Guidebook for Champagny-en-Vanoise

Alix
Guidebook for Champagny-en-Vanoise

Parks & Nature

This serene and stunning valley, which is a 5-minute drive from the chalet, offers respite from the busy slopes via walking and snowshoeing trails and a multi-graded cross-country ski park (far cheaper than downhill skiing and infinitely better exercise). You can hire the gear in Champagny and then head to the 'ski de fond' hut at Le Bois and buy a pass. More adventurous types can try the ice-climbing tower (equipment hire and tuition available for both) or dog sledding. There is one excellent and very quirky restaurant here, popular with locals and open all round: Refuge du Bois.
17 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Champagny le Haut
17 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
This serene and stunning valley, which is a 5-minute drive from the chalet, offers respite from the busy slopes via walking and snowshoeing trails and a multi-graded cross-country ski park (far cheaper than downhill skiing and infinitely better exercise). You can hire the gear in Champagny and then head to the 'ski de fond' hut at Le Bois and buy a pass. More adventurous types can try the ice-climbing tower (equipment hire and tuition available for both) or dog sledding. There is one excellent and very quirky restaurant here, popular with locals and open all round: Refuge du Bois.

Entertainment & Activities

This - one of the largest mountain water parks in Europe - opened in 2016 and is around 20 mins drive from the chalet. It has seven eco-friendly heated swimming pools (including a wave pool for surfing), a three-lane water slide, three Finnish saunas, spa/massage and a climbing wall within the 15,000 sq m complex. Plus food and drink on offer and a sundeck for weary parents!
52 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Aquamotion Courchevel
Village
52 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
This - one of the largest mountain water parks in Europe - opened in 2016 and is around 20 mins drive from the chalet. It has seven eco-friendly heated swimming pools (including a wave pool for surfing), a three-lane water slide, three Finnish saunas, spa/massage and a climbing wall within the 15,000 sq m complex. Plus food and drink on offer and a sundeck for weary parents!
A short drive from the chalet, this town offers a few more bar and restaurant options and the supermarket is bigger and cheaper than the ones in Champagny. There's also a post office and medical centre plus a small lake to stroll around and playgrounds nearby.
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Bozel
20 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
A short drive from the chalet, this town offers a few more bar and restaurant options and the supermarket is bigger and cheaper than the ones in Champagny. There's also a post office and medical centre plus a small lake to stroll around and playgrounds nearby.
This is a covered swimming pool in winter with a retractable roof so in summer it's open air and a popular sunbathing spot. It's a good option if you fancy a dip but in walking distance.
8 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Piscine Municipale
8 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
This is a covered swimming pool in winter with a retractable roof so in summer it's open air and a popular sunbathing spot. It's a good option if you fancy a dip but in walking distance.

Food Scene

This is somewhere we always go to in winter and in the summer. It's near the Champagny gondola and has a large terrace for dining with absolutely jaw-dropping mountain views. The owners are incredibly friendly and the food is also outstanding.
Le Chalet des Verdons Sud
This is somewhere we always go to in winter and in the summer. It's near the Champagny gondola and has a large terrace for dining with absolutely jaw-dropping mountain views. The owners are incredibly friendly and the food is also outstanding.
This quirky restaurant serving Savoyard specialities is set in a stunning valley and the perfect stop-off for lunch, coffee or an ice cream in summer while on a walk. In winter, it's open just for dinner and is a must and is hugely popular with locals. Its setting in this peaceful, barely inhabited valley is remote and otherworldly in the winter when it is surrounded by snowy peaks and starry skies.
Refuge du Bois
Rue Michel Ruffier-Lanche
This quirky restaurant serving Savoyard specialities is set in a stunning valley and the perfect stop-off for lunch, coffee or an ice cream in summer while on a walk. In winter, it's open just for dinner and is a must and is hugely popular with locals. Its setting in this peaceful, barely inhabited valley is remote and otherworldly in the winter when it is surrounded by snowy peaks and starry skies.
This is a fantastic boulangerie and just a short walk from the chalet. They do all the usual stuff - pastries, bread, croissants plus mouthwatering tarts. The perfect pre-ski fuel stop! We tend to pick up pastries on the way to the gondola and eat them on the way up the mountain.
6 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
La Marmottine
6 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
This is a fantastic boulangerie and just a short walk from the chalet. They do all the usual stuff - pastries, bread, croissants plus mouthwatering tarts. The perfect pre-ski fuel stop! We tend to pick up pastries on the way to the gondola and eat them on the way up the mountain.
This is both a refuge and a very quirky restaurant in the Champagny le Haut valley near our chalet, where it feels like you've stepped back in time. Few people live here now, so it has just a few traditional chalets and buildings but consequently, views and nature aplenty. It is a popular spot for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and hiking in the summer. The refuge is a popular spot with locals but you do need to book ahead and check they are open!
Refuge du Bois
Rue Michel Ruffier-Lanche
This is both a refuge and a very quirky restaurant in the Champagny le Haut valley near our chalet, where it feels like you've stepped back in time. Few people live here now, so it has just a few traditional chalets and buildings but consequently, views and nature aplenty. It is a popular spot for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and hiking in the summer. The refuge is a popular spot with locals but you do need to book ahead and check they are open!
We love this pizzeria - loads of scrummy options plus they usually have a few non-pizza dishes.
Restaurant Le Bonrieu
80 Rue Emile Machet
We love this pizzeria - loads of scrummy options plus they usually have a few non-pizza dishes.
This is our favourite eating out spot in Champagny and next to the gondola so good too for a post-piste drink. It's usually buzzing and cosy with nice booths and sheepskin throws. They also do a broad range of reasonably priced options - pizzas, burgers, pancakes, salad etc.
Restaurant le Barillon
Place du Centre
This is our favourite eating out spot in Champagny and next to the gondola so good too for a post-piste drink. It's usually buzzing and cosy with nice booths and sheepskin throws. They also do a broad range of reasonably priced options - pizzas, burgers, pancakes, salad etc.
This is the closest and first restaurant you come to when walking into town from our chalet. It has more of an upscale feel to it than the others in Champagny, albeit a smaller menu of Savoyard specialities. We have become great friends with the delightful owner, Tony. Best to book ahead and check opening times.
restaurant le grand bouquetin
This is the closest and first restaurant you come to when walking into town from our chalet. It has more of an upscale feel to it than the others in Champagny, albeit a smaller menu of Savoyard specialities. We have become great friends with the delightful owner, Tony. Best to book ahead and check opening times.

Shopping

This is the closest ski hire shop to our chalet (which we have 30% off vouchers for). It also has a huge range of excellent clothing and footwear. I get most of my ski and hiking wear here and there are great end-of-season sales!
SPORT 2000 BELVÉDÈRE SPORTS Location ski Champagny
666 Rue de la Vanoise
This is the closest ski hire shop to our chalet (which we have 30% off vouchers for). It also has a huge range of excellent clothing and footwear. I get most of my ski and hiking wear here and there are great end-of-season sales!
This little gift shop is close to the chalet and as well as postcards, sells all sorts of lovely things from place mats to cushions to mobiles and more. I bought a cowbell and wooden carved Christmas tree decoration from here, that you can see at the chalet.
La Lézardière
This little gift shop is close to the chalet and as well as postcards, sells all sorts of lovely things from place mats to cushions to mobiles and more. I bought a cowbell and wooden carved Christmas tree decoration from here, that you can see at the chalet.
If you love feathering your nest as much as I do, you will love this treasure trove of a homewares store - alpine style, naturally! It is packed full of furniture, rugs, lighting, art, accessories small and large. Most stuff here is far from cheap but it's fun to look around even if you don't buy anything.
Le Galetas
Rue Emile Machet
If you love feathering your nest as much as I do, you will love this treasure trove of a homewares store - alpine style, naturally! It is packed full of furniture, rugs, lighting, art, accessories small and large. Most stuff here is far from cheap but it's fun to look around even if you don't buy anything.

Essentials

This is the closest supermarket to the chalet and about 5 mins walk away. It's not huge but has a good selection of fruit, veg, dried, canned and frozen goods, wine and also has a nice deli counter with freshly made dishes such as quiche and even curry!
Sherpa Supermarché Champagny
This is the closest supermarket to the chalet and about 5 mins walk away. It's not huge but has a good selection of fruit, veg, dried, canned and frozen goods, wine and also has a nice deli counter with freshly made dishes such as quiche and even curry!
This excellent tourist office, near the gondola and 10 mins walk from our chalet, has tons of info and leaflets about activities and the area, including maps of hikes, ski maps, ski lift pass info, daily weather reports and avalanche risk etc. There are good English speakers here too.
Office de Tourisme Champagny en Vanoise
This excellent tourist office, near the gondola and 10 mins walk from our chalet, has tons of info and leaflets about activities and the area, including maps of hikes, ski maps, ski lift pass info, daily weather reports and avalanche risk etc. There are good English speakers here too.