What is Les Sybelles®?

Les Sybelles® is the name of the ski area to which our resort of La Toussuire belongs. But this is not the only resort; in fact, the Sybelles® ski area comprises a total of five interconnected resorts.

First of all, it is important to note that initially, the five stations were independent. The first to see the light of day is the resort of La Toussuire. Situated on a sunny plateau at an altitude of 1,800 metres, La Toussuire is a 2nd generation resort that was founded in 1926. In those days, there were no ski lifts or chair lifts, and skiers still trekked on sealskins. It inaugurated its very first ski lift in 1937. Over the next 30 years, the other resorts in the Vallée des Arves would also be created. With the installation of their first ski lifts in 1948 for Saint Sorlin, 1953 for Saint Jean, 1967 for Le Corbier and finally in 1975 for Les Bottières.

However, it was really from the creation of Le Corbier that we were able to glimpse the beginnings of Les Sybelles®. During the 1984-85 winter season, the resorts of Le Corbier and La Toussuire opened a link to create a first ski area called “Grand Large”.

In 1991, the introduction of a shuttle service between Saint-Sorlin and Saint-Jean d’Arves, providing links to Le Corbier and La Toussuire, enabled the ski area to be extended with the “Super Grand Large” ski pass.

1998 was to prove a decisive turning point in the birth of the Sybelles® ski area. This turning point was to be taken by one man, Gaston Maulin, the main shareholder in the Corbier ski lifts. His plan is to create one of the largest ski areas in France by linking the 6 resorts. It will be joining forces with the Saint-Sorlin d’Arves ski lift company to obtain a UTN (Unité Touristique Nouvelle). Planning permission for tourist development projects such as extending a ski area.

In 1999, when planning permission was finally obtained, work began on the development.