Tignes is primarily known as a ski resort in Savoie department, of French Alps region. Together with Val d’Isère, the two make up the “Espace Killy” skiing area.
The ski domain in Tignes
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Location
History/Sight-seeing
Tignes has always been made up of 2 villages: Les Brévières and Tignes. In the 1920s, there was rumour that a dam was to be built in the village of Tignes and unfortunately, rumour became reality in 1952 when a hydro-electric dam was built, which involved completely submerging the old town of Tignes. The town’s population hated the dam so much that some actually tried to blow it up whilst it was being built!
Ironically, with the advent of nuclear power, this vast dam never achieved its purpose as the efficiency of nuclear power far outstripped that of hydro-electricity. Today, the dam supplies the resort of Tignes with emergency back-up power during the winter season.
Tignes is divided into 3 resorts: Val Claret, Tignes Le Lavachet and Tignes Le Boisses.
Locality
Tignes is linked, literally, with neighbouring resort Val d’Isère, making up the ”Espace Killy.”
Activities
The resort is brimming with outdoor and indoor activities including:
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Glacier Walking (across the Grand Motte and Pissaillas glaciers)
- Ice Caves (at an altitude of 3000m in the Grand Motte glacier with outstanding ice sculptures within)
- Ice Climbing/Diving/Driving/Karting
For those who would like to spend some time indoors, there is the “Le Lagon” complex which has a large swimming pool and indoor water park for young families with children.
Food and Drink
The Alpes region is well known for its abundance of meats’ and cheeses and also its wine production, particularly dry, white wine. Food specialities include:
- Fondue is melted cheese or cooked meat, generally beef)
- Raclette is a thick, melted cheese sauce which can be poured over meat, salad, potatoes etc.
- Tartiflette is a dish of potatoes, melted cheese and bacon (very popular).
- Pierre-chaud, not so much a dish but a style of cooking that involves cooking meat on hot rocks.
- Fricassée de Caïon is a dish that is becoming increasingly more popular. It is a slow-cooked pork casserole – thoroughly warming after a day on the slopes!
- Assorted goats’ cheeses.
Drink Specialities are primarily dry white wines such as: Chignin, Crépy, Rousette de Savoie, Seyssel and Ayse.
Restaurants
Tignes has many informal bars and restaurants which are particularly abundant across the resort including the “Lavachet Lounge” and “Loop Bar” which offer good, filing food for those who search for the casual and comfortable dining experience.
Whilst not as luxurious a resort as its neighbour Val d’Isère, Tignes has a gourmet restaurant that is second to none in the “Restaurant Hors Piste”, for those who like to dine in 5-star surroundings, one should try this fantastic restaurant which incorporates alpine charm and serene luxury and is a prime example of why the Espace Killy area is such a desirable destination.
Accessibility
Accessibility has been as perennial a problem for Tignes as it has been for Val d’Isère and even today with all the modern advances in transport, it remains a problem today.
AIR: The nearest airports are: Chambéry (2.5 hours), Lyon (3 hours) and Geneva (3.5 hours) which have hire-car availability all year round.
RAIL: During the winter season, Eurostar has a service that runs to the foothills of the Alps which take roughly 7 hours from St. Pancras International terminal in London.
BUS: This seems to be the most efficient and cost-effective way to get to the resort. Buses will take approximately 4 hours to get to the resort from the aforementioned airports but the cost can vary from €70 for a single ticket to €102 for a return ticket and requires the minimum of effort.
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property in Tignes. We have a large network of agents in the French Alps. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: flat, chalet, gite or B&B we will do our best to find a property in the French Alps matching your requirements. To find out more about our selection of properties for sale in Tignes do not hesitate to contact us.