Author: Romain Boisaubert

À Tignes, au-delà des pistes et des touristes de passage, il existe un tissu associatif qui fait vivre le village à l’année. Parmi ces initiatives, l’association EchoTignes, installée depuis plus de vingt ans, s’est imposée comme un acteur incontournable pour les habitants permanents comme pour les saisonniers. Béatrice Davico, trésorière de l’association et gérante de Oxygène École de Ski & Snowboard – Ski Shop Tignes, en résume la mission : créer du lien, proposer des activités variées et soutenir la vie locale. L’association compte aujourd’hui environ 120 adhérents, majoritairement des locaux, mais aussi des saisonniers qui, pour 10 € par…

À deux pas des rives du lac de Tignes, Julietta 23 offre un parfum d’Italie à 2 100 mètres d’altitude. Un restaurant 100 % transalpin, tiramisu minute et produits venus directement de la Botte, porté par Martial Debut, figure bien connue de la station et gérant historique de L’Escale Blanche. LIRE NOTRE DOSSIER – « Tignes, la station sportive par excellence » Quand il est arrivé à Tignes en 2000, la station vivait encore à l’heure des 365 jours d’ouverture. « Ça s’est arrêté cette année-là, mais nous, on est restés dans ce filigrane-là. L’Escale Blanche est restée ouverte toute l’année » raconte-t-il.…

À Tignes, sur la rive sud du lac, Le Terril Blanc est un repère rare : le seul hôtel 2 étoiles de la station, ouvert été comme hiver, avec une vue imprenable sur les eaux turquoise et les sommets du parc de la Vanoise. Une adresse qui cultive depuis plus d’un demi-siècle un esprit familial et un rapport qualité-prix imbattable, sans renier ses racines. Construit en 1967 par les parents de Béatrice Leclercq sur un terrain offert par son grand-père, l’établissement fait partie des tout premiers bâtiments de la station nouvelle. « C’est un cadeau de mariage que notre grand-père…

Au cœur de Tignes, entre les commerces qui rythment la vie de la station, une vitrine retient l’œil des gourmands. Derrière le comptoir de La Fromagerie du Lac, les meules de Beaufort côtoient les tommes parfumées, les saucissons de pays et les belles pièces de charcuterie fine. Ici, 90 % des produits viennent directement de Savoie. L’aventure a commencé il y a quinze ans, lorsque La Fromagerie du Lac s’installait au Palafour. Deux ans plus tôt, la famille avait choisi de quitter son Portugal natal pour venir vivre à Tignes. « On travaillait déjà dans un hôtel de la station,…

En août, la station de Courchevel ne ralentit pas le rythme. Entre notes baroques dans les églises, braderies en altitude, défis sportifs et fêtes de village, la montagne se vit au pas de danse comme en balade. Au fil des semaines, les rendez-vous s’enchaînent et composent une partition estivale aussi variée que conviviale. Le 12 août, l’église de Saint-Bon se pare des sonorités éclatantes du XVIIIe siècle avec l’Ensemble Sarbacanes, quintette d’instruments à vent et clavecin, lauréat du programme EEEmerging+ et encensé par la critique. Le lendemain, place à la Camerata de Monte-Carlo, orchestre à cordes sans chef, pour un…

À deux pas du lac, une façade discrète abrite l’un des lieux les plus vivants de la station : La Palette des 2 Boules. Ici, on croise à la même table des pisteurs encore en tenue, des saisonniers venus décompresser, et des touristes fidèles qui connaissent l’adresse depuis des années. Aux commandes, Samuel Lepage et Gabriel Libert, deux figures bien connues des habitués, qui ont repris l’affaire à Laurent Guignard, surnommé “Boulélé”. Samuel est arrivé à Tignes en 2011 et a commencé derrière le comptoir en novembre 2014. Gabriel, lui, l’a rejoint en 2017. Dix ans plus tard, les deux…

Au cœur des Alpes, le barrage du Chevril impose sa courbe de béton face au lac turquoise. Mais derrière cette prouesse technique, mise en eau en 1952, se cache l’un des épisodes les plus marquants et émouvant de l’histoire locale : la disparition du vieux village de Tignes. À la fin des années 1940, la France d’après-guerre mise sur de grands projets hydroélectriques. La vallée de Tignes est choisie pour accueillir un ouvrage hors norme : 180 mètres de haut, 300 de long, capable de retenir 230 millions de m³ d’eau, soit l’équivalent de 100 000 piscines olympiques. Les travaux…

At an altitude of 2,100 metres, facing the turquoise lake and eternal snow of La Grande Motte, the "Marmottes golf course" offers a breathtaking setting. Here, drives are played under the curious gaze of chamois, and putts are attempted against the backdrop of the peaks of the Vanoise National Park. And behind this extraordinary course is a man who orchestrates the summer season: Alexis Le Meur, Director of Golf de Tignes. "The golf course was created in 1969 with just nine holes," says Alexis. Twenty-two years later, in 1991,...

In the heart of Val Claret, the discreet façade of Sport 2000 Jubike hides a veritable den of enthusiasts. Here, in summer, you can breathe in the mountain air to the rhythm of crampon tyres. And behind the counter is a familiar face in the resort: Julien Blard. He arrived "by chance" fifteen years ago and has never left. "I came here on holiday to see some friends who were doing the season. I got hooked straight away: the scenery, the atmosphere, the activities... Since then, I've been here every winter and every summer. From being a seasonal worker in a sports shop, this outdoor enthusiast became manager, taking over...

In Tignes' Val Claret, on a balcony overlooking the mountains, a hotel unlike any other blends the festive spirit of the Andes with the authenticity of high altitude. Welcome to the Ynycio, a four-star establishment belonging to the Montagnettes group, designed just three years ago to add a touch of soul and warmth to your stay at altitude. Just a stone's throw from the ski slopes in winter and the hiking trails in summer, this atypical cocoon welcomes families, couples and groups of friends in an atmosphere where the peaks dance to the Latin beat. Designed and built from scratch by...

The wind is stronger, the air purer and the silence almost total. Perched at an altitude of 3,456 metres, the summit terrace of the Grande Motte cable car offers a breathtaking view: below, the still-vibrant glaciers, the jagged relief of the Vanoise National Park, and as far as the eye can see, a tangle of peaks, snow and rocks. This is the starting point for Altitude Expériences, one of Tignes' flagship summer adventures. A unique vertical immersion into the world of high mountains. "This cable car is an icon, it was built in...

It's a place apart, suspended between sky and glacier, at an altitude of 3,032 metres. At the top of the Tignes funicular, facing the Grande Motte, Le Panoramic is not just a high-altitude restaurant: it's a logistical and sensory adventure designed by Maison Bouvier, where the authenticity of a wood-fired barbecue embraces the grandeur of the summits. In summer, the tightly-knit team get out the braziers, turn on the music and sizzle up the meat and vegetables on the vast sunny terrace. "As soon as we can, it's barbecue time," smiles Romaric Rouard, head chef. "We cook outside, in contact with hikers, summer skiers and...

In a resort where seasonality is the rhythm of economic life, one establishment has defied the rules of the game for a quarter of a century. L'Escale Blanche, run by Martial Debut, remains open twelve months a year, supported by a loyal team and a strong attachment to the mountains and to Tignes. Long before it was a restaurant, L'Escale Blanche was a mountain hut, set up on the outskirts of the village before the dam was built. "There are still vestiges of the refuge in the building, including an original wall that has been preserved inside," explains Martial Debut. He took over the establishment...

With its breathtaking view over the lake, the Panorama space is no longer just a place dedicated to digital technology. Over the last two years, it has been transformed into a genuine cultural space, open to all and accessible free of charge, driven by the energy of Ludivine Gil, who is passionate about cinema and the mountains. When you push open the doors of Panorama, opposite Lake Tignes, you discover a hybrid space: part third-venue, part gallery, part games room, and now a real place to live. "When I arrived, the place was mainly known for its gaming PCs, a very niche market," explains Ludivine Gil, head of the...

The "Festival des Pantomines" returns on 13 and 14 August for its 5ᵉ edition. Two days of free concerts and shows, in the heart of Alpine villages nestling a stone's throw from Bourg Saint Maurice, which become, for the space of a weekend, an open-air stage. In Sainte-Foy Tarentaise and Villaroger, live entertainment can even be found in the hamlets and gardens. On 13 and 14 August, the "Festival des Pantomines" offers an artistic immersion where music, theatre and circus meet the mountains. "Our aim is to help you discover these villages in a different way, by creating moments of conviviality and surprise", explain the organisers of the...

By signing the regional H+ charter last December, Tignes formalised an ambitious accessibility initiative. From the Maison de Tignes to all its facilities, the Savoie-based resort is aiming to become a benchmark for welcoming people with disabilities, with a clear objective: to be fully ready for the major events of 2027. The scene is symbolic: on 16 December, Tignes signed the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes H+ charter. This is a non-binding document, but it does contain strong commitments to improve accessibility in ski resorts. "Unlike a label, the H+ charter does not impose sanctions, but rather...

In Tignes, sport is much more than a tourist attraction: it's a state of mind, almost a local culture. Summer and winter alike, the resort stands out for its unique range of mountain sports, where altitude and innovation combine to appeal to families, amateurs and top-level athletes alike. "People often say that Tignes is the sportiest resort, and it's true," smiles Fabrice Maleville, Sports Director at Tignes Développement. The local history has a lot to do with it: in the old days, holidaymakers went up first thing in the morning to ski on the Grande Motte glacier, before looking for a...

On Monday 11 August, the resort of Les 2 Alpes is hosting the 5ᵉ edition of the "Parcourez, Savourez, Soutenez" dinner hike, an event combining nature, gastronomy and solidarity in aid of children with severe illnesses. Organised by the association "Garde le sourire, on est là", this unique walk offers an accessible 10km route from the Place de Venosc to the Lac de la Buissonnière, punctuated by gourmet stops. Participants will discover local flavours thanks to the restaurateurs and producers of the Oisans region: snack, aperitif, starters, main course, cheese and dessert, all cooked with fresh seasonal produce. The...

Looking for a breath of fresh air without blowing your budget? This summer, the resort of Les Rousses is offering low-cost breaks in the heart of the Jura mountains, an authentic region nestling on the border between France and Switzerland. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big resorts, Les Rousses comprises four villages in the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park. There's no concrete here, just breathtaking scenery: forests, high-altitude lakes, panoramic ridges and over 200km of waymarked footpaths. In summer, the mountains can be experienced in an active or contemplative way: hiking, mountain biking, climbing, water sports... but also discoveries...

Behind her well-stocked counter, Bérénice Granger makes no secret of her pride. For 17 years, she has represented "Les Caves de Gilly" at the Tignes market. Her speciality? Artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, 80 % of which comes from local production. "The Tignes market has been going very well for a long time, and it's a pleasure to come back every season. Originally from Haute-Savoie, now based in Albertville, Bérénice goes up every Thursday and Sunday to meet her loyal customers. Her stall gives pride of place to Beaufort, the real star of our sales: "It accounts for 80 % of our sales", she points out. There are also ewe's and goat's tommes,...