Brevent Flegere Ski Resort Chamonix, France
The ski resort of Brévent Flégère sits in a prime south-facing position above legendary Chamonix. Its sunny slopes are one of the most exceptional sites in The Alps. Few places have such a spectacular view of the Mont Blanc massif, yet alone combine it with great skiing.
Brevent Flegere ski resort is the best place in Chamonix to gently acquire a tan whilst taking in the panoramic splendour - if that's what takes your fancy. If not, then it is a place with a wide range of on & off-piste terrain to exhilarate skiers of all categories & levels of expertise. At the end of the day, it provides one of the world’s best après ski drink locations as the sun sinks behind the Mont Blanc glaciers & the para-gliders sail overhead.
Pros & Cons for Brévent Flégère Ski Resort
Pros
- Reliable snowfall in one of the snowiest regions of France;
- Most terrain over 1900m elevation;
- Lift system becoming modern & improving annually;
- Good range of piste trails for all levels including advanced;
- Wonderful off-piste terrain including serious steeps;
- Amazing après ski & fine dining location;
- Plethora of ski-in ski-out accommodation;
- Good value lift pass price on the Chamonix Le Pass ticket providing access to Grands Montets & Balme ski resorts;
- Good public transport access to Chamonix by bus & train;
- Sensational non-ski activities like paragliding are as good as the skiing.
Cons
- Busy most days of the season;
- Gets tracked out quickly & snow can become sun-affected;
- Some tacky fast food outlets out of character to the rest of the valley;
- Valley trails are steep, nasty & generally lacking in snow down low;
- No place to be in poor visibility;
- No on-mountain or ski-in ski-out accommodation;
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Sunny south facing aspect;
- Staying in Chamonix may induce long morning sleep ins from all the previous night’s shenanigans;
- You will get seriously distracted by the views.
Skiing & Snowboarding Terrain
Brévent Flégère ski resort has an impressive 1500m of skiable vertical, but the reality is that most of the terrain is up above 1900m, decreasing that skiable vert markedly. Below that, there are only two advanced valley trails and a whole lot of rarely skiable off piste steeps & trees. Check the condition of the valley trails on the way up the hill as they are notoriously bony!
See the Brevent Flegere ski trail map here.
The combined ski area is served by 16 main lifts (4 gondolas / cable cars, 8 chairs). With nearly 60km of piste trails it is the most in the Chamonix valley, however both sides are not interconnected by ski trails. A cable car, the Liaison, links the two ski areas.
Brevent Flegere is accessible from Chamonix via gondola (to Brevent Plan Praz at 2000m) and from Les Praz village via cable car (to La Flégère at 1894m). The ski area is not piste trail connected between Brevent & Flegere. A cable car links the two ski areas high above the valley.
The Brevent ski area is situated directly above the town of Chamonix. The gondola lift station is an easy 5-10min walk from the town centre. The ski area is well suited to intermediate skiers with reasonably challenging piste & off-piste opportunities. Brévent is known for its steep faces and high cliff jumps which make it attractive for freeriders with comprehensive health insurance cover!
The Flegere ski area is situated above the village of Les Praz. It caters mainly to intermediate skiers with some beginner slopes situated close to the mountain restaurants around the Trappe chairlift. You can enjoy the numerous pistes as well as test out your off-piste skills in areas that are near the piste trails. As with Brevent, one of the most attractive aspects of Flegere is its south-facing position. This mountain is often bathed in sunlight till the end of the day.
Where is Brevent Flegere, France?
Brévent Flégère is Chamonix's 'local' ski hill. The town of Chamonix and the Chamonix Valley are in south-eastern France in the French Alps. Lying at the foot of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is close to the borders of Italy and Switzerland, 82km by road east of Geneva. Gateway airports are Geneva (GVA) & Lyon St Exupery (LYS).
Geneva (GVA) airport is 1.5hr (105km) by bus to Chamonix. There are various options for airport transfers from Geneva airport to Chamonix including the train, bus or private transfer. Buses provide the cheapest & most efficient travel between Geneva & Chamonix, making it the recommended mode of transport. Search & book bus tickets to Chamonix here.
If driving to Brevent Flegere, the car parking at the ski resort is severely limited, so if already in Chamonix take the bus or walk (it is not far).
Brévent Flégère Accommodation
As the base town for the ski resort, Chamonix is the best & most obvious place to stay overnight. Chamonix (or 'Cham' to many visitors) is a classic mountain town of deep traditions coupled with a party hard attitude. Chamonix provides quick access to the Brevent gondola. For a quieter option, the village of Les Praz on the outskirts of Cham is close to the soon to be replaced La Flegere cable car. From season 2019/20, the cable car will be replaced by a gondola, vastly improving access to the ski terrain and making Les Praz an even more attractive location to stay.
Search & book all Chamonix ski accommodation here.
If you prefer a peaceful and quiet place but still in splendid mountain surrounds & quick access to ski lifts, the village of Le Tour is the perfect option. Access to Chamonix is via bus.
Search & book all Le Tour ski accommodation here.
Between Chamonix & Le Tour, Argentière sprawls around the base of Grands Montets. Nice in the old town near the gare (station), not so nice near the ski lift base, Argentiere has loads of apartments for rent that will suit many. Access to Chamonix is via bus or train.
Search & book all Argentiere ski accommodation here.
Toward St Gervais at the start of the valley, Les Houches has a range of good value ski accommodation, away from the thrust & parry of Chamonix. Connect to Cham via bus or train.
Search & book all Les Houches accommodation here.
The quietest & most remote the Chamonix villages is Vallorcine. Close to the Swiss border, Vallorcine is in a deep dark valley but has the benefits of low crowds & a train station, gondola & valley trail all in the same location. Connection to Chamonix can be on the train or if skiing to Le Tour, via the bus.
Search & book all Vallorcine accommodation here.
Mountain Restaurants & Bars
For some visitors to Brévent Flégère, the real action is not on the slopes at all. At around 1900m elevation, both La Flegere & Plan Praz are the perfect locations for fine mountain dining & après ski drinks on a sunny afternoon. Whilst the two locations have a couple of appalling fast food outlets, there is stellar fine dining as well. At La Flégère, the l'Adret de la Flégère restaurant has magnificent indoor & outdoor dining with glorious food & views over the peaks & valleys. At Plan Praz, overlooking the cable car station up to Le Brévent summit, La Bergerie de Plan Praz serves up an absolute storm with unparalleled views of Chamonix & the Mont Blanc massif. Due to its rightful popularity, bookings are required on sunny days. If you miss out, buy a drink next door & soak it all in. The gondola down to town is just a few steps away so go hard……
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Ski rentals are available in all the Chamonix valley villages. Search & book ski or snowboard rentals for Brevent Flegere in Chamonix or Les Praz here.
An innumerable amount of ski instructors, ski schools & resort guides work their trade in the Chamonix valley ski resorts including Brevent Flegere. To narrow down the field, search & book private lessons & guiding within the resort boundaries with the best providers here.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed Brevent Flegere in 2019. We had a great time in Spring-like conditions during a warm spell in February. Click on the review links on this page to read our sparkling repartee.
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