its quaint old streets and Vauban ramparts.

Winter sports

From Les Alberts the road winds a few kilometres up the mountainside to the pretty village of Montgenèvre (1860-2700m), a ski resort since 1907. Today, it offers a wide range of pistes and 34 lifts within its own system. Keen skiers can also tackle the Voie Lactée, which is a group of resorts providing a total of 400km of pistes that span the border between France and Italy.

Five minutes’ drive from Briançon is Serre Chevalier (1200-2830m), the world’s second largest ski area offering 250km of pistes, with an excellent snow record and over 300 days of sunshine a year. There is access by ski lift from Briançon itself or from a group of villages in the valley beyond. The pistes range from the easiest nursery slopes to an Olympic black, and snow cannons ensure snow throughout the season. There are ten restaurants d'altitude spread across the area when you want to stop for a drink, snack or more substantial meal.

The Val Clarée is well known for nordic skiing, with 65km of runs starting across the road from La Maison Clarée in Les Alberts and leading right through the valley to the village of Névache itself and beyond. Other winter activities available in the area include ski mountaineering, luge and snow shoes.

Year-round attractions

In the late spring, summer and early autumn, the valley is a perfect place for hiking, horse-riding, cycling, canoeing, fishing and tennis. Higher up, there are more challenging walks and opportunities for climbing. The area is home to a fascinating range of flora and fauna.

There are picturesque villages to explore in every direction, as well as the lovely old town of Briançon. Italy is only a half-hour drive away, making it easy to sample different local cuisine and shopping opportunities.

If you'd prefer a break from all this activity, you can simply sit out on the terrace at La Maison Clarée, soak up the sun, admire the spectacular scenery and enjoy the tranquillity of this charming corner of France.