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Think Meribel and your mind will inevitably conjure up images of stunning mountain scenery, gorgeous snow covered chalets and an abundance of eager skiers and snowboarders all ready to hit the slopes, no surprise of course as together with Courchevel and Val Thorens, Meribel makes up part of the Three Valleys Resort, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world. But what happens when the snow stops falling? Well, you may be surprised to learn that this Alpine valley has plenty going on throughout the year, keeping the locals, expats and tourists fully entertained whatever the season.
A Brief History Of Meribel
There’s something so very endearing about discovering how a destination which is now so incredibly world famous had such a simple and humbling beginning. Peter Lindsay is to Meribel what Prince Alfonso is to Marbella. Born in Scotland in 1900 to a Scottish Father and Irish Mother, Peter first visited Les Allues in 1936 following the advice of Sir Arnold Lunn, a ski pioneer, mountaineer and writer who was knighted in 1952 for his “services to British Skiing and Anglo-Swiss relations.”
Having arrived in Les Allues, Peter took on a 12km off piste run, one of the 12 most famous runs at the time, and instantly fell in love with the place. Around this time he also met Count Jean Gaillard de la Valdenne, a World War I flying ace with a mutual interest in developing a ski resort. Rumour has it, Peter was the creative mind behind the project and de la Valdenne had the money to finance it.
Between them they bought most of the land which is today known as Meribel town and in 1938 created the “The Red Dragon” – the first ski lift which comprised of a giant sled with a tractor engine bolted on top and 19 metal café chairs on the side. At this time the first residences were also constructed, a block of flats called “Les Airelles” unfortunately however, World War II was now upon us, putting a temporary stop to Peter’s plans to further develop the resort.
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Fast forward six years, the war has ended and Peter and the Count were reunited in Méribel and together with the help of two French architects, the resort began to slowly develop. Always considerate of their surroundings, the architecture throughout remained true to the local area with only wood and stone being used for the buildings and chalets, an ethos that remains today.
Peter retired in 1970 and sadly passed away in 1971 but it was undoubtedly his early creative development and passion for Meribel that led to this becoming one of the biggest and most loved ski destinations in the world.
Spring In Meribel
Spring is forever my favourite season and in Meribel it’s no different. The days are getting longer, the ski lifts are open later, the sun is shining warm and bright and the snow is powder perfect.
Gone are the cold days of winter where skiers and snowboarders are hugging mugs of hot chocolate around the fire. Instead, spring is here and with it comes those oh so inviting al fresco terraces where it’s never too early to enjoy a chilled beer, wine or soft drink whilst basking in glorious sunshine.
Ski season is coming to an end and locals are looking forward to the return of normal life after a hectic winter, the seasonal workers move on to the next destination and the tourists are getting ready to go home.
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Celebrate The Summer In Style
As summer arrives Meribel celebrates a lot of national and local traditions and the second Saturday of every June is one of my personal favourites, National Rosé Day. Yes, there’s a whole a day dedicated to drinking this often overlooked wine colour.
June is also the month when the whole of France celebrates music during the Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) which takes place every summer solstice on June 21st. Dating back to 1982, the Fête de la Musique was a government initiative whereby all concerts and performances are free and none of the artists are paid.
Local boy bands, girl groups, classical music, dJs, folk bands……… Every type of music you can imagine spills out of bars and restaurants and normal licensing laws are waived to allow celebrations to continue on late into the night. This is definitely one not to miss and a highlight of the summer calendar in Meribel.
Unique to Meribel is the Fête à Fanfoué, a 2 day summer fete filled with eating, drinking, dancing, fireworks and a street fair where locals can show off their wares including cheeses, ciders, meats, jams and breads baked in the village oven. Alpine horn blowers perform and locals turn out donning traditional attire. For the kids there are plenty of entertainers and games so everyone is geared up for the biggest street party of the summer.
Summer draws to an end with the Tsaretta Sportif cycling event which takes place over two days at the end of August. Day one is a 70km gruelling road race in and around the local valleys whilst on day two intrepid mountain bikers embark on an epic ride across the valleys, taking in the Meribel bike park area where plenty of challenges await.
Both days finish in Tsaretta in Les Allues, the local year round nightlife hotspot where there is a fine selection of street food and pop up craft beer bar waiting for participants and spectators alike. This event is open to riders of all ages and abilities.
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Autumn, The Best Celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau
Autumn in Meribel is the season to recover from a busy summer, whilst also preparing for an even busier winter and there’s one stand out celebration thrown in for good measure: Beaujolais Nouveau, my other favourite day in France! An annual event held on the third Thursday of every November, this is the day when millions of bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau wine hit the shelves each year and corks are pulled everywhere to celebrate.
The popularity of Beaujolais Nouveau wine and Beaujolais Nouveau Day has since expanded across the globe and now millions of people get involved by popping a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau on this magical November Thursday. Beaujolais Nouveau Day has become a firmly favourite tradition and many bars in Meribel hold wine tasting sessions to celebrate.
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A Veritable Winter Wonderland
Winter in Meribel is truly magical. Christmas isn’t the overly commercialised affair that it has become in many other countries and the festive spirit only really kicks in at the beginning of December once the Christmas lights have had their official switch on. From then on its mulled wine, hot chocolate, music, festive menus, Christmas markets, parades and concerts until the big day itself when the ski lifts are open as usual. Skiing on Christmas morning is a favourite tradition and don’t be surprised to see a few skiing Santas whizzing down the slopes.
New Year’s Eve sees hoards of revellers hit the town centre ready for the countdown and as the clock strikes midnight champagne corks fly and fireworks go off with an obligatory bang. Local bars all host their own parties – some of which are ticket only so always check – and restaurants lay on special festive menus. Inevitably on New Year’s Day the slopes are very quiet as sore heads are nursed so this is a fantastic time to hit the pistes in peace.
January is a great time for skiing in Meribel and is often overlooked. Many people are back at work or school after the Christmas chaos and as a result the pistes are quiet with virtually no lift queues. Of course the weather can be very cold but with that comes excellent snow conditions so it’s well worth donning an extra layer and taking advantage of the lull before February.
Meribel’s February is the Costa Del Sol’s August. It’s busy. From the middle of the month French schools are off for four weeks which also coincides with the UK half term week so as a result, ski schools are often booked out for months in advance.
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Further Information
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