History of Les Deux Alpes
The names 'Les Deux Alpes' translates to the 'Two Alps' this name does not refer to the surrounding mountains as your may presume, but it refers the the neighbouring villages of Venosc and Mont de Lan. The two villages sit at the Southern and Northern tips respectively of the resort of Les Deux Alpes.
The original ski resort was not known as Les Deux Alpes but La Berarde, which was founded in 1925 when the first access road was completed. The first lift to open was a simple tow rope that only managed to stay standing for 15 minutes after its grand opening. This of course did not distill people will confidence and subsequently very little else happened until after the end of World War II. Les Deux Alpes first took off in the year of 1946 where the first local ski school was formed, this was made up of 3 instructors and 45 pupils. It did however take a further 10 years for the resort to establish itself, when in 1956 t opened the Diable Gondola. Much of Les Deux Alpes real estate developments date from the 70s, where there were great developments. By 1970 business was beginning to boom in Les Deux Alpes and they now boasted 40 hotels and 46 ski lifts. In 1984 the lifts extended to an altitude of 2568m, giving year round access to the glacier via the Jandri Express Gondola, which is still renowned for being the world' fastest ski gondola. In 1986 the Dome Express became the highest funicular in France and became one of the world's few underground funiculars.
Les Deux Alpes has unfortunately got the reputation of being a 'purpose built' ski resort, people tend to associate ugly apartment blocks and masses of built up concrete buildings. However over the last 10 years Les Deux Alpes has been under constant renovation and rejuvenation, a number of hotels have been bought by DAL (Deux Alpes Loisirs) a ski lift company, and have been transformed into high class residences. Les Deux Alpes is now the largest ski resort in the Dauphine region and is the second oldest ski resort in France after Chamonix.
The original ski resort was not known as Les Deux Alpes but La Berarde, which was founded in 1925 when the first access road was completed. The first lift to open was a simple tow rope that only managed to stay standing for 15 minutes after its grand opening. This of course did not distill people will confidence and subsequently very little else happened until after the end of World War II. Les Deux Alpes first took off in the year of 1946 where the first local ski school was formed, this was made up of 3 instructors and 45 pupils. It did however take a further 10 years for the resort to establish itself, when in 1956 t opened the Diable Gondola. Much of Les Deux Alpes real estate developments date from the 70s, where there were great developments. By 1970 business was beginning to boom in Les Deux Alpes and they now boasted 40 hotels and 46 ski lifts. In 1984 the lifts extended to an altitude of 2568m, giving year round access to the glacier via the Jandri Express Gondola, which is still renowned for being the world' fastest ski gondola. In 1986 the Dome Express became the highest funicular in France and became one of the world's few underground funiculars.
Les Deux Alpes has unfortunately got the reputation of being a 'purpose built' ski resort, people tend to associate ugly apartment blocks and masses of built up concrete buildings. However over the last 10 years Les Deux Alpes has been under constant renovation and rejuvenation, a number of hotels have been bought by DAL (Deux Alpes Loisirs) a ski lift company, and have been transformed into high class residences. Les Deux Alpes is now the largest ski resort in the Dauphine region and is the second oldest ski resort in France after Chamonix.