A guide to Les Menuires
Les Menuires lies in the Belleville valley between Saint Martin de Belleville and Val Thorens. At 1850m it links directly into the 600km of pistes of the 3 Vallées. In recent years, older buildings in La Croisette, the original resort centre, have been renovated, while the modern largely ski-in/ski-out satellites of Reberty and Le Bruyères are constructed in a much more sympathetic chalet style with their own shops and restaurants. Accommodation in Les Menuires tends to be better value than elsewhere in the 3 Vallées. It is less strong on nightlife than some of its neighbours but is a great base for families or anyone wanting to explore this giant ski area.
Property for Sale and Rent in Les Menuires
Most accommodation in Les Menuires is ski-in/ski-out, or close to the pistes. Properties in the Reberty area are right on the slopes, as is La Sapinère. Les Bruyères below the village has its own lift base to access both sides of the valley. Many of the more recent and new developments are chalet-style, high quality and offering good facilities and tax advantage options to recover the VAT on purchase, where prices can reach up to €10,000 per square metre – this is still excellent value for the 3 Vallées. Such a large well joined-up and snow-sure ski area is a huge benefit for property owners, these are key criteria in our view.
Les Menuires ski area
For beginners there are five different free chair lifts for starting out, each in different areas of the resort. Intermediate skiers can take advantage of Mont de la Chambre, a wide area suitable for practicing turns and is measured at 1.3km all the way down to Saint Martin de Belleville. Les Menuires has some of the best intermediate runs, both on and off piste, in the entire 3 Vallées. The west facing slopes are very sunny, so snow quality can suffer later in the season; thankfully there is another whole ski area up to the 2,804m summit of Pointe de La Masse side that is less well know to skiers from other 3V resorts. Now served by an ultra fast chairlift, Les Masses offers some superb long runs, some are north facing, and extensive off-piste. An APi favourite is the Vallon du Lou off the back of La Masse, eventually linking up with Val Thorens. Dedicated areas for freestyle and boardercross can be found at the BK Park.
With the 3 Vallées on your doorstep there is ample skiing for everyone, access to the entire ski area is fast and efficient, over to Méribel and as far as Courchevel, or with easy runs down to high altitude Val Thorens.
Après ski in Les Menuires
There is no shortage of bars in La Croisette, Chouette at Bruyères is popular. Later in the evening clubbers will find their happy at the discos at Croisette and Bruyères. The Medz'ery at Preyerand is extremely friendly and later on does after dinner cabaret which is enjoyed by many.
If partying isn’t your thing, or on a snowy day, the impressive Centre Sportif at La Croisette and the Espace Aqualudique & Wellness at Bruyères have swimming pools, fitness and massage rooms, spas, steam baths, saunas and a variety of kids activities. Equally, try the 4km toboggan run, featuring 22 bends and a vertical drop of 450m.
Eating Out in Les Menuires
On the mountain there is ample choice: Grand Lac at the bottom of the Granges chairlift and La Ferme de Reberty are highly regarded. An APi favourite lunch stop is Le 2800 at the Pointe de La Masse. If you like rustic, try Chez Pepe Nicolas below Bruyères. In the more expensive range, Le Bouche à Oreille is in a gorgeous setting at the top of the Roc de Trois Marches 2 and Granges chair-lifts and has a delightful sun terrace. It is run by the same owners as the Michelin starred La Bouitte (also accessible for lunch) in nearby Saint Martin de Belleville.
For an evening meal, Restaurant Le K in Reberty has fine wines and a frequently changing menu. For the best food in the resort, look no further than the amazing Le Chalet du Cairn. Les Roches Blanches is another popular venue, serving up generous portions of pizza and spaghetti close to the La Masse area.
Summer in Les Menuires
The entire 3 Vallées is at your disposal in the summer, the Belleville valley is composed of 22 hamlets and offers a real dose of Savoie charm. The surrounding area has a particularly rich natural and architectural heritage, with an abundance of flora and fauna.
The 3 Vallées and the Vallée de Belleville has more than 50 hiking itineraries. Easier and family friendly options are to visit the lakes at Bruyères and Lac de Lou refuge, or the Le Balcon des Belleville passing by ancient mountain chalets. Itineraries such as Pas de Cherferie and Planlebon pass through old hamlets, they are more difficult but equally rewarding.
The mountain-biking community heading to the Alps will find here in summer a huge variety of choices with 40 trails and 321 km of marked paths are just waiting to be ridden with or without electrical assistance, or a guide. Further up the valley you can ride at an altitude of around 2500 metres with routes leading down into Les Menuires and all the way back to Saint Martin de Belleville.
Other Destinations in the French Alps
Alpe d'Huez Chamonix Courchevel Courchevel La Tania Courchevel Le Praz Courchevel Moriond Courchevel Village La Toussuire Les Deux Alpes Les Gets Megève Méribel Méribel Les Allues Méribel Village Méribel-Mottaret Morzine Paradiski Pays du Mont Blanc Pralognan-la-Vanoise Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise St. Martin de Belleville Tignes Val d'Isère Val Thorens