Orcières is changing | Orcières Merlette 1850

The issues

“Over the last two years and our new public service delegation for the operation of the ski area and the Palais des Sports, we have worked to consolidate our organisation in human, technical and operational terms… We have also been working on the structural projects we have just launched. We are indeed at a pivotal time for the future of the resort. We’ve been patiently building our project over the last two intense years, with the administrative phases always taking a long time. In this fundamental work, we have not neglected the issues of image and respect for the values of Orcières. The aim is not to build a project that is disconnected from our identity, but on the contrary to reinforce the quality of our tourism product and the professionalism of the destination.

©Patrick Ricou, Mayor of Orcières|Gilles Baron

A new detachable 6-seater chairlift La Muande

The summer of 2025 marked the start of this transformation: the content of the project is based on the construction of a state-of-the-art detachable 6-seater chairlift, “La Muande”, which will take 3,000 skiers/h from the Drapeaux snow front to the top of the Camile Ricou piste in 6 minutes. The lift serves the blue slope of the Montagnou valleys, which has been extensively remodelled for easy access by all novice skiers, and is fully protected by artificial snow. The Les Drapeaux snow front has been reshaped to create a new beginners’ area. A conveyor belt with a 170m covered gallery has been installed. A number of ski lifts have been dismantled to modernise the park and distribute the flow of skiers more evenly (56 have been taken down).

In short, we’ve prepared a snow front just waiting for you and your skis!

A long-awaited renovation in 2026 The Palais des Sports

©Renovation project for the Palais des Sports

The Palais des Sports is in dire need of a makeover!

This pioneering leisure centre in the Southern Alps is to undergo a complete renovation (from March to December 2026):

A new entertainment area with a larger bowling alley and new activities,
A revamped spa with views of the landscape and mountains,
A gym with cardio and muscle-building equipment,
A renovated aqualudic area,
Completion is scheduled for December 2026.

It’s also time to give a new lease of life to an establishment located in a magnificent and strategic location in both winter and summer: the Rocherousse plateau! A beautiful wooden chalet with a magnificent terrace and a host of new features will welcome you from winter 2026/2027.

Improvement work for winter 2027/2028 A reconfigured station centre

The resort wants to offer a truly high-quality, car-free centre in a calm, friendly atmosphere. The car park in front of the tourist office will disappear to make way for a 600-space underground car park that will open up the view and create a 400 m² space dedicated to local life: market, shows, concerts, gatherings, etc.

A more sustainable mountain Hydro-energy project

In 2027/2028, Orcières plans to deploy installations that will produce artificial snow in winter and electricity for the rest of the year.

The aim is to produce and redistribute to the electricity grid 30% of the electrical energy consumed by the ski area and the Palais des Sports over the course of a year. With hydroelectricity, the impact on the landscape is virtually non-existent, as it uses the existing networks needed to produce artificial snow, and requires very little additional construction.

We respond to your questions!

Any questions?

Will the Palais des Sports be open this winter?
Yes, in part. The relaxation area (Spa and Beauty Institute) will be getting a makeover this winter, so they will be closed. The other works – requiring the total closure of the Palais – will not start until after 12 April.
What activities will be on offer when the Palais des Sports is closed?
We can’t wait! We’ll keep you posted, but we will indeed be offering you new activities for your summer 2026.
Will the snow front be finished in time?
No problem! Everything went according to plan, and this winter you’ll find a new flagging snow front for beginners with a conveyor belt, 2 blue runs that descend from the peaks of the ski area to the bottom of the resort, and a panoramic view to boot. And best of all, you’ll be able to board the Muande, the new detachable 6-seater chairlift.