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{{Short description|Ski resort in France}}
{{Infobox ski area
|name                   = Méribel
|picture                = MERIBEL.jpg
|caption                = Méribel in January 2014
|location               = [[Savoie]], [[France]]
|nearest_city           = [[Chambéry]]
|coordinates            = {{coord|45|23|48.23|N|6|33|58.57|E|type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline,title}}
|pushpin_map            = Alps
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
|map_caption            = Location in the [[Alps]]
|vertical               = {{convert|1502|m|abbr=on}}
|top_elevation          = {{convert|2952|m|abbr=on}}
|base_elevation         = {{convert|1450|m|0|abbr=on}}
|skiable_area           =
|number_trails          = 76 (8 green, 36 blue, 23 red & 9 black)
|longest_run            =
|liftsystem             = 53
|lift_capacity          = 75,565/h
|terrainparks           =
|snowfall               =
|external_link          = [http://french-alps.meribel.net/ www.meribel.net]
|}}
'''Méribel''' ({{IPA|fr|meʁibɛl}}) is a ski resort in the [[Tarentaise Valley]] in the [[French Alps]]. Méribel refers to three neighbouring villages in the [[Les Allues]] [[Communes of France|commune]] of the [[Savoie]] [[Departments of France|department]] of [[France]], near the town of [[Moûtiers]] ({{coord|45.401|N|6.5655|E|}}), called Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret and Méribel Village. The villages are within [[Vanoise National Park]] and a part of the [[Les Trois Vallées]] interlinked ski system.

'''Méribel Les Allues''' is a [[ski resort]] that was developed adjacent to the traditional [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of Morel, with its centre situated at about 1400 metres above [[sea level]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Meribel ski resort guide|url=http://www.alpineaction.co.uk/meribel-the-skiing.htm|publisher=Alpine Action|access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref> It was founded by a Scotsman, Major Peter Lindsay,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://snowlimitsskischool.com/the-history-of-meribel/|title = A short History of Meribel|date = October 2019}}</ref> who was looking for a new site for winter sports away from the ski resorts of Austria and Germany, because of the growing strength of the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi regime]]. In 1936, he visited the town of Les Allues for the first time. He then imagined how the town could become a ski resort. Firstly, he decided to create a property company in order to develop finances strong enough to build the resort. In 1938, the first lift was placed above Les Allues. A year later, he began the construction of the first [[chalet]]s and [[hotel]]s in the hamlet of Méribel. Three years later, the war would stop the development of the resort, but when it was over, development continued. Now a Colonel, Peter Lindsay used specialised architects, [[Paul Grillo]] ([[Prix de Rome|Grand Prix de Rome]] in 1937) and his partner Christian Durupt, so that all buildings would be in harmony with the [[Duchy of Savoy|Savoyard]] style, using wood and stone for the walls, with slanted slate roofs. In 1950, the Burgin-Saulire gondola was built to link the resort to [[Courchevel]]. Lindsay's family continue to hold a financial stake in the resort. Lindsay's ashes and those of his wife are  scattered on the Burgin mountain.

Méribel was a subsite and hosted some events of the [[1992 Winter Olympics]] hosted by nearby [[Albertville]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Olympic movement official website|url=http://www.olympic.org/albertville-1992-winter-olympics|access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref> The resort host the [[Ice hockey at the 1992 Winter Olympics|ice hockey]] and the [[Alpine skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics|women's alpine skiing]] events.<ref>[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1992/orw1992.pdf 1992 Winter Olympics official report.] pp. 106–109. {{in lang|en|fr}}</ref> Until 2011, Méribel was the host to the Altitude Festival, with acts such as [[KT Tunstall]], [[Marcus Brigstocke]] and [[Omid Djalili]] performing in the bars and nightclubs around the resort. For 2011, it has been announced that the festival will be moved to Austria, with the organiser Richard Lett citing a reduction in support from the Méribel Tourist Office.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.merinet.com/whats_new_article.php?id_whats_new=8185&id_back=1 |title=Altitude Festival to quit Méribel |access-date=2010-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714074805/http://www.merinet.com/whats_new_article.php?id_whats_new=8185&id_back=1 |archive-date=2011-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ski resort is part of the [[Les Trois Vallées|Trois Vallées]] ski area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vallées Official|url=http://www.les3vallees.com/en/on-a-large-scale/the-resorts-meribel.23.s4/}}</ref> The Three Valleys area comprises 180 lifts, 335 marked runs (over 600 kilometres) and over 130&nbsp;km of cross-country tracks. The Three Valleys was expanded in 1996 to incorporate a fourth valley, though the area kept the name Trois Vallées. The area comprises the resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, Méribel, Les Menuires-Saint Martin, Val Thorens and Orelle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skisolutions.com/three-valleys-ski-holidays|title = Three Valleys Skiing Holidays &#124; Three Valleys Ski Resorts}}</ref>

The resort comprises the sub-villages of: '''Méribel-Mottaret''', at an altitude of 1,750 m towards the head of the Allues Valley—served by the Plattiers gondola which provides access to neighbouring resorts '''Les Menuires''' and '''Val Thorens'''; '''Raffort''' and '''La Gittaz''', which are served by the Meribel Olympic Gondola; '''Chandon''', which has free bus access to resort; and '''Méribel Village''' at 1,400 m on the road to Courchevel 1850 at the bottom of the Lapin piste and start of the Golf Chair to the popular beginners skiing area '''The Altiport'''.

==Lift system==

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|- Current Lifts
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Type
! scope="col" | Persons per hour
! scope="col" | Year of construction
! scope="col" | Manufacturer
|-
| Table Verte || Chairlift fixed 4 places || 1250 || 1981 || [[Poma]]
|-
| Burgin 1 || Gondola 6 places || 1700 || 1982 || Poma
|-
| Burgin 2 || Gondola 6 places || 1700 || 1982 || Poma
|-
| Plattieres 2 || Gondola 6 places || 2200 || 1983 || Poma
|-
| Plattieres 1 || Gondola 6 places || 2200 || 1984 || Poma
|-
| Plattieres 3 || Gondola 6 places || 2200 || 1984 || Poma
|-
| Arolles || Chairlift fixed 4 places || 1800 || 1985 || Skirail
|-
| Rocher de la Loze || Chairlift fixed 4 places || 1500 || 1988 || Poma
|-
| Mont-Vallon || Gondola 12 places || 3400 || 1988 || Poma
|-
| Rhodos || Gondola 12 places || 2025 || 1989 || [[Von Roll#Von Roll Seilbahnen AG|Von Roll]]
|-
| Mures Rouges || Chairlift detachable 4 places || 1800 || 1989 || Poma
|-
| Roc de Fer || Chairlift fixed 4 places || 1460 || 1990 || Poma
|-
| Olympe 1 || Gondola 6 places || 920 || 1990 || Poma
|-
| Olympe 2 || Gondola 6 places || 920 || 1990 || Poma
|-
| Olympe 3 || Gondola 6 places || 920 || 1990 || Poma
|-
| Olympic Express || Chairlift detachable 4 places || 1500 || 1990 || Poma
|-
| Morel || Chairlift fixed 3 places || 700 || 1991 || Poma
|-
| Côtes Brune || Chairlift detachable 4 places || 2070 || 1991 || Poma
|-
| Combes || Chairlift detachable 4 places || 2400 || 1994 || [[Doppelmayr Garaventa Group|Doppelmayr]]
|-
| Pas du Lac 1 || Gondola 8 places || 3000 || 1997 || Poma
|-
| Pas du Lac 2 || Gondola 8 places || 3000 || 1997 || Poma
|-
| Adret || Chairlift detachable 6 places || 2400 || 1998 || Poma
|-
| Dent de Burgin || Chairlift detachable 6 places || 2400 || 2000 || Poma
|-
| Altiport || Chairlift detachable 8 places || 3400 || 2000 || Poma
|-
| Plan des Mains || Chairlift detachable 6 places || 3000 || 2002 || Leitner
|-
| Plan de l'Homme || Chairlift detachable 6 places || 3000 || 2004 || Poma
|-
| Châtelet || Chairlift detachable 6 places || 2200 || 2006 || Poma
|-
| Chalets || Gondola pulsed 6 places || 522 || 2007 || Poma 
|-
| Tougnète 2 || Chairlift detachable 6 places covered || 3600 || 2007 || Poma
|-
| Tougnète 1 || Gondola 6 places || 1500 || 2008 || Poma
|-
| Golf || Chairlift detachable 4 places || 1500 || 2009 || Poma
|-
| Altiport || Button lift continuous || 500 || 2009 || Poma
|-
| Doron || Conveyor belt covered || || 2010 || Poma
|-
| Les Loupiots || Conveyor belt || || || Poma
|-
| Foret || Rope tow || || || Poma
|-
| Combe || Button lift detachable || || || Poma
|-
| Cotes || Button lift detachable || || || Poma
|-
| Escargot || Button lift continuous || || 2005 || Poma
|-
| Arpasson || Button lift continuous || || 2006 || Poma
|-
| Roc de Tougne 1 & 2 || Button lift detachable || || || Poma
|-
| Aigle || Button lift detachable || || || Poma
|-
| Sitelle || Button lift detachable || || || Poma
|-
| Stade || Button lift continuous || || || Poma
|-
|}

Past projects

*For the 2012 season, the Burgin-Saulire 2 gondola is being replaced, and the new lift will be called Saulire Express 2. It will be constructed by Poma, and will take a new route up the Méribel Couloir, arriving at the same position as the Saulire cable car from the Courchevel side.
*For the 2013 season, the Burgin-Saulire 1 gondola is being replaced, and the new lift will be called Saulire Express 1. It will be constructed by Poma, and will be joined to Saulire Express 2 for a continuous journey up the mountain, first gondola station in France MULTIX to sections decoupled amount of work 24 million. 
*Plattieres 1 & 2 are being replaced by a new gondola constructed by Poma, called Plattieres 1. This new lift will cut the journey time from 25 minutes to 9 minutes, and the new cabins will replace the old six seat, back to back gondolas with more comfortable 10 seat cabins. Construction will begin at the end of the 2011 season, and the old lift will continue to run through the 2012 season.

==Tarentaise Valley skiing==
The [[Tarentaise Valley]] has the biggest concentration of world-class ski resorts in the world; the best known neighbouring systems are [[Paradiski]] ([[Les Arcs]], [[La Plagne]]) and [[Espace Killy]] ([[Val-d'Isère]] and [[Tignes]]). A weekly lift ticket in Méribel/[[Les Trois Vallées]] offers a choice to ski one day in each of the other two systems mentioned. There were once plans to interlink all systems and resorts to create the &ndash; by far &ndash; largest ski area in the world. However that vision was ended with the creation of the [[Vanoise National Park]].

==See also==
*[[List of ski areas and resorts in Europe]]
*[[Méribel Airport]]
*[[Battle of Méribel]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
7. [http://www.meribel-unplugged.co.uk Meribel Unplugged] - A full on guide to Meribel and the 3 valleys ski area.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090414172544/http://www.vanoise.com/indexgb.htm Vanoise National Park]
* [http://www.360travelguide.com/360VirtualTour.asp?iCode=mbl08 Panoramic virtual tour at top of Mont Vallon gondola] at 360 Travel Guide
* [https://www.skibasics.com/meribel/piste-status.htm Meribel Piste Map]
* [https://snowlimitsskischool.com/the-history-of-meribel/]
* [https://www.skiline.co.uk/blog/the-3-vallees-gets-a-new-black-run-at-meribel-mottaret]

{{1992 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues alpine skiing}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meribel}}
[[Category:Venues of the 1992 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic alpine skiing venues]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in France]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Savoie]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Savoie]]