The station | Orcières Merlette 1850

Nature, sunshine and smiles at altitude

Perched at 1850m and with its ski area culminating at 2725m, Orcières is one of the few resorts in the Hautes-Alpes to offer such high altitudes. It’s a point of difference, but it’s not the only one: at Orcières, there are no steep slopes, no shady areas, just a superb area bathed in light. You’re in for a real treat! Orcières is the most Mediterranean of the resorts in the Southern Alps: the sun and warmth of the people of the South with the wild, unspoilt nature of the Alps.

Summer and winter

©Orcières Merlette 1850 in winter|Gilles Baron

©Orcières Merlette in summer|Gilles Baron

In winter, there’s a ski area with 100 km of runs for all kinds of winter sports (snowboarding, downhill skiing, ski touring, etc.). But there’s also plenty of action, excitement and thrills to be had: from the start of one of Europe’s longest zip lines, on the crazy buoys of the Winterparc, in a paraglider over the ski area, or on a trip to the far north with a team of huskies.

In summer, forget the beach – this is nature at its best! You’ve found your ideal playground: whether you’re a seasoned mountain biker or a beginner, a hiker for a day or a lifetime, if you’re the king of road bikes, we’ve got everything you need, so look no further!

©Orcières mountain biking area|Gilles Baron

©Tyrolean traverse in summer|Gilles Baron

Leisure and well-being at the heart of the resort

Orcières is a pioneer in the field of après-ski, just like its Palais des Sports located in the heart of the resort. It’s the place to come for fun, entertainment, expert hands or simply to spend an afternoon basking in the sun, just as you would on the beach… but in the mountains, enjoying the view of the peaks!

Discover the Palais des Sports

Sparkling events

In winter and summer alike, Orcières offers a rich programme of events for all, young and old, families and friends alike: themed weeks, concerts and screenings, nature outings and sporting competitions…

The festive season, like Christmas and 14 July, is one of the highlights of your stay in the resort. In summer, the many festivals bring the heritage of our villages to life.

And during each season, take part in a multitude of workshops, games and initiations during your stay. Orcières Merlette 1850, official supplier of souvenirs!

All the diary

Agenda overview

22Oct

Reserved collar

A multitude adventures to enjoy

Orcières is also a multi-activity resort. If there’s something for all ages, there’s also something for all tastes! Action, thrills, sensations… there’s something for everyone! Take off on one of Europe’s longest zip lines, try out the crazy Winterparc buoys, fly over the resort in a paraglider accompanied by one of the resort’s many professionals, or let yourself be carried away by a team of dog sleds on a trip to the far north… In summer, if you’re not out on your mountain bike criss-crossing the bike park, enter the Monde des 6 Lacs for a poetic stroll in the heart of sublime nature.

An award-winning destination

Orcières Merlette 1850 is rich in its family identity, rewarded since 2006 by the Famille Plus label, which allows customers to distinguish resorts that have taken a comprehensive approach to welcoming families.

Since 2016 Qualité Tourisme™ has accompanied you throughout your stay in Orcières: accommodation, restaurants, places to visit, sports and leisure activities, Tourist Office… You can plan your holiday with complete peace of mind.

The Drac Noir river, in the commune of Orcières, was awarded the“Rivière en bon état” status in 2022, guaranteeing the good ecological quality of its waters. The Drac Noir feeds the ponds at the Orcières Leisure Centre.

Since 2018, the Orcières Qualité – Confort – Hébergement label offers holidaymakers a number of guarantees for the accommodation in which they will be staying: comfort, facilities, services, etc.

©Logo Riviere En Bon Etat

A little history...

Camile Ricou, founder of the station

Everyone has their own speciality: mine, ours, is cultivating snowfields.
I’ve saved my village from the desertification to which it was doomed.
I’vebrought a certain wealth to my valley.

In January 1962, the first Orcières-Merlette ski lift was inaugurated, the first step towards a bright, vibrant future. A handful of determined volunteers saw their project come to fruition. Was setting up a winter sports resort in the Southern Alps a simple challenge, or was it the firm conviction that it would be a success, or was it the imperative need to “create” jobs in the region to maintain its vitality? Probably a bit of all of the above! “Everyone has their own speciality: mine, ours, is cultivating snowfields. I saved my village from the desertification to which it was doomed. I’ve brought a certain wealth to my valley” summed up Camile Ricou, mayor of Orcières (from 1959 to 1965 and from 1983 to 1989) and founder of the resort.

The fact remains that these men were perceptive. They realised that Orcières was blessed with three assets that winter sports resorts all covet: an unspoilt environment, snow and sunshine. Beyond this formidable asset, Orcières has always cultivated its own identity: that of a welcoming, attractive resort… with a dynamism that has made it a pioneer in many areas: creation of France’s first Snow Garden (1967), launch of the Cartable à la Neige programme (1970), construction of a Palais des Sports and Leisure Centre in 1986, inauguration of France’s first Telemix in 2003, commissioning of Europe’s largest zip line in 2009, new auditorium and creation of Espace Ecrins in 2017…

More than half a century of hospitality and tourism innovations… Today, in winter and summer alike, the resort offers superb skiing and leisure facilities, rare and unusual activities, and always a resolutely warm welcome… The perfect place to dream higher!

50 years of history to write tomorrow

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Orcières-Merlette resort, the Tourist Office has commissioned the production of a documentary memoir. It’s a sociological, economic, cultural and human study that tells the story of a unique, modern and fast-growing village resort. 1962 – 2012: two dates between which the resort of Orcières 1850 has seen many changes!