{"id":2876,"date":"2021-02-08T20:56:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T20:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/?p=2876"},"modified":"2022-03-09T11:40:18","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T11:40:18","slug":"history-of-meribel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/","title":{"rendered":"The history of Meribel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meribel is the beating heart of The Three Valleys and commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful resorts in the alps. Yet, many of its visitors are unaware of the rich history of Meribel. Most only know it as the idyllic and well connected resort it is today, but where did it all begin?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#History_of_Meribel_in_the_1930s\" >History of Meribel in the 1930\u2019s\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#The_early_vision_of_Meribel_in_the_1940s\" >The early vision of Meribel in the 1940&#8217;s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#History_of_Meribel_during_the_1950s\" >History of Meribel during the 1950&#8217;s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#Ski_Boom_of_the_1960s\" >Ski Boom of the 1960&#8217;s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#Meribels_ski_in_ski_out_chalets_were_born_%E2%80%93_1970s\" >Meribel&#8217;s ski in ski out chalets were born &#8211; 1970&#8217;s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#The_Three_Valleys_making_history_in_the_1980s\" >The Three Valleys making history in the 1980&#8217;s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#Further_development_in_the_1990s\" >Further development in the 1990&#8217;s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/history-of-meribel\/#Whats_in_store_for_Meribel_in_the_future\" >What&#8217;s in store for Meribel in the future?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_Meribel_in_the_1930s\"><\/span><strong>History of Meribel in the 1930\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meribel was founded by Scottish Colonel, Peter Lindsay, in the 1930s. Lindsay was looking to establish a ski resort in France as many British people were moving away from the traditional ski resorts in Austria, given the county\u2019s relationship with Germany. Linsday teamed up with French skier Emile Allais. Together they set about building a resort in the perfect location near the village of Les Allues. In the undeveloped valleys located in the stunning French Alps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2880 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Les Allues\" width=\"800\" height=\"1200\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-scaled.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50831622527_93a4f864de_o-1365x2048.jpg 1365w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/1200;\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1938 Lindsay founded a company called \u201cSociete Fonciere de la Vallee des Allues\u201d and began to buy land from the local farmers. Meribel was created with private capital and by British and French pioneers. This is different to many other resorts in the Three Valleys which were built with public money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s believed that the name Meribel was derived from the Latin \u2018Mirare\u2019 meaning \u2018to look at\u2019 and \u2018bel\u2019 meaning beautiful. The first chalets in the resort were built at an altitude of 1450 metres. The first lift, also built in the 1930&#8217;s transported skiers to an altitude of 1900 metres. The lift, known as a Teletraineu was a 31 seat sled pulled by a fixed cable. However, it unfortunately only operated for one year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1939, twelve months after its erection, war broke out and all development in the resort came to a halt. The resort was only partially built when the war broke out and the Germans occupied the region. Following the occupation, Meribel was a base for the Resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_early_vision_of_Meribel_in_the_1940s\"><\/span><strong>The early vision of Meribel in the 1940&#8217;s<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It wasn\u2019t until 1945 that Peter Lindsay returned and continued with the development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lindsay had a strict vision of a high altitude residential area integrated with the natural environment. This vision still stands true throughout the resort today. It\u2019s this early vision that has earned Meribel it\u2019s well recognised title as such a beautiful resort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2881 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"History of Meribel\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/39015941312_35a7442187_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/800;\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to ensure the harmonic integration between the resort and the natural environment, chalets were to be constructed from the local materials of slate, wood and stone, with double pitched roofs.\u00a0 The first building was a chalet style hotel called Le Doron.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_Meribel_during_the_1950s\"><\/span><strong>History of Meribel during the 1950&#8217;s<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development moved quickly and by the mid-1950s the resort was home to 40 chalets, 17 hotels and 4 ski lifts including the first Burgin Saulire gondola. The first nightclub the Shangri-la still stands today and is now called O\u2019Sullivans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the war, skiing enjoyed a boom and the resort expanded year on year. The number of pistes grew and the lifts reached higher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ski_Boom_of_the_1960s\"><\/span><strong>Ski Boom of the 1960&#8217;s<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 1960\u2019s skiing boom saw the resort continue to grow and the creation of The Three Valley took place. Meribel spread from La Chaudanne at 1400 meters to Altiport of 1700 metres.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Meribels_ski_in_ski_out_chalets_were_born_%E2%80%93_1970s\"><\/span><strong>Meribel&#8217;s ski in ski out chalets were born &#8211; 1970&#8217;s<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the early 1970\u2019s, the Savoy council created the separate village of Meribel-Mottaret. A new principle of separating cars and skiers wm,.\/ as also enforced, which saw the birth of Meribel&#8217;s ski in ski out chalets built alongside the pistes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2654 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Meribel Centre\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/33587688994_2b6825bf01_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/800;\" \/><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Three_Valleys_making_history_in_the_1980s\"><\/span><strong>The Three Valleys making history in the 1980&#8217;s<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a revolutionary time for The Three Valleys. The first snow cannons were installed a few years later and the world&#8217;s first ever 4-seat chairlift was installed in Courchevel 1850 during 1983.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Further_development_in_the_1990s\"><\/span><strong>Further development in the 1990&#8217;s<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1992, the olympic games came to Meribel for the women\u2019s Alpine ski events and ice hockey tournaments. With the olympic games came further development and modernisation of the existing resort. The development included the creation of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Le Parc Olympique sports centre and also the construction of the Olympe gondola which joins Meribel to Brides-les-Bains and Les Allues, which are both still open in the resort today. During this time, the popularity of surrounding villages grew and Meribel Village was linked to the rest of the area via the Golf Chair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, Meribel is regarded as one of the world&#8217;s best ski resorts. Despite extensive growth over the years, the resort still complies with all the building laws enforced during its initial development. To further maintain its striking beauty and undeniable charm, new construction laws have also been introduced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_in_store_for_Meribel_in_the_future\"><\/span><strong>What&#8217;s in store for Meribel in the future?\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2018 Meribel and Courchevel won a joint bid for the 2023 FSI World Ski Championships, beating Saalbach in Austria by 9 votes to 6. This exciting win will see the Ski Championships come to town from the 6th-19th February 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preparations for the event have been well under way for sometime and the town will be sure to rise to the momentous occasion, as done for 1992 Olympic Games and most recently, the Tour De France. During the summer of 2020, the tour travelled through the streets of Meribel to the Col De Loze summit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2882 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Tour De France Meribel\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-scaled.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/50349009403_0de329c525_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1200px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1200\/800;\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Meribel team work all year round to maintain and further improve it&#8217;s world class reputation and historical charm.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you would like to book your next holiday to Meribel, then take a look at our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/skibasics.mychaletbooking.com\/chalets\/?_ga=2.191677674.1142092391.1612630180-130463323.1542913859&amp;_gac=1.128479358.1612734519.Cj0KCQiAvP6ABhCjARIsAH37rbRbluPzqp8IVPiyeQQkypWPp60m1lgb3yTJzpOwfJeeHuJfeXNHAc4aAp2PEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">availability<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> here and please do not hesitate to get in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, should you have any questions. We would love to welcome you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meribel is the beating heart of The Three Valleys and commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful resorts in the alps. Yet, many of its visitors are unaware of the rich history of Meribel. Most only know it as the idyllic and well connected resort it is today, but where did it all begin?\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":2587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[221],"class_list":["post-2876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meribel","tag-meribel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skibasics.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}