Montgenèvre is preparing one of its most significant changes for the winter of 2026-2027. Two ten-seat cable cars are set to enter service on the Chalvet sector at Christmas, bringing with them significantly reduced travel times and a first-of-its-kind technology in the Southern Alps.
The change will be visible from the moment the village opens. Montgenèvre, The former Chalvet cable car, with six seats, will be replaced by a ten-seat vehicle capable of carrying 1,700 people per hour. The new installation will connect at an altitude of 1,854 to 2,137 meters and should halve the time of ascent.
The goal is not just to gain a few minutes. The sector accounts for a significant portion of the morning departures, and the new lift will help better distribute the flow of skiers as soon as the season opens. Panoramic cabins will also remain accessible to pedestrians, especially to reach the altitude restaurant and the Monty Express sled.
A second device up to 2,572 meters
Upon the arrival of the Chalvet, skiers will be able to continue their ascent almost immediately thanks to a second ten-place cable car, called Fournéous. It will replace the old two-place chairlift and gain 435 meters of elevation gain to 2,572 meters.
With an announced flow of 2,015 people per hour, the device is intended primarily to change access to the altitude sectors. The journey will be three times faster than on the previous lift, making it easier to access the path leading to the Combe du Loup panoramic slope and the Fournéous technical slope.
The two stations will be designed as a single unit. The upstream station at Chalvet and the departure point at Fournéous will be combined into a single building designed to streamline the passage of skiers and pedestrians.
A first in the Southern Alps
The Fournéous cable car will also feature a less visible innovation compared to the slopes. It will be the first cable car in the Southern Alps equipped with the AURO system developed by Doppelmayr.
This system allows the installation to operate autonomously without constant human supervision. However, the station specifies that this automation will not result in a reduction in staff: on the contrary, teams must be more present on the ground to welcome and assist users.
The commissioning of the two aircraft is scheduled for the Christmas holidays of 2026. On this front, next winter will mark much more than just a change of cabins: the entire flow of traffic up to the resort will be redesigned.