Le Pré – Gondola, Ski Run and Winter Trails

Le Pré is one of Villaroger’s five main villages and lies at 1,202 m. When planning a trip, the main attractions are the gondola to Plan des Violettes, the ski run from Aiguille Rouge and marked winter trails. The Circuit des Plattières and the Itinéraire du Mont also offer different route types and timeframes. This makes it possible to get a sense of the village based on activities and the season, while considering altitude, route type and timeframe separately.

Gondola and ski run

The gondola, with 40 cabins seating ten people each and external ski racks, connects the hamlet of Le Pré de Villaroger at 1,200 m with the summit of Plan des Violettes at 2,119 m. The ride takes less than seven minutes. Le Pré itself lies at 1,202 m; the hamlet at the gondola’s starting point is at 1,200 m. This keeps the elevations of the village and the gondola departure point clearly distinct.

A ski run leads directly from the summit of Aiguille Rouge (3,226 m) to the hamlet of Le Pré at 1,200 m; no additional lift is needed on this run. This distinction is important when planning a ski day: the gondola goes to Plan des Violettes, while the run from Aiguille Rouge ends in Le Pré. The gondola operates seasonally; check its status before travelling. Piste and lift access are also seasonal.

Winter trails and access conditions

Several marked winter hiking and snowshoe trails of varying difficulty start at the Villaroger tourist information office, near the gondola in the hamlet of Le Pré. In winter, these trails can only be accessed with a qualified guide because they cross ski pistes. The range of difficulty levels does not change this access requirement: anyone choosing one of these trails for a winter trip must plan to be accompanied by a qualified guide. There are therefore two separate considerations when choosing a trail: the desired difficulty level and the required accompaniment.

Two routes and different timeframes

The Circuit des Plattières is a 3.7 km circular route with 100 m of elevation gain and blue markings. It runs along the edge of the Bois du Pré and offers panoramic views of the village of Le Pré. On the way back, the route passes through the heart of the village.

The Itinéraire du Mont takes half a day and leads through a forest to picturesque alpine chalets. It has 100 m of elevation gain; the return follows the same route. Along the way, enjoy views of the neighbouring mountain range, including the La Rosière de Montvalezan resort and Espace San Bernardo in Italy, as well as the Mont Blanc massif. The comparison is practical: for the Circuit, the key details are its 3.7 km length and circular route; for the Itinéraire du Mont, it is the half-day duration and return along the same route. Both routes have 100 m of elevation gain.

Village character and summer information

Le Pré and Le Pré derrière are considered twin villages with a beautifully restored character. The village scenery complements the practical information about the gondola, ski run and trails. The Villaroger tourist information office also provides information about various summer activities, as well as maps and route information for visitors. This visitor service is seasonal; check whether the office is open before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Serrières-En-Chautagne, Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, Le Bettaix, La Côte-D'aime, Champagneux, Levassaix, Saint-Michel-De-Maurienne, Fontaine-le-Puits.

For the broader travel overview: Savoie.