Our daily choices are guided by this key question for our destination. Making the resort accessible requires two essential elements: a will and a reality.
The primary will of the creators of Les Karellis resort
This will is intrinsically linked to the very aims of the project of Les Karellis resort. In 1973, the commune of Montricher-Albanne is in a difficult economic situation, as the Maurienne valley is gradually losing its industries and its inhabitants due to a lack of jobs. As a result, the commune of Montricher-Albanne is suffering and is looking for a new start. It announces its determination to find a way of developing the economy and the social environment of its territory. To this end, it is looking for a way to develop a high-altitude site suitable for a tourism resort.
In the 1970s, the meeting with Pierre Laine, expert in social tourism, proves decisive. Pierre Lainé suggests to create a turnkey resort, with one essential point: access for as many people as possible. His vision is to create a tourism resort designed and managed on the basis of a social economy to help lower costs: this means collective buildings, democratic structures for managing services, and the operation of the facilities solely by cooperative and associative bodies. It means that a cooperative, owned by the accommodation providers, builds and manages all the shops of the resort. An association ensures the overall governance of the resort. To avoid speculation, the land remains property of the commune and only “warm beds” (rented at least 12 weeks a year) can be marketed. The transfer of the locals’ land to the commune leads to the signing of an agreement on the 18th of December 1973, finalizing the birth of Les Karellis resort, whose model remains unique in Europe to this day.
And so Les Karellis was born, with a strong determination to enable as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits and the activities of the mountain. In this sense, the accessibility of our resort is the result of a political, and even philosophical, will.
Accessibility at the heart of Les Karellis: a reality
As we have discussed already, the accessibility of our resort is the result of a political will that is reflected in very concrete ways:
the associations that manage holiday establishments are themselves steeped in the fabric of social tourism: Léo Lagrange, Accueil et Promotion, La Poste and other organisations embark on the wild adventure of Les Karellis. The aim is to keep prices low, so that as many people as possible can visit our resort. Some establishments apply the rule of the local family tax system. The cost of a stay is already crucial to the accessibility. In 1975, the all-inclusive concept is born in Les Karellis. It remains a signature of our resort to this day.
Les Karellis sets a price and attracts a new clientele to an destination unfamiliar to them.
Our mission begins with this observation. How can we make our resort accessible?
The mountains have always fostered fantasies, fears and dreams. A common misconception tells us that mountains are for specialists, that skiing is difficult, that the slopes are steep, that you have to make an effort, that you have to be athletic and so on. The list could continue.
Ok, so our mission is to make the mountains accessible to as many people as possible?
But which mountains? The mountains where you go hiking? The mountains and their beautiful vistas? The mountains and their extraordinary heritage? The mountains and their passes? The mountains and the ski slopes? The mountains and the footpaths? This list too could go on forever. In the end, isn’t it rather a little bit of everything?
Faced with all these perceptions of the mountain, we, the inhabitants of the region, have a mission: to make you love our region, and to do this we present it in an educational way.
In winter, the slopes are groomed, they are adapted to different levels and instructors are on hand to teach you how to ski. We make a snow-covered area accessible for everyone to enjoy, and what’s more, there’s no need to exert yourself to get to the top of the slopes, because you can take the lifts.
If you don’t feel like skiing but rather to take in the scenery, don’t panic: we’ve created trails for you to explore on foot or with snowshoes. These winter examples highlight the fact that the mountains are becoming more accessible. They are less elitist and more inclusive. It’s a place where everyone can blossom, in their own personal way. In this sense, the mountains become accessible in winter, and Les Karellis is no exception. We’re looking into every detail of how we can be even more accessible. While skiing remains our signature, we’re developing related services to make skiing holidays even more varied. Surprising spaces for contemplation and relaxation enable you to do one essential thing: connect with nature, with our environment, with our mountain values. It’s all about taking a break from your daily routine.
In summer, the project is the same. As discussed earlier, people’s ideas about the mountains are very diverse. ‘The mountains are for seasoned hikers who know how to read a map and are athletic‘: a strong belief that enables us to work every day for an accessible, inclusive and responsible mountain resort. We created the Club Nature as a real school for discovering nature, the mountains, the animals, the flowers and so on. Every day, we’re proud to go on walks with people eager to learn more about our mountain terrain. As with the ski slopes in winter, all levels are available. For the more experienced, the Club Montagne takes participants to the summits. The mountains thus become accessible and interesting. It allows us to protect our environment and explain how proud and happy we are to share this land that we respect.
Just as with skiing in winter, hiking is our signature activity for the summer. However, different holidaymakers have different needs. In the mountains, accessibility also means close-by and relaxing activities. Mountain biking and, more recently, e-mountain biking make the mountain more accessible. The lakes and the swimming pool are perfect for relaxing, contemplating and enjoying special moments with loved ones (or even on your own). Remember that mountains are an important place for spirituality and reflection.
In conclusion, our resort of Les Karellis, through its commitment, philosophy, and actions, works every day to welcome you to our region and provide access to a wide range of activities, each as rewarding as the next
Do you now have a better understanding of our slogan ‘We meet there‘?
