Meribel is a village of quaint antiquity, nestled delicately into the jaw-droppingly beautiful French Alps. Whilst first and foremost Meribel is a ski resort, its attractions are not solely ski orientated.
When exploring from your hotel or chalet, Meribel offers many locations that can help a visitor learn of the town's cultural past. If nothing else, these cultural locations present an opportunity for those members of the family who desire a less active experience than skiing all day.
Exploring the culture
It may come as a surprise that a village as young as Meribel could have developed its own culture. Perhaps it is the culture of those who frequently ski, forming the care-free spirit that lingers in the air. Or perhaps there's more to it, suggesting something that is born from the very creation of the village. Being a village of such small size, from your hotel or chalet, Meribel's museum (Musee Des Allues) is only a short distance away. This museum contains the historical side of the village, whilst also covering the origins of chalets.
Early origins
Chalets have a history that far precedes that of the ski resorts. Though they are now seen as the common accommodation throughout the Alps, and other locations such as Austria, they were originally used by farmers in the production of dairy products through different times of the year. They have always been seasonal, as inhabitants would leave them during times of winter and travel into the low valleys. Nowadays, with all variations of a chalet, Meribel offers this 'seasonal' property throughout the year, utilising both the simple beauty and practicality of the structure.
History of the village
The museum also covers such things as the origins of the village itself. To say that the culture is one that appeals to skiers is certainly not wrong, for the village itself was constructed with the intent of creating a ski-resort away from the turbulent conditions of the 1930s-1940s. Since then it has of course grown to what it is today, but throughout its brief history its culture has been formed by its most frequent visitors - skiers.
Modern Meribel
To see how the local residents live, you can also visit the bars, the shops and of course, the church. Both the bars and restaurants are imbued with their own quaint charm and characteristic, influenced by the same serene but friendly profile that the rest of the village shares. Many of its structures have been in the village since its creation, and the architecture all shares the same fundamental design, with stone, wood and slated roofs.
Lastly, and perhaps more obviously, to really get to grips with the culture outside your chalet, Meribel requires that you ski. The original intention for the village was to serve as a ski resort, so to really embrace its cultural side you must embark on its age-old tradition of getting out there and skiing. And of course, in this same vein it is the village's culture of warmth, hospitality, friendliness and après-ski that awaits you after your day-long adventure on the slopes.
Enjoy the culture of Meribel - modern and not so modern!
Earl Knudsen is Marketing Manager for Alpine Answers, a specialist ski travel agency, tour operator, and booking service offering bonded package holidays at a ski chalet Meribel and other tailor-made itineraries. For a luxury or good-value skiing holiday in a ski chalet, Meribel is an ideal location.
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