Courmayeur to get two new lifts

The world-renowned Courmayeur ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc is launching into a new era. A massive, €40 million infrastructure initiative is officially underway to replace two of the resort’s most historic and weather-vulnerable lift systems with state-of-the-art Leitner cableways.

The extensive modernization project will introduce two high-capacity, 10-passenger monocable gondolas designed to dramatically improve skier comfort, speed up transit times, and guarantee smoother operations during high-wind events. Crucially, the new installations will maintain the resort's existing geographical footprints while completely transforming the mountain’s layout and accessibility.

Retiring the Icons: The Two Key Upgrades

The multi-million-euro project targets two critical arteries within the resort's popular Chécrouit sector, replacing machinery that has served generations of skiers.

1. The Plan Chécrouit–Col Chécrouit Line

• The Old System: A six-seater Agudio gondola lift that has been in continuous service since 1986.

• The Upgrade: A high-tech Leitner 10-person gondola.

• The Impact: The new system boosts carrying capacity to 2,200 passengers per hour. It will slice travel times down from over 7 minutes to just 5 minutes and 30 seconds, greatly alleviating morning bottlenecking.

2. The Historic Maison Vieille Line

• The Old System: A slow, vintage two-seater Nascivera chairlift originally constructed in 1975.

• The Upgrade: A matching 10-passenger Leitner gondola operating at a swift 6 meters per second.

• The Impact: Transporting up to 2,000 skiers and snowboarders per hour, this dramatic shift from an open chair to an enclosed cabin will slash ride times to a mere 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

Enhanced Safety for Beginners and Year-Round Utility

The transition to a gondola system at Maison Vieille is being hailed as a major win for families and novice skiers. Enclosed cabins remove the anxiety of loading and unloading small children from moving chairlifts, providing a safe and stress-free route to the slopes.

To complement the new gondola, Courmayeur will also reorganize the Maison Vieille beginner sector, installing two brand-new conveyor carpets to create a highly intuitive learning environment.

Furthermore, the Maison Vieille line will feature full summer operational capabilities. This will provide seamless, year-round access to the Courmayeur Mont Blanc Bike Area, alpine hiking loops like the Lake Chécrouit trail, and the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) trekking route.

Strategic Funding and Winter Launch

The €40-plus million investment is being entirely funded privately by Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie Spa. The groundwork for the smooth execution of the project was laid back in October 2024, when the Municipality of Courmayeur unanimously approved the required resolutions granting the municipal land permissions and infrastructure easements.

While construction shifts into high gear over the summer—leaving only select connecting lifts open for hikers and mountain bikers—the resort is pacing to have both new systems fully operational in time for the 2026/27 winter season, solidifying Courmayeur's status as a premium alpine destination.