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Orcières Merlette ski resort

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The ski resort of Orcières Merlette is perched at an altitude of 1,850 meters in the Ecrins National Park, in the Hautes Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The territory of Orcières extends over the high valley of the Drac Noir. During your summer or winter vacation with your family or friends, you will be able to practice many outdoor activities for kids and adults such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling… Whatever the season, the resort is the perfect place to recharge your batteries outdoor.

Winter sports in Orcières Merlette

The Orcières Merlette ski area is located 2,725 meters above sea level. You can ski on the green, blue, red and black slopes of the resort which are accessible by ski lifts (chairlifts, ski lifts and “telemix”). Experienced skiers will also be able to practice in the snowpark, while beginners will learn skiing on easier slopes. The resort’s snow cover is perfect thanks to the snow guns in the ski area. Beginners can take lessons at the ESF Orcières 1850 (French Ski School). The school offers skiing and snowboarding lessons for children and adults whatever their level.

You can also go snowshoeing on the 36-kilometer marked trails from Orcières Merlette to discover the area. Two ski touring itineraries are also accessible in the Orcières ski area, unless you prefer to climb the summits of the Champsaur:

  • Les Autanes
  • La Coupa
  • Le Palastre
  • L’Aiguille d’Orcières
  • Le Mourre
  • …

You can go safely there with an experienced guide.

In Orcières Merlette, you can also enjoy many other activities in winter such as snowmobiling, dog sledding, buoy on snow…

Outdoor sports in summer in Orcières Merlette

Summer in Orcières Merlette is also very pleasant. During a sunny hike, enjoy the breathtaking view of the Ecrins National Park and the Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys. On your way, you can discover the varied fauna and flora. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to come across chamois, marmots or even a golden eagle flying over the mountain. The sportspersons can enjoy hiking on the hiking trails.

In summer, Orcières Merlette is also a great spot for mountain bike enthusiasts. The Bike Park is a real playground with 11 trails for all levels: bumps, curves, wooden footbridges, rockers… 500 kilometers of marked trails wind through the mountain from the summit of Le Drouvet, located at 2,650 meters of altitude, to the Orcières outdoor activities center, located at 1,350 meters of altitude. Orcières Merlette is also famous among cyclists as it is one of the mythical ascents of the Tour de France.

Numerous other activities are also available in the resort such as paragliding or Tyrolean traversing on a 1,8 kilometers long Roll Air Cable, one of the longest in Europe. It connects the summit of Droulet to Lake Long.

Discover the gems of Orcières Merlette all year round

The village of Orcières is the capital of the Canton of Orcières, located at 1,400 meters of altitude. The territory extends to the heart of the high valley of the Drac Noir.

When visiting Orcières, don’t miss the Saint Laurent church and its wall sculptures. It was built in the 14th century. On your way out of the church, stop and admire bear-headed fountains in the village. The town is made of more than twenty hamlets:

  • Serre Eyraud
  • Prapic
  • Les Audiberts
  • Archinard
  • Les Marches
  • Les Veyers
  • Les Estaris
  • …

Discover the churches of these authentic hamlets.

In Prapic, visit the museum La Casse that will take you back in time and show you how people in the Hautes Alpes used to live in the old days: art, popular traditions and old trades.

Plan your holidays in Orcières Merlette

To plan your stay in Orcières Merlette, you can go to the Tourist Office of Orcières or call them at 04 92 55 89 89. For more information on the activities and services of the resort, visit their website: www.orcieres.com/en.

Shops and restaurants

In Orcières Merlette, you will find many restaurants, snack bars and cafés where you can get a snack or take a sit outside on the terrace for lunch or dinner to taste the local specialties. For your convenience, there are many shops in the resort of Orcières Merlette: supermarkets, sports stores, souvenir shops, drugstore…

Accommodation

For a night or a week in Orcières, you can rent an individual chalet or a flat, unless you prefer to stay at an hotel. Contact the Tourist Office to get the list of the accommodations in Orcières.

Weather and snow cover

Plan your stay in Orcières by checking the weather forecast:

THE OTHER RESORTS IN THE ÉCRINS NATIONAL PARK

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