The valley of Serre Chevalier is entering the festive season with a packed and magical programme. From 19 December, the villages will be lit up, the markets set up and the parades come to life... until the big event on 30 December, when the resort will unveil a unique artistic creation in the mountains, designed as an end-of-year gift. It promises to be a spectacular highlight.
In Briançon, as in the villages of Chantemerle, Villeneuve and Le Monêtier-les-Bains, the festivities begin with Christmas markets. The one in Briançon - set up under the covered market hall - becomes a lively place for a week, with craftspeople, producers, face painters and pony rides attracting families.
The Grands Bains du Monêtier will also be decked out in tinsel on 21 December, with local designers on hand until late afternoon.
The enchantment continues in the streets with the parades. The Christmas Car from Compagnie Mephisto, a small electric car transformed into a mobile stage, takes its procession of characters - Mickey, Minnie, Olaf, Father Christmas - from the covered market to the ramparts of the Cité Vauban.
Then, on 23 December, the Planète Vapeur company takes Briançon into a cosmic universe, with stilt-walkers, acrobats and luminous silhouettes parading like a living solar system, transforming the town centre into a celestial setting.
Younger visitors can visit Santa's House, open from 21 to 30 December at Porte de Pignerol, where the old man in red will be welcoming families until 24 December inclusive. In La Salle-les-Alpes, a veritable animated village comes to life every afternoon in the Salle de la Montagne, with automatons, enchanting decorations and enchanted encounters.
On the evening of 24 December, Father Christmas will arrive in each of the valley's villages in turn. The tour will start in Briançon at 5pm, before moving on to Chantemerle at 6pm, Villeneuve at 5.30pm, then Le Monêtier-les-Bains at 5.45pm.
A spectacle never seen before in the mountains
December 30th marks the high point of the festive season. At the foot of the Luc Alphand piste, in Chantemerle, Serre Chevalier will be unveiling a totally new show. A monumental video mapping specially designed for the resort, entitled The Extraordinary Adventure of Serre Chevalier.
This XXL visual fresco - the first on this scale in the high mountains - will combine large-scale projections, immersive staging, lighting effects and even the intervention of snow groomers integrated into the scenario.
Christian Salès, artistic director of CS Prod, claims that his work was conceived in close collaboration with local residents. «We wanted to touch the soul of Serre Chevalier. Residents, families and old-timers sent us photos and memories to feed the story. This creation tells the story of the area while leaving room for the poetry, fantasy and magic that you feel here in winter.»
Between shadows and ice, fire and mountains, modernity and memory, the show will offer a spectacular interlude before the transition to the New Year. It starts at 7pm and is expected to attract several thousand spectators.
The following day, 31 December, the valley will shine one last time before turning the page to 2026. Fireworks will be set off in every village. In Briançon at 7pm, in Chantemerle at 6pm, on the Casse du Bœuf snow front in Villeneuve at 6pm, and at Pré Chabert in Monêtier-les-Bains, also at 6pm.