Ever wondered just how Val d’Isere came to be? Regardless of your answer we thought it might be worth looking into seeing as there are so many visitors here over the next few weeks … perhaps give you some interesting chairlift convo….
We can date human habitation of the valley back to before Roman times, but Val d’Isere came in to its own as a ski resort thanks to the vision of an early ‘punter’ by the name of Jacques Mouflier.
1664 Val d’Isere parish church was built, and still stands today, marking the centre of town.
1888 Auberge Morris Hotel was built, no doubt it was slightly less lively than the Morris hotel we all know and love today.
1929 Jacques Moulfier made the journey from Paris to Val d’Isere. The road, and I use the term loosely as it might better be described as a donkey track, was prone to avalanches and mud slides. Only the most dedicated of skiers made the journey to Val d’Isere, climbing skins attached to the bottom of their skis.
1932 – 1936 Seeing the potential for a ski resort, but lacking funding Jacques Moulfier took to the streets to convince the local people and raise money needed to begin the development of Val d’isere.
1936 The first lift, a drag lift, was up and running on the Solaise slope.
1937 Val d’Isere was finally made accessible by the construction of Europe’s highest road pass, the Col d’Iseran. The road was opened by the French President and Jacques Mouflier, and linked Bourg St Maurice and Italy.
1938 Work began on the first cable car ‘Telepherique de Solaise’, and although the French Ski Federation predicted that “it is utter madness to build a ski station at Val d’Isere, failure is certain”, it would seem the resort was beginning to come to life.
1940’s – 1950’s rapid development of Val d’Isere and Tignes villages and ski lifts.
1960’s Val d’Isere and Tignes were linked by lifts opening in la Daille.
1970’s Years of development began to take its toll on the village and a number of fatal avalanches, one of which killed 39 children as they ate breakfast in a chalet, occurred during the early 70’s. Stricter guidelines and measures were put in place concerning growth and development of the resort.
1972 Lifts in Fornet were built, linking the village to Val d’isere, la Daille and Tignes. The area is known as l’Espace Killy named after Val d’Isere’s own Jean Claud-Killy, winner of three medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
1980’s Mayor Degouey commissioned the re-design of Val d’Isere in preparation for the Winter Olympics.
1991 Construction began on Daille Funival, the first of its kind in France, providing quick access to the summit.
1992 The Face de Bellevarde was used for the men’s downhill, Giant and Super G events for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics.
2007 The resort was the start of stage 9 to Briancon in the Tour de France.
2009 Val d’Isere has had record snowfall this year, for which we are all grateful, and is hosting the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships!
