Les dates clefs de notre histoire...

86 years of evolution and innovation

From 1938

To 2024

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1920

  • 1924: Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix

  • 1925: Sir Arnold Lunn, the inventor of slalom, recognizes the exceptional potential of Les 3 VallĂ©es for skiing

1930

  • 1936 : La dĂ©cision de construire une station de sports d'hiver est prise sous la direction architecturale de Paul Sirvin, qui fait appel Ă  Emilie Allas et AndrĂ© Tournier.

  • 1938 : Le ski-club des Allues est crĂ©Ă©.

  • Jean de la Valdène, avec des investisseurs britanniques comme Peter Lindsay, choisit le nom de « MĂ©ribel » pour baptiser la future station avec un jeu de mot "Merry Bell".

  • 1er remontĂ©e : TĂ©lĂ©-traineau, surnommĂ© par les anglais "Red Dragon". C'est ainsi que le Colonel Peter Lindsay fonda la SociĂ©tĂ© Foncière de la VallĂ©e des Allues (S.F.V.A).

  • 1939 : La 1ère course de ski se dĂ©roule sur la piste de Burgin avant que la Seconde Guerre mondiale n’interrompe le dĂ©veloppement.

1940s

  • 1946: The SFVA established the urban planning of the future MĂ©ribel resort with architects Paul Jacques Grillo and Christian Durupt.

  • The Burgin, the resort’s first ski lift, was put into service.

  • 1947: The first sports shop arrived in MĂ©ribel. At the same time, Henri Mauduit, slalom champion and giant slalom runner-up, opened the first bookstore and newsstand.

1950s

  • Growth of tourist accommodations

  • Arrival of the Braissand bakery

  • 1951: The resort innovates with its first connection to Courchevel via the Saulire cable car.

  • The Tougnète lift becomes the first two-seater gondola and provides a link to Saint-Martin-Les-Belleville, where skiers return to the Moutiers valley by bus.

  • 1955: Peter Lindsay founds MĂ©ribel Alpina, separating the management of ski lifts from real estate.

  • The first Pas du Lac Derby is held, a competition with a 2,000m descent reaching Brides-Les-Bains in under 12 minutes.

1960

  • Creation of the Belleville Valley

  • 1961: The first airplane lands on the snow

  • 1963: Creation of the Vanoise National Park

  • 1964: Creation of the MĂ©ribel Aeroclub.

  • French Ski Championships with Jean-Claude Killy, slalom champion. The FFS officially recognizes MĂ©ribel for sports event organization

  • 1966: Creation of the first 9 holes of the MĂ©ribel Golf Course, thanks to Peter Lindsay, of Scottish origin

  • 1968: The Grenoble Olympic Games crown Georges Mauduit. The resort modernizes with new facilities, including the first Cherferie chairlift and pistes groomed by ski patrollers before the first grooming machines were introduced in Courchevel.

1970s

  • 1973: The Tour de France arrives at the Altiport.

  • Creation of MĂ©ribel-Vallon, which will later become Mottaret, and the founding of Val Thorens.

  • Establishment of the SPTV company (MĂ©ribel-Mottaret), introducing the second connection with Courchevel.

  • 1976: MĂ©ribel-Mottaret is officially recognized as a ski resort. The ski area now includes 31 slopes and 28 ski lifts.

  • 1978: Installation of the first snow cannons.The downhill ski run is named "Mauduit."The sports complex is named "Albert Gacon."

1980s

  • Jacques Manceau becomes the new CEO of MĂ©ribel-Alpina.

  • Aviation and astronautics festival.

  • International equestrian competition on snow.

  • MĂ©ribel is selected to host the women's alpine skiing and hockey events for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics.

  • In spring, the ice school trains on the GĂ©broulaz glacier.

  • Construction of the Olympe, Tougnète, Burgin Saulire, and Plattières gondolas, along with the modernization of ski lifts.

1990

  • Downhill World Cup

  • Olympic and TV tests with around thirty cameras along the course

  • Creation of the Rhodos tunnel and parking

  • The golf course expands to 18 holes, and the Tueda plain becomes the 100th nature reserve

  • First snowparks at Plattières and Arpassons

2000

  • MĂ©ribel Alpina becomes a 100% subsidiary of Compagnie des Alpes

  • Creation of the Altiport and Cherferie water reservoirs

  • MĂ©ribel installs the world's first detachable 8-seater chairlift, confirming its pioneering role in infrastructure

  • Connection to MĂ©ribel Hameau, which later becomes MĂ©ribel Village, with the Golf chairlift

  • Mountain biking develops for the summer season

2010

  • 2011: Staging of two sections of the Saulire Express gondola, replacing Burgin-Saulire.

  • 2013: The resort hosts the FIS World Cup.

  • 2014: New sales and reception area at La Chaudanne.

  • 2015: MĂ©ribel makes its mark on the world stage with several competitions, including the Ski World Cup finals, freestyle events, and telemark races.

  • 2017: Expansion of the Altiport reservoir with an additional 110,000L.

  • 2018: Legends Chairlift, the first premium chairlift.

2020

  • 2021: Modernization of the Olympe gondola and the stadium slope.

  • 2022: Renovation of the administrative building.

  • 2023: The resort is once again in the spotlight with the Women's Alpine Ski World Championships and the signing of the public service delegation (DSP) of Brides-les-Bains.