Snow Chains Required in Severe Winter Conditions in the Belleville Valley resorts

The local council has issued a new decree regarding mandatory winter equipment for vehicles accessing the Belleville Valley resorts (Val Thorens, Les Menuires, and Saint Martin de Belleville). This regulation applies for the entirety of the ski season.

Under Article 4.2, depending on weather conditions and road surfaces, authorities will refuse access to vehicles fitted only with snow socks if they are considered unsuitable for heavily snow-covered or icy roads. In these situations, metal snow chains will be required.

Vehicles that do not meet these requirements may be denied entry to the resorts in accordance with Article 2, and may result in fines - so it’s best to come prepared.

We strongly recommend buying metal snow chains before you travel (they are easy to source in the UK). If you leave it until in France, they can be purchased locally in larger supermarkets and garages. However, if the conditions are bad, there tends to be a rush to source them. So for a hassle-free start to your holiday, we would recommend already having them with you.

It’s better to be safe (and chain-ready), than stuck at the bottom of the mountain.

Thank you, safe travels, and have a fantastic holiday in the Alps.

The Get me to the Alps Team