Courchevel 1300 is the historic name of Le Praz, the lowest of Courchevel's five villages. Set at 1,300 metres beside a lake and surrounded by spruce forest, it combines genuine Savoyard valley architecture with direct access to the largest ski area in the world.
How high is Courchevel 1300?
The village sits at 1,300 metres, hence its former name. The other villages are staged at 1,550 (Village), 1,650 (Moriond), 1,850 (Courchevel) and 1,100 (Saint-Bon). The lower altitude means dense forest, milder evenings and reliable snow cover on the links thanks to snowmaking, with a ski-home run all the way to the village.
Getting to Courchevel 1300
- —Geneva: 2 h 15 (145 km).
- —Lyon: 2 h 30 (185 km).
- —Chambéry: 1 h 45 (115 km).
- —Moûtiers station: 25 minutes, direct TGV from Paris and Eurostar Ski Train from London.
- —Courchevel altiport: 10 minutes.
The ski area from Le Praz
The Forêt gondola and the Croisette cable car link the village to Courchevel 1850 in minutes. From there, 600 km of 3 Valleys pistes are on one pass, with Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. You ski home on the Jean Blanc piste or the Olympic downhill, one of the most technical runs in the massif.
What the village offers
- —A lake and forest for snowshoe walks.
- —The 1992 Olympic ski-jumping hills.
- —Bakery, grocery, ski school and equipment hire.
- —Savoyard restaurants and a Michelin-starred table.
- —Free shuttles to the other Courchevel villages.
Chalet or apartment in Courchevel 1300?
Le Praz is a village of chalets: few apartment blocks, plenty of wood and stone houses. For a group or a large family, renting a private chalet with pool, spa and staff is the most practical option — it avoids splitting across several apartments and lets you add a private chef, ski host and driver.
Staying at Chalet Les Cochettes
In the heart of Courchevel 1300, Chalet Les Cochettes sleeps up to 12 adults with a 10-metre indoor pool, spa, cinema room and concierge service. From €1,600 per night, limited availability.