View source for Tignes

{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Tignes
|commune status     = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image              = Tignes-winter.JPG
|caption            = Tignes Le Lac taken from the Aiguille Pierce mountain, with views of Val Claret in the background
|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Tignes (Savoie).svg
|arrondissement     = Albertville
|canton             = Bourg-Saint-Maurice
|INSEE              = 73296
|postal code        = 73320
|mayor              = Serge Revial<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality   =
|coordinates        = {{coord|45.4683|6.9056|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        = 1810
|elevation min m    = 1440
|elevation max m    = 3747
|area km2           = 81.63
|population         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|website=https://en.tignes.net}}
'''Tignes''' ({{IPA|fr|tiɲ}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Tarentaise Valley]], in the [[Savoie]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Rhône-Alpes]] [[Regions of France|region]] in south-eastern France, known for the highest skiable area<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/news/a/581755/the-highest-ski-resorts-in-europe|title=The highest ski resorts in Europe|website=OnTheSnow|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> and the longest ski season<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skiline.co.uk/blog/ski-line-indoor-ski-run-400m-long-2000m-mountain|title=Ski Line indoor ski run 400m long 2000m up a mountain {{!}} Ski Line ®|website=www.skiline.co.uk|date=27 February 2017|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> in Europe. It is located in the [[Savoie]] region with good transport links in and out of [[Lyon]], [[Geneva]] and [[Chambéry]].
It is best known as a snow sure [[ski resort]]. Together with neighbouring [[Val d'Isère]], it forms the [[Tignes – Val d'Isère]] ski area. The proximity of two resorts offers one of the most seamless links between ski areas in Europe, in effect creating a single skiable area of over 300&nbsp;km piste. Whilst not the largest ski area in the Alps, the level of integration between the two resorts is so good that it is often described as feeling like one of the largest single ski areas as a result.
Tignes was the [[Freestyle skiing at the 1992 Winter Olympics|freestyle skiing]] venue for the [[1992 Winter Olympics]], co-host city for the [[1992 Winter Paralympics]] and host of the Winter [[X Games]]. This, coupled with the year round skiing, season length and large number of ski parks/slalom runs has cemented Tignes as the go to training ground for snow sport athletes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skiline.co.uk/blog/ski-line-indoor-ski-run-400m-long-2000m-mountain|title=Ski Line indoor ski run 400m long 2000m up a mountain {{!}} Ski Line ®|website=www.skiline.co.uk|date=27 February 2017|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref>
The terrain of valley lends itself to more challenging skiing, with advanced skiers often opting for the resort as their preferred ski area. The town has however strived to improve its appeal to beginner and intermediate skiers with the introduction of easier runs lower down in the valley towards Tignes-Les-Brévières and upgrading existing chairlifts and installing new ones with smaller elevation gains.
==Geography==
=== Natural Stadium ===
The main villages of Tignes sit within a base of a high altitude valley with the Grande Motte at the furthest point and an array of other peaks wrapping around the valley. The other end is open, and drops away to the Lac du Chevril. This geography is described as having the feeling of being in a large open stadium, and Tignards (locals) often refer to the area as the "Stade Naturel", or Natural Stadium in English.
===Villages===
Tignes comprises 5 Villages; [[Tignes Val Claret]], Tignes le Lac, Le Lavachet, Tignes Les Boisses and [[Tignes-les-Brévières]]. The first three are close together at 2100&nbsp;m with Les Boisses and Les Brevieres further down the valley, above and below the dam respectively. All the towns located above the dam are linked by a free continuous shuttle bus. The only village located below these villages, Tignes Les Brévières, is accessible to the others via a free gondola service which operates late into the evening. Les Brévières remains the only remaining part of the original town, with all the others created as part of the dam construction or development of the ski resort. All the villages are part of the ski resort known as Tignes.
[[File:Tignes-Les-Brévières, France - 2019.jpg|none|thumb|View onto the old town of Tignes located at 1550m]]
===Dam (barrage de Tignes)===
[[Image:200603 - Barrage de Tignes 06.JPG|200px|left|thumb|Barrage de Tignes.]]
The original village of Tignes was in the Isère valley below [[Val d'Isère]].  After the second world war, France needed electricity and it was decided to build the hydro-electric [[Tignes Dam]] in the Isère valley.  Whilst this was a great achievement for French engineering and was for the greater good of France, it meant that the old village of Tignes was drowned. The dam was completed and the village was submerged in 1952. A replica of the original church was created in Tignes les Boisses. Once every 10 years the lake behind the dam (Lac du Chevril) is drained for maintenance work and the remains of the old village becomes visible.
The dam was painted with a fresco of Hercules in 1989 by [[Jean-Marie Pierret]] with the help of eight mountain climbers; it was funded by private corporations interested in boosting the Olympic appeal during the winter games of 1992 which took place in nearby Albertville.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEEDC1F3DF936A35752C1A96F948260 | work=The New York Times | title=WORKS IN PROGRESS; That Dammed Hercules By Bruce Weber | date=1989-11-05 | access-date=2010-05-25}}</ref><ref>[http://www.tignesnet.com/about-the-area/tignes-from-past-to-present.htm Tignes: From Past to Present]</ref>
===Climate===
Tignes has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfc''). The average annual temperature in Tignes is {{cvt|2.8|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1036.6|mm}} with August as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around {{cvt|11.6|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|-5.3|C}}. The highest temperature ever recorded in Tignes was {{cvt|29.9|C}} on 23 July 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-27.8|C}} on 27 February 2018.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Tignes (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1992−present)
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|collapsed=y
|Jan record high C = 10.6
|Feb record high C = 12.0
|Mar record high C = 13.9
|Apr record high C = 14.3
|May record high C = 20.6
|Jun record high C = 27.0
|Jul record high C = 29.9
|Aug record high C = 26.5
|Sep record high C = 22.4
|Oct record high C = 20.4
|Nov record high C = 15.9
|Dec record high C = 9.0
|Jan record low C = -24.3
|Feb record low C = -27.8
|Mar record low C = -22.5
|Apr record low C = -15.9
|May record low C = -11.4
|Jun record low C = -7.1
|Jul record low C = -1.7
|Aug record low C = -2.8
|Sep record low C = -7.6
|Oct record low C = -13.4
|Nov record low C = -19.0
|Dec record low C = -22.7
|Jan high C = -1.2
|Feb high C = -0.3
|Mar high C = 3.0
|Apr high C = 5.4
|May high C = 9.4
|Jun high C = 14.1
|Jul high C = 16.4
|Aug high C = 16.3
|Sep high C = 12.3
|Oct high C = 9.0
|Nov high C = 2.9
|Dec high C = -0.3
|year high C = 7.3
|Jan mean C = -5.3
|Feb mean C = -5.1
|Mar mean C = -2.0
|Apr mean C = 1.0
|May mean C = 5.2
|Jun mean C = 9.5
|Jul mean C = 11.5
|Aug mean C = 11.5
|Sep mean C = 7.9
|Oct mean C = 4.7
|Nov mean C = -0.8
|Dec mean C = -4.2
|year mean C = 2.8
|Jan low C = -9.3
|Feb low C = -9.9
|Mar low C = -7.0
|Apr low C = -3.5
|May low C = 1.1
|Jun low C = 4.9
|Jul low C = 6.6
|Aug low C = 6.7
|Sep low C = 3.4
|Oct low C = 0.5
|Nov low C = -4.6
|Dec low C = -8.2
|year low C = -1.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 92.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 65.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 73.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 61.4
|May precipitation mm = 104.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 102.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 100.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 105.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 72.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 85.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 76.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 97.9
|year precipitation mm = 1036.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 9.6
|Feb precipitation days = 7.9
|Mar precipitation days = 9.7
|Apr precipitation days = 10.0
|May precipitation days = 13.7
|Jun precipitation days = 12.5
|Jul precipitation days = 11.6
|Aug precipitation days = 11.8
|Sep precipitation days = 9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 9.8
|Nov precipitation days = 9.9
|Dec precipitation days = 10.8
|year precipitation days = 126.8
|source 1 = [[Météo-France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_73296005.pdf
| title=Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = September 4, 2022}}</ref>}}
==Population==
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-73296#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |901
|1975 |1412
|1982 |1486
|1990 |2005
|1999 |2220
|2007 |2169
|2012 |2494
|2017 |2196
}}
== Ski resort ==
[[Image:Tignes Pointe de la Sana 2005.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A ski lift on the Grande Motte.]]
[[File:Tignes Ski Resort.jpg|thumb|179x179px|Logo used to identify the ski resort]]
After the loss of the old village it was decided to develop a ski resort at the higher lake (Le Lac). This was surrounded by a bowl that is ideal for skiing and is headed by the Grand Motte glacier. The resort was developed largely during the 1960s and the building style reflects what was regarded as good building design at that time. In recent years the town has worked to improve the look of the new villages with some success.
The lifts of Tignes have been managed since 1967 by the company STGM (The Société des Téléphériques de la Grande Motte).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tignes.net/GB_STGM.html |title=The STGM, Tignes ski lift company |access-date=2009-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116073816/http://www.tignes.net/GB_STGM.html |archive-date=2009-01-16 }} STGM Tignes</ref> Many lifts are fast 6 or 8 person [[chairlift]]s and there are 113 [[snow cannon]]s which produce 450,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup> of artificial snow each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tignes.net/GB_STGM.html |title=The STGM, Tignes ski lift company |access-date=2009-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116073816/http://www.tignes.net/GB_STGM.html |archive-date=2009-01-16 }}</ref> The ski area is linked through easy access with the adjacent resort of [[Val-d'Isère]], combining to form the [[Tignes-Val d'Isere]] ski area (formerly known as [[Espace Killy]]). At 4.2&nbsp;km, Tignes boasts the 4th longest [[funicular]] in the world.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} Ski trails in Tignes reach a height of 3456&nbsp;m, aiding its reputation as one of the best resorts in the Alps for snow sureness.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Tignes.htm |title=Tignes Ski Apartments and Hotels - Skiing in Tignes France |access-date=2011-11-14 |archive-date=2011-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117013823/http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Tignes.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The resort has also become the home for Apex 2100, an international ski academy aiming to become the world's leading academy for young skiers. The academy is headed by former English rugby union player and coach, Sir Clive Woodward.
===Operations===
There are 56 ski patrollers covering the resort of Tignes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tignes.net/en/ski-a-tignes/rescue-206.html |title=Rescue - Tignes |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108093126/http://www.tignes.net/en/ski-a-tignes/rescue-206.html |archive-date=2010-01-08 }}</ref>
15 snow cats maintain the quality of the pistes. Four of these are equipped with winches for working steep slopes and one is adapted for shaping the half pipe. Around 60 percent of the slopes are groomed each evening.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tignes.net/GB_damage.html |title=Snowcats operators |access-date=2009-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214030338/http://tignes.net/GB_damage.html |archive-date=2009-02-14 }}</ref>
===Grande Motte glacier===
Owing to the presence of the [[Grande Motte]] [[glacier]], Tignes used to offer year round skiing but, as the glacier has receded in recent years, this has now ceased.  However skiing on the glacier is still possible during some of the summer months and in autumn, as well as during the winter season (end of November to beginning of May). The Grande Motte cable car has recently been upgraded to increase access to the top of the glacier.
=== Environment ===
Tignes and Val-D'isere were the first resorts of their kind to be internationally recognised for their commitment to providing an environmentally friendly skiing area by gaining a GreenGlobe certificate. The award was given for the towns high quality public transport connectivity and integration as well as its total use of renewable electricity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green Globe |url=https://www.skipass-tignes.com/en/green-globe |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Green Globe |language=en}}</ref>
==Tarentaise Valley skiing==
The [[Tarentaise Valley]] is the biggest concentration of world-class ski resorts in the world. The well-known neighbour systems are [[Paradiski]] ([[Les Arcs]] and [[La Plagne]]) and [[Les Trois Vallées]] ([[Courchevel]], [[Meribel]], [[Val Thorens]] and more). There were once plans to interlink all systems and resorts to create the largest ski area in the world. However, that vision was ended with the creation of the [[Vanoise National Park]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
==2017 avalanche==
On 13 February 2017, four people died in an avalanche in the ski resort. It was reported to be at least 400 metres (1,300&nbsp;ft) wide and at an altitude of 2,100 metres.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38954628|title=Four dead in avalanche at French ski resort Tignes|publisher=BBC News|date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The members were being led by an ESF instructor but were skiing on a notoriously avalanche prone area, on a day when the avalanche risk in the resort was high.
== Summer ==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2020}}
[[File:Tignes golf course.jpg|thumb|View from the 7th hole of the golf course with Tignes Le Lac in the background]]
[[File:Football-Team-Training-in-the-French-Alps-5.jpg|thumb|Brighton Football team training on one of the high-altitude football pitches]]
Tignes is well known for its year round amenities. In the summer Tignes shifts towards a multi activity resort with particular focus as an altitude training base for athletes. Many come to the resort to utilise the facilities it offers for altitude training with notable sports people such as the [[French national rugby union team]] making use of the facilities. [[France football team|France's national football team]] famously trained here prior to their [[1998 FIFA World Cup final|1998 World Cup]] win.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Auclair |first=Philippe |date=2018-05-12 |title=World Cup stunning moments: France implode in South Africa |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/15/world-cup-stunning-moments-france-implode |access-date=2023-03-25 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> More recently a string of football teams from the UK have used the location for pre-season training, including premier league team, [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabriel |first=Debbie |date=2016-06-22 |title=Football Team Training In The French Alps |url=https://www.inthesnow.com/football-team-training-french-alps/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=InTheSnow}}</ref>
However, Tignes still maintains its appeal as a ski resort by offering skiers the ability to ski on the Grande Motte glacier from the end of June to the beginning of August.
Tignes has the second highest golf course in Europe. Designed by the golf architect Philippe Valant, the course features a full 18 hole course running along a 5&nbsp;km stretch of the mountainside.<ref>{{Citation |last=Tietge |first=Roberta M. |title=Wildlife and Golf Courses |date=2020-10-25 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781003070092-6 |work=Golf Course Management & Construction |pages=441–478 |publisher=CRC Press |doi=10.1201/9781003070092-6 |isbn=978-1-003-07009-2 |access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref>
==Tour de France==
Tignes was first used as a summit finish for [[2007 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 10#Stage 8|Stage 8]] of the [[2007 Tour de France]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-19 |title=Tour de France 2007: Stage 8 Results |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2007/stage-8/results/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}</ref> Tignes was scheduled to be the [[summit finish]] for stage 19 of the [[2019 Tour de France]]. Due to a snowstorm and mudslide, the road to Tignes was impassable and so the stage was ended at [[Col de l'Iseran]] instead.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-2019-stage-19-cancelled-hailstorm-egan-bernal-yellow-jersey-snow-a9022471.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-2019-stage-19-cancelled-hailstorm-egan-bernal-yellow-jersey-snow-a9022471.html |archive-date=2022-05-07 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title= Tour de France 2019: Stage 19 suspended after flash snowstorm to leave Egan Bernal in yellow jersey| work=[[The Independent]]| date=26 July 2019| access-date=2 December 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-stage-19-stopped-top-col-diseran-due-freak-hailstorm-432821| title= Tour de France stage 19 stopped at top of Col de l'Iseran due to freak hailstorm and landslide| magazine=[[Cycling Weekly]]| date=26 July 2019| access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> Tignes was the summit finish for stage 9 of the [[2021 Tour de France]], as well as the location for the first rest day of the Tour.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.velonews.com/events/tour-de-france/2021-tour-de-france-route-three-summit-finishes-and-two-time-trials/| title= 2021 Tour de France route: Three summit finishes and two time trials| magazine=[[VeloNews]]| date=1 November 2020| access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> The stage was won by Australian [[Ben O'Connor (cyclist)|Ben O'Connor]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-stage-9-result-b1877910.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling/tour-de-france-stage-9-result-b1877910.html |archive-date=2022-05-07 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title=Ben O'Connor wins stage nine of the Tour de France as Tadej Pogacar retains yellow jersey in Tignes| work=[[The Independent]]| date=4 July 2021| accessdate=4 June 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Tignes-les-Brévières]]
*[[Tignes Val Claret]]
*[[List of ski areas and resorts in Europe]]
*[[Communes of the Savoie department]]
==References==
*[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1992/orw1992.pdf 1992 Winter Olympics official report.] pp.&nbsp;112–3. {{in lang|en|fr}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Tignes}}
* [http://www.tignes.net/en Tignes website]
* [http://photoenligne.free.fr/Savoie/Tignes/Tignes.html Photo gallery of Tignes]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070703181302/http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/COURSE/us/etape_par_etape_800.html Profile of climb]
* [http://www.360travelguide.com/360VirtualTour.asp?iCode=tgn05 Panoramic photo of dog sledding on Tignes Lake]
{{Savoie communes}}
{{1992 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues freestyle skiing}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Venues of the 1992 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Communes of Savoie]]
[[Category:Olympic freestyle skiing venues]]
[[Category:Ski resorts in France]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Savoie]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Savoie]]