If you are looking for tradition in winter sports, you will hardly find a more suitable place than Courmayeur in Italy. The small village in the Italian Alps is located directly behind the Mont Blanc tunnel and has been one of the most popular places for winter sports in Italy for almost two centuries. Not only ski fans from all over the world, but above all the Italians themselves can be found on the slopes here. But also in addition to winter sports and outside the ski season, there is a lot to discover in the village and nature.
Especially in the winter months, many sports fans are drawn to the Alpine town. Around the village there are fantastic slopes. Whether you are a beginner, an experienced skier or a professional, you will find the right slope here in the wildly romantic alpine landscape. In addition, there are special areas for snowboarders, which are also often used for competitions. A special experience is also to enjoy a descent on the night ski slope. A total of over 100 kilometres of slopes beckon, so the snow-sure ski area offers almost unlimited skiing fun between November and April. Cross-country skiers also get their money’s worth, because with 32 kilometres of trails, the network of trails offers excellent conditions to explore the region in a sporty way. Away from the slopes, there are a wide range of possibilities, from dog sledding to ice skating and a ride on a snow bike.
The ski resort between tradition and modernity
Courmayeur likes to advertise itself that it is the capital of alpinists. After all, you can even look back on royal visits here, which date back to the founding period of the region. In fact, the place is of course inextricably linked to Mont Blanc. Courmayeur itself is located in a basin at an altitude of around 1,300 metres and not only has a variety of slopes, but also an excellent infrastructure from simple hostels to luxurious hotels. Especially in the high season, it offers high-class gastronomy but also the classic ski experience and is therefore the right choice for travellers from families to groups of ski fans.
If you are looking for a kick on the slopes, you will find what you are looking for, especially in the ski resorts of Chécrouit and Val Veny. With the adjacent Val Ferret area, there is a route of well over 100 kilometers with different levels of difficulty and various recommendations for winter sports. There are also no problems with transport, as Courmayeur offers various options for transport to the different slopes. On site is the typical infrastructure of today’s ski facilities, which leave nothing to be desired and which allow extensive fun on the slopes. However, Courmayeur is not simply known for its easy access to some of the most beautiful ski resorts in the world.
From a traditional mountain village to the “unofficial” capital of alpinists
Courmayeur is characterized by its uniquely beautiful location. In the middle of the mountains, the holiday resort that is so popular today was once one of numerous mountain villages in northern Italy where time seemed to stand still. But as early as the 18th century, the first “tourists” were drawn to the mountain village. After the Prince of Savoy discovered the healing power of mineral springs, high society was drawn to the holiday region that is so popular today, and Courmayeur is one of the first places to be opened up for tourism. If you go in search of traces in the village today, you will come across the Torre Malluquin tower, which is dated to 1351, but is most likely even older. Today it is the oldest building in the Alpine town and is used as an exhibition venue. The onset of tourism in the 18th century brought growth and prosperity to the village and so the townscape changed significantly at that time.
Off the slopes: Courmayeur as the capital of alpine sports
If you are looking for a day off from the slopes or simply want to get more involved with the place and its peculiarities, you will find a wide range of culture in Courmayeur. The two historic churches around which the town has developed over the centuries are still the flagship today, and in the narrow and interwoven town centre, you can still imagine how the first travellers were on their way to the slopes of Mont Blanc as early as the Middle Ages.
The town itself has a large museum, which, among other things, tells of the development of the small town into one of the most important and well-known ski resorts in the world. The visit of the Italian king plays just as much a role as the fact that Courmayeur, despite its size, was already an important name for travellers in France and the Italian city-states in the Middle Ages and people from all over Europe met here. The Duca degli Abruzzi Alpine Museum is also dedicated to the history of alpine sports and has a beautiful selection of historical memorabilia, such as the first expeditions of the mountaineers who set out from here. By the way, this is an option that you can still do today with accompanied tours and on your own.
Hiking and relaxation in Courmayeur
Surrounded by one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in Europe, if not the world, the urge for adventure is quite natural and there are a variety of possibilities. Mountaineering, for example, would be an option if you want to explore the glaciers and the lower valleys of Mont Blanc. You can either do this with your own planning or use one of the many tours that lead into the mountains. This is also an important point for local tourism out of season. When ski fans wait a little longer and the green landscapes of the valleys become visible in summer, many travellers are drawn to explore this almost untouched piece of nature.
Courmayeur was not always famous for its slopes, hotels and restaurants, but initially attracted attention mainly through the hot springs. These no longer play a major role for travelers today, but are still a piece of the puzzle in the overall game of local offers. In one of the hot thermal springs, you can not only do something for your own health, but also seek relaxation after a long day on the slopes. Some of the businesses and hotels in the region have also specialised in this.
In general, when it comes to overnight stays, you have the choice of where your own priorities lie. While classic hostels can be found at reasonable prices for a simple overnight stay, there are also many hotels that offer an extensive range of relaxation and luxury. In combination with the many good restaurants in the area, the place today has much more to offer than just winter sports.
Courmayeur in the warm season
Away from the ski season, Courmayeur is a dream holiday destination for mountain lovers. The uniquely beautiful alpine landscape invites you to go on long hikes, the peaks of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Mont Blanc” inspire mountaineers from all over the world and mountain bikers will also find excellent routes to explore the mountains. Bicycle tours through the valleys of Val Veny and Val Ferret are just as attractive as a paragliding flight or a horseback ride. But even if you just want to relax in the beautiful natural surroundings, you will find perfect conditions in Courmayeur and so your holiday on Mont Blanc can be varied in many ways. Where once mountain farmers ran their farms and led a simple life, today nature lovers and mountaineers can spend an unforgettable holiday, indulge in culinary delights in the cosy restaurants and huts and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and the flair of the Alpine town.
Places of interest in Courmayeur
Sights such as the church of San Pantaleone, which was built between 1722 and 1742, or the pilgrimage church of Notre-Dame de Guérison, which is well worth seeing, are still characteristic of the town today. In the centre of the town is the narrow and winding Via Roma, which forms the heart of the city and along which there are quite fashionable buildings. If you want to learn more about the history of the region, you should visit the “Casa della Guide”, which is now the seat of the “Museo Duca degli Abruziie”. In the La Saxe district, there is also an ancient house dating back to 1391, which is well worth a visit and was once part of the original mountain village.
The beneficial springs of Courmayeur
As early as the 18th century, people hungry for relaxation were drawn to La Saxe. In the district you will find the famous mineral water springs of Courmayeur. Today, everything in the La Saxe district revolves around the thermal baths that are located here and impress with their wide range of wellness offers. Courmayeur owes its development to the springs, because as early as the 18th century, locals were able to receive guests from all over the world. Above all, the Royal Savoy family cured here, which led to aristocrats and members of the noble families from all over the world following. In the course of history, well-known personalities and celebrities followed. The “Jewel of the Alps” still inspires today with its special flair and so a stay is worthwhile at any time of the year, not only because of the mineral springs and thermal facilities.
