Courchevel, Ski resort in Savoie, France
Courchevel includes several villages between 1100 and 2738 meters elevation, linked by lifts and runs. These villages form part of the larger Les 3 Vallées ski area in the French Alps.
Planning for the resort began during World War II as part of a government program to develop winter sports sites in the mountains. The first lifts and lodges appeared in the years after the war ended.
The name comes from three surrounding peaks that once supported summer pastures and now overlook the ski runs. Local artisan shops and alpine building styles still mark the villages, while the slopes welcome skiers from many countries each winter.
The terrain offers 96 marked runs with different difficulty levels, spread across the slopes and valleys of the region. Lifts and gondolas link the villages, allowing visitors to shift between elevations throughout the day.
A small mountain airstrip in the area has an unusually steep runway that requires special pilot skills. Only a limited number of pilots hold the clearance to land there under these demanding conditions.
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