Méribel is...

4
point of sales
39
pistes
26
ski lifts
253 ha
surface area
552
snowmakers
2
hill reservoirs
10
grooming machines
230
men & women
5
play's area
3
photo spot
3
relax area
1
monumental fresco by Franck Blériot

What is the Compagnie des Alpes group?

Compagnie des Alpes is a French company, a subsidiary of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, specialized in ski area and leisure parks.
Initially focused on skiing, it expanded its activities in 2001 with the acquisition of
Grévin & Cie, now known as the Division Parcs de Loisirs.

Key dates:

  • 1989: Creation of Compagnie des Alpes (CDA)

  • 1994: Stock market listing

Activities:

  • Ski lifts with SAP La Plagne, STGM Tignes (until 2026), STVI Val d'Isère, ADS Les Arcs Peisey-Nancrois Vallendry, SEVABEL Les MĂ©nuires, Grand Massif Flaine Ski Area, MĂ©ribel Alpina MĂ©ribel, Compagnie du Mont-Blanc Chamonix (participation), and Serre Chevalier.

  • 12 amusement parks in 7 countries outside France with Family Park, Bellewaerde, Bellewaerde Aquapark, Walibi Belgium, Aqualibi, France Miniature, MusĂ©e GrĂ©vin, Parc AstĂ©rix, Futuroscope, Walibi RhĂ´ne-Alpes, Jardin d'Acclimatation with LVMH, and Walibi Holland.

Discover our professions

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

1930s

  • 1936: The decision to build a winter sports resort is made under the architectural direction of Paul Sirvin, who collaborates with Emilie Allas and AndrĂ© Tournier.

  • 1938: British skiers turn away from Austrian resorts. This leads Colonel Peter Lindsay to found the SociĂ©tĂ© Foncière de la VallĂ©e des Allues (SFVA).

  • The Ski Club des Allues is created.

  • Jean de la Valdène, along with British investors such as Peter Lindsay, chooses the name “MĂ©ribel” for the future resort, playing on the words “Merry Bell.”

  • First ski lift: A sled tow, nicknamed "Red Dragon" by the English.

  • 1939: The first ski race takes place on the Burgin slope before World War II halts further development.

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 later becomes Mottaret, and the establishment of Val Thorens.

  • Formation of the SPTV company (MĂ©ribel-Mottaret) with the second connection to Courchevel.

  • 1976: Official recognition of the MĂ©ribel-Mottaret resort, adding 10,000 tourist beds.

  • The ski area now features 31 slopes and 28 lifts.

  • 1978: Installation of the first snow cannons and the first connection between MĂ©ribel and Val Thorens.

  • The red Saulire slope was developed into a downhill stadium and named "Piste Georges Mauduit."
    Construction of the "Albert Gacon" sports park.

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.

  • 1989: A 30-year concession agreement is signed between MĂ©ribel Alpina and the Commune des Allues for the operation of the MĂ©ribel ski area and the management of the slope services.

1990s

  • 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

  • 1992 Olympics with 52 events concentrated in the valley: 46 hockey matches and 6 women's alpine skiing events

  • First snowparks at Plattières and Arpassons

2000s

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

  • Creation of the Altiport and Cherferie water reservoirs

  • 2006: Installation of the hands-free access control system.

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

  • 2013: The resort hosts the FIS World Cup.

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

  • 2015: MĂ©ribel establishes itself on the world stage with multiple competitions, including the Ski World Cup

  • Finals, freestyle, and telemark events.

  • 2016: Amendment signed for the public service delegation (DSP) until 2034.

  • 2017: Expansion of the Altiport reservoir to 110,000 liters.

  • 2018: Legends chairlift, the first premium chairlift.

  • 2019: Snowmaking on the Choucas slope and creation of the Daguet and Gypaète slopes.

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.

  • 2024: Renovation of the technical building (Phase 1).

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