The facility, which cost around €1 million (£805,000/$111,000), will be used by the likes of double Olympic gold medallist Martin Fourcade, one of the dominant forces in the sport of biathlon after he clinched four titles at the World Championships in Oslo in March.

It has been built for French athletes in biathlon, cross-country skiing and Nordic combined and includes a new ski preparation room and workshop, a dedicated biathlon development and rifle workshop, a physio and massage area and a post-training recovery room.

The Nordic Pavilion, part of what has been called a major expansion of the National Training Centre, also has accommodation for 24 athletes.

The venue is located just two kilometres from the various training facilities used by the French biathlon side, such as the extensive rollerski tracks, the indoor ski-in and out electronic shooting range, and the 30-point outdoor shooting range.

It is hoped the Nordic Pavilion, which spans 580 square metres, will provide a higher-quality base for elite-level and developing athletes.

The cost of the project has been shared by the state, local authorities and the National School for Mountain Sports.

France dominated the International Biathlon Union World Championships, topping the medals table with a haul of six golds.

Fourcade’s personal tally of four was followed by Marie Dorin Habert, who claimed three crowns as she won the women’s 15km individual mass start and 12.5km pursuit races.

Habert, second on the overall IBU World Cup standings last season, and Fourcade were also part of the French quartet which struck gold in the mixed relay event.