Valmeinier
Encyclopedia
Valmeinier is a commune
in the Savoie
department in the Rhône-Alpes
region
in south-eastern France
.
Valmeinier, located at the foot of the Mont Thabor, 3207 meters, is a medium size ski resort
(about 10,000 beds).
The first ski lift was built in 1973, at L'Arméra, connecting to the Valloire ski area. The village at 1,500 m started to develop with the arrival of various holiday villages (Renouveau and LVT Chemins).
In 1986, the resort at 1800 m was launched and the Gros Crey ski area equipped with lifts.
– Thabor”. This refers to the area’s 2 emblematic summits, which peak at more than 3,000 metres. The first ski lift was installed in 1973, in L’Armera, in order to join up with Valloire, which had already been operating for a few years. Gradually, the ski area expanded and it now features 150 km of slopes over 1,600 hectares.
The snowpark, classified as 5th French snowpark and 15th European, is certified by the French Snowboard Association (AFS). It is tended daily by the resort's staff.
At this time they discovered a high quality anthracite which they decided to mine, hence Valmeinier got its name (Val des mines = the valley of the mines).
Between 1848 and 1924, bolstered by the industrialisation of the Maurienne Valley, agriculture and mining developed as the two main economic activities.
Cereals (corn, wheat and rye) were grown up to 1,500 metres.
During the winter season, some farmers worked as chimney-sweeps, operating in pairs, mainly in the Paris area and in Brittany.
The end of the 1960s saw the end of traditional farming and also a massive exodus from the valley, by the end of the 1970s there were fewer than 80 permanent inhabitants in Valmeinier.
The avalanche struck soon after midday (1100 GMT), police told the French AFP news agency.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Savoie
Savoie
Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...
department in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in south-eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Valmeinier, located at the foot of the Mont Thabor, 3207 meters, is a medium size ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
(about 10,000 beds).
The first ski lift was built in 1973, at L'Arméra, connecting to the Valloire ski area. The village at 1,500 m started to develop with the arrival of various holiday villages (Renouveau and LVT Chemins).
In 1986, the resort at 1800 m was launched and the Gros Crey ski area equipped with lifts.
Ski area information
The ski area shared by the resorts of Valmeinier and Valloire has a new name: “GalibierCol du Galibier
Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....
– Thabor”. This refers to the area’s 2 emblematic summits, which peak at more than 3,000 metres. The first ski lift was installed in 1973, in L’Armera, in order to join up with Valloire, which had already been operating for a few years. Gradually, the ski area expanded and it now features 150 km of slopes over 1,600 hectares.
The snowpark, classified as 5th French snowpark and 15th European, is certified by the French Snowboard Association (AFS). It is tended daily by the resort's staff.
History
Discovered in the 12th century, Valmeinier was practically self-sufficient with most of its inhabitants living off the land until the 17th century.At this time they discovered a high quality anthracite which they decided to mine, hence Valmeinier got its name (Val des mines = the valley of the mines).
Between 1848 and 1924, bolstered by the industrialisation of the Maurienne Valley, agriculture and mining developed as the two main economic activities.
Cereals (corn, wheat and rye) were grown up to 1,500 metres.
During the winter season, some farmers worked as chimney-sweeps, operating in pairs, mainly in the Paris area and in Brittany.
The end of the 1960s saw the end of traditional farming and also a massive exodus from the valley, by the end of the 1970s there were fewer than 80 permanent inhabitants in Valmeinier.
March 2009 Avalanche
Three people were killed in an avalanche on 11 March 2009. As many as eight skiers were caught in the snowslide. They were reported to be a group of students, accompanied by a guide.The avalanche struck soon after midday (1100 GMT), police told the French AFP news agency.