Car Hire in St. Gervais, France

Saint-Gervais

Lying at the head of a spectacular river gorge, the old spa town of Saint-Gervais les Bains, is much more than a simple ski resort. Located in the Haute-Savoie department of the French Alps, its traditional chalets are built in the regional Savoyard architectural-style using local stone and timber.

Situated in a valley inhabited since well over 2000 years BC, Saint-Gervais was founded during the Roman era. It flourished during the Middle Ages through commerce from its position as one of the largest market towns in the northern Alps.

Saint-Gervais is a resort of long-standing, whose pistes have been popular with skiers since before WWI. The first ski-lift was the rack and pinion Tramway du Mont Blanc, built in 1904 and still operational today; it was shortly followed in 1936 by the Bettex cable car and other ski lifts which opened up the resort further.

Attractions

Prior to skiing the main tourist attraction in Saint-Gervais was its thermal springs. Since the beginning of the 19th century, Saint-Gervais' bathhouses attracted many visitors to the town, until they were destroyed by a mudslide in 1892, killing 200 bathers. Today the hot baths are exploited for health and beauty treatments.

Sitting at the foot of Europe's tallest mountain, Mont Blanc, the resort of Saint-Gervais encompasses the villages of Le Fayet, Le Bettex, and Saint-Nicolas-de-V�roce. Their total 65km of pistes is divided into 47 slopes and with the highest starting at 2350m, snow is virtually guaranteed throughout the season. The lowest slopes descend onto Saint-Gervais itself at 860m.

The numerous green, red and blue slopes of Saint-Gervais are ideal for beginners as well as inexperienced and intermediate skiers. Its black runs can often be skied on fresh snow, since experts tend to prefer other resorts.

Saint-Gervais is linked across the slopes of Mont d'Arbois to the vast Megeve ski area. The Mont Blanc ski pass, gives access to this and all the local resorts which also includes Chamonix and Courmayeaur in Italy, totalling 700km of pistes. An adult pass costs €162 (06-07 season) for 6 days.

In addition to the ski pistes, Saint-Gervais has 30km of cross-country trails and a fun park with a half-pipe for snowboarders and terrain for free-riding.

A range of non-ski activities are on offer in Saint-Gervais, including paragliding and mountain-walking. The Palais des Sports has an outdoor Olympic-size skating-rink, used for ice-skating and electric, ice bumper-cars. The Saint-Gervais horse-riding school is open all year round.

The town's stunning baroque church dates from the 17th century and was constructed by local architect Claude Francois Amoudruz.

As a family orientated resort, two nurseries operate in Saint-Gervais, taking children as young as six-months-old; while ski-lessons are available for children of four-years-old upwards.

Shopping

Due to the volume of visitors it receives, there are numerous shops in Saint-Gervais selling souvenirs and regional produce; there is also a jewellery store, perfumery and a number of fashion outlets.

The nearby resort of Megeve contains several jewellers and designer clothing boutiques.

Nightlife and Eating Out

While Saint-Gervais is not known for its wild apes-ski, there are over 50 bars and restaurants in the town and on its slopes. For after dinner entertainment there is the La Nuit des Temps nightclub and a casino.

Megeve offers slightly wilder evening entertainment including several discos, another casino and the Club de Jazz Les Cinq Rues; which attracts many world-renowned musicians.

The area's many restaurants serve a variety of International cuisine at prices to suit all budgets. The excellent local cheese and cold meats are frequently served together in a fondue variation called a raclette.

Tourist Information

Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc Tourist Office
43, rue du Mont-Blanc
74170, Saint-Gervais les Bains
France

• Telephone: +33 (0)4 50 47 76 08
• Email: welcome@st-gervais.net
• Website: www.st-gervais.net

Airport

The nearest airport is Geneva International, which is 72km from Saint-Gervais and receives flights from all UK airports through a wide range of traditional and budget carriers. The next nearest airport is Chambery, 125km away.

Alternatively Saint-Gervais is 5 hours from Paris by high-speed TGV which runs from December through to April.