Source :NEWS18 NEWS
Last Updated:April 24, 2025, 16:52 IST
Courchevel isn’t just a destination; it’s a new season for the French Alps — and one Indian travellers are just beginning to discover.
Long hailed as Europe’s premier winter playground, Courchevel in summer is a revelation — a place where alpine serenity meets cultural richness, and where adventure trails intersect with art festivals and lakeside moments of calm
As the snow-capped peaks of the French Alps give way to rolling green meadows and sun-drenched forests, a quieter kind of luxury rises with the summer mist — and nowhere does this transformation feel more magical than in Courchevel.
Long hailed as Europe’s premier winter playground, Courchevel in summer is a revelation — a place where alpine serenity meets cultural richness, and where adventure trails intersect with art festivals and lakeside moments of calm. For the discerning Indian traveller looking beyond the expected, this is the season to discover Courchevel’s other side.
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From 5 July to 31 August 2025, the resort reopens with a new energy. Swapping ski gear for hiking boots, families and couples can wander over 270 km of scenic trails, take e-bikes through wildflower-carpeted pastures, or simply plunge into crystal-clear lakes like Le Praz — one of the few alpine lakes approved for bathing.
But it’s not just nature that awakens here. Courchevel in summer hums with cultural expression. The Fête de la Madelon revives centuries-old village traditions, complete with brass bands, traditional costumes, and the iconic 600-litre mountain soup stirred in the town square. Theatre lovers flock to the Les 3 Coups Festival, while classical music finds a dramatic stage at the Fêtes Musicales de Savoie — set against backdrops that rival any opera house.
Wellness, too, takes on new altitude. Aquamotion, one of Europe’s largest mountain wellness centres, reopens its renovated outdoor area — now a multi-sensory hub of water, sport, and alpine air. Expect everything from outdoor yoga and mini-golf to surf simulators and salt grottoes, all infused with the calming rhythm of the mountains.
For travellers craving a rush, Courchevel doesn’t hold back. This summer, it becomes the stage for the Tour de France, hosting the dramatic finish of Stage 18 on 24 July, with cyclists battling the notorious Col de la Loze — a 26.2 km climb that touches 2,304m above sea level. And if that isn’t enough adrenaline, there’s the Red Bull 400, the world’s steepest race up the Olympic ski jump, or the Björka X3 triathlon which blends rowing, cycling, and trail running into one epic alpine challenge.
Whether you’re basking in the glow of a mountain sunset with a glass of Savoie wine, wandering through an open-air flea market, or drifting off in a lakeside hammock as live jazz plays nearby — Courchevel offers a version of summer that’s slow, soulful, and quietly spectacular.
This isn’t just a destination; it’s a new season for the French Alps — and one Indian travellers are just beginning to discover.
Summer season: 5 July – 31 August 2025
Access: Flights to Geneva or Lyon, followed by a scenic drive
SOURCE : NEWS 18
