The Nordic Area

Cross-country skiing under the summits of the Ecrins

Villar d’Arène has the Southern Alps Village Resort Label. The Nordic Area Villar d’Arène /Pays de la Meije offers beautiful cross-country trails both for skate skiing and classic skiing in an unspoiled, out-of-the-way corner of the valley. At the threshold of the Ecrins National Park, the cross country tracks blend into the landscape, between the river and the forest at the foot of the glaciers.

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Rechargez ou commandez des aujourd'hui vos Nordic Pass saison 2023-2024 au meilleur tarif jusqu'au 15/11/2023.

Optez pour un Nordic Pass Alpes du sud qui vous offre la possibilité de découvrir l'ensemble des domaines nordiques des Hautes-Alpes ou des Alpes de Haute Provence ou bien le Nordic Pass "Domaine" pour profiter du domaine de Villar d'Arène.

 

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You want to try Nordic skiing?

In Villar d’Arène, 5 minutes from La Grave, you will find a 10 km loop for skate skiing and classic skiing, with 3 km of green trails, 7 km of blue trails and 10 km of red trails (the entire loop).

In the Pays de la Meije Nordic Area, you will ski cross-country at the foot of the Ecrins Massif, with the high mountains as backdrop. You will skate along the Romanche River that weaves between rocks and ice sculptures, under the hills where the chamois are looking for the last few straws, memories of a summer long gone. Here the wild animals are at home. The old mill bears witness to a past where the work on the land left little time for leisure. To round it all off you will pass through the quiet hamlet of Arsine before heading back to Villar d’Arène over hibernating fields - gliding softly or skating swiftly.

PRICE LIST NORDIC AREA

You have the choice between week passes, day passes and 3 hour passes for adults or children / young adults. Free access for children under 10 years. If you come regularly, get a seasons pass, which you can buy at a discount price before November 15th.

 

MAP OF THE NORDIC AREA

Here you will find the snow report and the webcam of the Villar d'Arène / Pays de la Meije  Nordic Area, with the dates of the latest snow fall, the snow quality, the trails that are open…

Click on the images*

Villar d’Arène, a Nordic village

What are the advantages of the Pays de la Meije Nordic Area ?

You can of course cross-country ski, but there are also a whole lot of other outdoor activities that you can try out in the area around the traditional alpine mountain village Villar d’Arène. Located at the foot of the Lautaret mountain pass, at the northern end of the Hautes-Alpes, it  is an ideal spot for winter walks, only 5 minutes from La Grave. You have the choice between several Nordic disciplines : cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, nordic walking, sledging or ice skating.

To challenge your balance skills, try ski hockey with family or friends. A hockey match with cross-country skis on you feet guarantees both tumbles and a good laugh !

Hockey equipment for loan at the Nordic recpetion chalet that is open in the mornings during the Winter school holidays and on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays the rest of the season. Bring your own skis or rent them in the sport shops.

There is a groomed and signposted nordic walking trail from Villar d’Arène to the head of the valley, 8 km return. There are two sledging hills: one at the start of the cross-country trails in Arsine and one by the Jouvencelles building, opposite Villar d’Arène, on the far side of the main road.

There is also an outdoor ice skating rink at Arsine that is open when the weather conditions permit. It is possible to rent ice skates for adults and children at the Pas de l’Ane Gîte.

The Pays de la Meije Nordic Area also has three waymarked snowhoeing trails in an exceptional setting, around and above Villar d’Arène.

Two routes take you towards  the Pontet Lake or the Aiguillon Ridge (310 m to 420 m of ascent), offering stunning views on the Ecrins Massif and La Meije.  The third route will take you through the hamlets of Villar d’Arène (10 km), past traditional bread ovens, chapels and churches.

 
DISCOVER THE ROUTES

NORDIC ACTIVITIES AT THE FOOT OF THE MEIJE MASSIF

7 fiches

Espace luge - Villar d'Arène - La Grave - © @BBoone

Sledding areas

Villar d'Arène, Arsine et Le Chazelet, Villar-d'Arêne

Sledding areas

Come and enjoy the joys of sliding in the area of Arsine, located at the gateway of the Ecrins National Park.
Under the watchful eye of chamois in a beautiful setting close to thehut 'Le…

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Patinoire naturelle d'Arsine - © ©JugeSports

Ice rink in Arsine

, Villar-d'Arêne

Ice rink in Arsine

At the heart of the cross country site, at the gate of the Ecrin National Park, come ice skating under the watchful eye of chamois in Arsine.
Ice skates can be rent on the spot.
After you…

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Nordique : Ski de fond - biathlon - raquettes avec l'ESF

Cross-country skiing is a fun way to learn to glide and balance gently, in a calm, natural environment, in the beautiful Nordic area of Villar d'Arène - Pays de la Meije.

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Itinéraire piéton du domaine nordique d'Arsine

Itinéraire piéton au domaine nordique de Villar d'Arène

Domaine Nordique du Pays de la Meije, Villar-d'Arêne

Itinéraire piéton au domaine nordique de Villar d'Arène

A groomed and signposted pedestrian itinerary in the heart of the Villar d'Arène Nordic ski area. This free trail is for pedestrians only.

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Prêt de matériel de ski hockey au domaine nordique de Villar d'Arène

Passez un moment de convivialité entre amis ou en famille autour d'un partie de ski hockey.

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Espace de luge sur le site d'Arsine

Come and enjoy the joys of tobogganing with your family or friends on our Arsine tobogganing area, under the watchful eye of the chamois, in a sumptuous setting near the gîte-Auberge Le pas…

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Piste de luge au Chazelet

Enjoy the joys of tobogganing with the whole family on our tobogganing areas.
Under the watchful eye of the chamois, in a sumptuous setting at Le Chazelet facing La Meije, you'll have an…

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RENT YOUR EQUIPMENT

There are several sport shops where you can rent Nordic skis and other equipment.

 

LIST OF SHOPS HERE 

 

 


OBSERVE WILDLIFE

In winter, the chamois stay at lower altitudes in order to find food more easily. When pass on cross-country ski, take a break to look for them on the mountain slopes behind the river, right opposite the trails. With your family, go for a forest walk around the Nordic Area watching out for tracks of chamois, hares, ermines, deer, foxes and other inhabitants of the mountains.

The Ecrins National Park rangers will take on outings to look for wild animal tracks every Friday during the Winter holidays.