60 years of history

La Rosière is a reflection of its landscapes: bright, bold, shaped by the elements and the hearts of its inhabitants. Nestled at an altitude of 1,850 metres, at the crossroads of Savoyard and Italian cultures, the resort you are exploring today was born from the tenacious spirit of generations of mountain dwellers. A story of tradition, innovation… and passion. Ready to travel back in time with us?

Before spatulas, there were clogs. Until the 1960s, Montvalezan lived to the rhythm of livestock farming, haymaking and the seasons. The houses, clustered together to save farmland, are veritable fortresses against the wind: stone walls, slate roofs, nothing is left to chance. In summer, families would climb up to the Eucherts and La Rosière mountain pastures, taking advantage of the mild summer weather to work the higher ground.

It was in 1878, at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, that mountaineer Henri Duhamel discovered Norwegian skis. The French army quickly turned them into a military tool, creating a ski school at Fort de la Redoute Ruinée. In Montvalezan, enthusiasm grew: in 1920, the Union Sportive was founded, and the first Nordic skiing competitions were organised. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the pioneers of downhill skiing began carving their tracks from Les Eucherts.

In 1960, a group of motivated and visionary young skiers installed the Poletta ski lift. This marked the beginning of La Rosière’s rapid growth. Three ski lifts later, it was on a par with Roc Noir. In 1964, a development of chalets in Le Gollet shook up Alpine architectural standards: here, there were no tower blocks, just charming chalets. In 1975, the residents took control of their destiny by buying back the management from SERMA, and the expansion accelerated. The first chairlifts appeared in the 1980s, and the horizon broadened even further.

In 1985, the Chardonnet chairlift and Bellecombe ski lift marked a symbolic line: that of the opening towards Italy. La Thuile and La Rosière became one, united by a passion for skiing. This marked the birth of the Espace San Bernardo, a unique binational ski area where every turn becomes an invitation to travel.

And tomorrow? The adventure continues. In the turns of a freerider, the laughter on the slopes, the clinking of coffee cups on a sun-drenched terrace, you can hear the heartbeat of a resort that combines authenticity and daring. Welcome to La Rosière, where every winter — and every summer — writes a new chapter.