The French Alps attract both beginner and advanced skiers from all over the world. This is understandable: the variety of trails and natural beauty are combined with the modern infrastructure of luxury resorts. In total, there are more than 400 ski resorts in France, from large and famous to very small and no less cozy. For beginners, Alpe d'Huez, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Villars de Lans, Risoul, Les Menuires, Val Cenis and all the resorts of the Murien Valley, where there are a huge number of sunny plateaus, are suitable. prestigious holiday We can recommend Courchevel, Megeve, Val d'Isere - these resorts amaze with the number of luxury hotels, luxury chalets, restaurants and boutiques.
Chamonix
Chamonix is the center of the popular ski region Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Now Chamonix is known as popular and relatively accessible for lovers alpine skiing and snowboard resort. The Chamonix Valley, stretching for 16 km, includes several ski areas: Grand Montet, Les Tours, Les Houches, Brevin, Flegere, as well as the famous White Valley - an off-piste descent about 20 km long from the top of the Aiguille du Midi (3843 m) . Skiing in Chamonix is so varied, you can find slopes for skiers of all levels.
Ski station "Grand Monte" in Chamonix. Photo credit: Daniel Simpson, commons.wikimedia.org
With 157 kilometers of ski slopes and virtually unlimited off-piste areas, Chamonix is a very popular ski region with all year round. The lift system gives access to the high mountain areas around Mont Blanc.
Ski resorts Chamonix is suitable for children, beginner and intermediate skiers, as well as advanced skiers. There is no single ski area in Chamonix, connected by a network of lifts. To the ski areas (Le Brevent, Les Houches, Le Tours, Argentiere) you need to go 7-15 minutes by ski bus.
Espace Killy
The resorts of Val d'Isère and Tignes form a single ski area, Espace Killy, with a total of 300 km of ski slopes of varying difficulty levels and about a hundred lifts. Skiing at the resort is guaranteed not only in winter, but also in summer thanks to the Pissaia glacier.
Val d'Isere
In Val d'Isere, the ski lifts are located quite conveniently in relation to apartments and hotels, some of which can be reached on skis. Val d'Isere has several thousand hectares of marked ski slopes and 10 thousand hectares of virgin soil at an altitude of 1550 to 3500 m. Here is the best ski and snowboard school, as well as experienced freeride instructors. The ski season lasts from early December to late March. The halfpipe is located at the end of the Face de Belle-varde piste, and there is also a snow park there. The length of cross-country ski trails is 24 km.
For fans of extreme skiing, there are the breathtaking rock bastions of Galiz and Grande Aiguille Rousse. For beginners - classic routes in the forests of Santon and Vallon. Pros will appreciate the Bellevard rock with the Bernard Roussy downhill (height 2809 m, vertical drop 972 m, length 2905 m, average slope 350, maximum slope 63 degrees).
Val d'Isere retains the atmosphere of a traditional French village. The architectural appearance is unique among other French ski resorts.
Tignes
Tignes (2100 m) is a high-altitude resort in Espace Killy - one of the best places in France for freeride. The World Cup stages are held here every year. Snowboarders love Tignes for its wide, fairly steep slopes. This resort is ideal for a fun youth holiday.
Snow cover is guaranteed thanks to the glacier, which makes summer skiing possible. Modern ski lifts and many different trails are the advantages of this resort. Tignes consists of several stations: Tignes-le-Lac and Tignes-Lavache (located nearby), Tignes-Val-Clare (located 2 km from the first two in the valley above the lake). There are few hotels in Tignes; the main type of accommodation is apartments; there are many inexpensive options.
Both Val d'Isere and Tignes have a large number of both children's (from 3 years old) and adult ski and snowboard schools (7 schools in Tignes with 350 teachers, 12 in Val d'Isere with 450 teachers), in which You can not only acquire or improve your skills, but also fly by helicopter to remote areas to go through the most interesting routes with a guide-instructor. For the youngest children there are kindergartens, nannies and caregivers.
Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallées)
Three Valleys - the largest mountain ski resort in the world. It unites more than 200 lifts, more than 600 km of marked trails. This is the site of the 1992 Olympic Games. On the territory of the Three Valleys there are many world-famous ski villages - Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650, Courchevel 1850, La Tanya, Meribel, Mottaret, Les Menuires, Val Thorens. From a skiing point of view, it doesn’t matter which town you stay in. A single ski pass for all Three Valleys gives access to all 200 lifts.
Meribel
Meribel - excellent place for those who ride at an intermediate level. Excellent opportunities for ski safaris, there are many wide, not too difficult trails throughout the ski area. It is good to hone your technique on the slopes between Pas du Lac and Platières. Almost every slope has easy descents.
The advantage of Meribel, which has provided the resort with enormous popularity, is its central location in the Three Valleys. While here, you benefit a lot from the ability to choose the direction of travel and ski area depending on the weather, mood and level of skiing or snowboarding. The Meribel resort (1400-1600 m) also includes the Meribel Mottaret station (1700-1800 m).
Val Thorens
Val Thorens, French ski station at an altitude of 2300 m, it is the highest in Europe. Val Thorens has 68 ski slopes stretching over 140 km, of which 8 are green (easy), 25 blue (medium), 27 red (difficult), 8 black (for experts). The ski area is equipped with 29 mechanical lifts , with a capacity of 60,680 people/hour. The resort is equipped with a snowpark and facilities for new types of skiing (bordercross, halfpipe). In the resort of Val Thorens, located in the heart of a large natural park with six glaciers, numerous ski routes are presented.
Courchevel
One of the most prestigious ski resorts in France, Courchevel, is famous for its huge selection of pistes and virgin slopes. The Alpine villages of the Courchevel valley are located at five different levels: Le Praz - 1030 m, Saint-Bon - 1300 m, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850.
The main advantage of the resort for beginner skiers is the wide and smooth blue and green slopes, a large number of which are located under the Jardin Alpin ski lift. The longest and softest slopes lie in the Belcôte and Pralon ski areas. For intermediate skiers, we recommend the slopes in the La Wieselle area. The best red pistes are considered to be Marmot and Creux.
Brides-les-Bains
Brides-les-Bains is a resort whose infrastructure was created specifically for the Winter Olympic Games in 1992. The location of the resort itself was also not chosen by chance - it is ideally located in relation to the Three Valleys. Straight cable car"Olympus" will take you to Meribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens in just 20 minutes.
Here you can not only ride, but also get medical treatment: vacationers have a large health center with thermal springs, swimming pool with mineral water, courses of treatment with healing mud, all types of massage.
Sports opportunities in the region include alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiles, tobogganing, sledding, bobsleigh, rock climbing, hiking. A cheerful resort life in Brides-les-Bains will be provided by bars, restaurants, cafes, and discos. Here is the only casino in the mountains (except for the resort of Chamonix). As well as shops, cinemas, excursions. The resort hosts ski competitions and music festivals.
Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez is the largest ski resort in France, located at an altitude of 1860 m, on the sunny plateau of the Grandes Rousses massif. This is one of the oldest Alpine resorts. 300 days of sunshine a year and proximity to Grenoble airport make Alpe d'Huez one of the most visited and beloved ski resorts in Europe.
This is one of 20 resorts in the world where ski lifts provide a vertical height difference of over 2000 meters. The stepped arrangement on the mountain and the longest system of internal lifts allow skiing directly from the hotel. There is a huge beginner ski area right next to the resort. Season from late November to late April. Summer skiing on the Sarenne Glacier is possible in July and August.
The difficulty of the pistes according to the local classification is downplayed; many red pistes at other resorts would be designated black. The longest certified track in Europe is Sarenne (16 km). The Tunnel track, featured in one of the James Bond films, goes through a tunnel in a glacier. Snowpark and halfpipe for snowboarders at Lac Blanc. For lovers of cross-country skiing there are three circular tracks with a total length of 54 km.
Megève
One of the most prestigious and picturesque ski resorts with world renown. The pedestrian zone with cobbled streets in the center and ancient architecture create the atmosphere of a real Savoyard village. Mont Joly and other sites offer impressive views of Mont Blanc. The mountains rise to a height of 1000-2500 meters, up to 1850 meters the mountains are covered with spruce and fir forests, giving a special charm to this place. Megeve includes three ski areas: Rochebrune-Côte, Mont-d'Arbois and Les Jayes. This is a good place for beginner skiers and those who prefer a family holiday.
Professionals will enjoy the steepest and most difficult slopes in the Mont Joly and Mont Joux areas; there are black and red slopes in Cote 2000, but they are not very long. For intermediate levels, the slopes in Mont d'Arbois are suitable; the slopes served by the Grand Vorasse ski lift are also interesting; more difficult slopes are in the Combloux and Jeyes areas. In general, Megève is ideal for skiers of this level. There are slopes both below the town and and at the top in all three areas, but only two of them are connected by a lift - Rochebrune and Mont-d'Arbois. Les Jeyes can only be reached by ground transport.
Megève has an Olympic skating rink, dog sledding, sleigh rides, horse riding, helicopter flights, etc.
Les Deux Alpes
The resort of Les Deux Alpes is located in the center of the Alpine mountain range Oisan. The station is located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, at the foot of one of the largest glaciers in Europe, and provides skiers and snowboarders with the opportunity to ski all year round. Mechanical lifts, including a cable car, funicular, chairlifts and rope tows, allow you to rise to a height of 3520 m. The ski area of Les Deux Alpes 3600 extends over 430 hectares. The height difference is from 1300 to 3600 m, the total length of the routes is 225 km.
Winter and summer snowparks are located on the glacier. The snow park's ten ski areas are designed for both beginner snowboarders and freestyle fans, as well as experienced extreme sports enthusiasts. winter sports. Jumps and turns of varying complexity allow for official competitions. There are many schools for beginner skiers. Professional instructors (including Russian-speaking ones) teach beginners how to ski and snowboard, and advanced skiers can take part in individual or group lessons in freeride, slopestyle, etc.
The resort offers tourists a huge range of entertainment: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, an ice skating rink, swimming pools, lessons at a paragliding school, bowling, excursions to an ice grotto located at an altitude of 3400 m.
Villars de Lans
The Villars de Lens ski resort is located in the center of the largest natural park in France - Vercors, on the slopes of the Aigle massif and the Pre-Alpes Dauphiné ridge. What makes this town especially attractive is its location - it is surrounded on all sides by gorges and picturesque mountain ranges.
The slopes of Villars de Lans are part of a single ski area with slopes small resort Correncon-en-Vercors. This ski area is perfect for beginners and those with intermediate skiing skills. There are 130 km of trails with elevation differences from 1160 to 2285 meters. About 50 km of them are “green” and “blue”, 49 km are “red”, 31 km are “black”. The descents are very beautiful, as they pass through forests, picturesque canyons and plateaus.
The climate in the resort is quite humid, so in its upper areas there are many virgin areas with plenty of snow. For lovers of cross-country skiing and hiking to Villars de Lans there is a route of 160 km. Any of the slopes can be reached using 29 lifts, most of which are rope tows. The ski season in Villars de Lens lasts from the beginning of December to the first days of April.
In addition to excellent slopes, the resort has a wonderful water park, ice skating rink, fan park (in Correncon-en-Vercors), cinema, bowling alley, casino, sports center, numerous restaurants and bars. Kindergartens are open for children, ski schools, separate trails and lifts are equipped. You can also visit the Shoranches caves of the Vercors nature reserve and see a light or sound show, visit the robot museum, the water museum and the historical museum.
Paradiski
The combined Paradiski ski region includes the resorts of La Plagne, Peysé-Valandry, Les Coches and Les Arcs. This resort area is very young (created in 2003), and its name was born during an international competition, the winner of which was Paradiski (a combination of the French word Paradis - “paradise” and the English word ski - “skis”). Paradiski has excellent conditions for freeriding and teaching children skiing. Skiing on two glaciers is possible all year round.
The slopes stretch from the summit of the Aiguille de Rouge (2335 m) in the west, the Bellecôte peak (3417 m) in the center and Les Verdon mountains (2500 m) in the east to the foot of the Tarentaise valley, forming an extended ski area running down the wooded slopes to small towns in the valley. In total, Paradiski offers 425 km of ski slopes at altitudes from 1200 to 3250 meters, with approximately 13% of them being black, 24% red, 58% blue and 5% green. The slopes are served by 144 lifts, and the individual resorts are connected by a single system of lifts (including the largest Vanoise Express cable car in Europe, 1.6 km long and with cabins for 200 people each) and slopes.
Les Arcs consists of several mountain villages - Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Arc-1600, Arc-1800, Arc-1950 and Arc-2000, whose ski areas are located at altitudes from 1200 to 3226 m. Arc-1800 has many slopes for beginners , the descents of Arc-1600 are steeper, Arc-2000 offers to conquer the Olympic slopes of the Aiguille Rouge peak (3226 m). Thanks to well-groomed pistes and smooth mountainous terrain Les Arcs has been chosen more than once as the venue for international downhill competitions. Snowboarders can enjoy a fun park and a 180 m long half-pipe in Les Arcs.
The La Plagne resort consists of 10 stations, six of which are connected by an extensive network of ski lifts, and four of which are slightly removed from them. The region is dominated by slopes of medium difficulty, but there are also slopes for professionals, descending from the peaks of Belcôte and Bioley. The “blue” slopes can be easily mastered by a beginner who comes on holiday to La Plagne, while the “Kamikaze” and “Harakiri” slopes will appeal to advanced athletes. One of the local attractions is the bobsled track, where the 1992 Winter Olympics were held.
Portes du Soleil
The Portes du Soleil resort is also known as the “Gateway of the Sun” - it always has sunny weather and excellent slopes for both pros and beginners. Located between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc on the border of France and Switzerland. Portes du Soleil includes eight French and six Swiss resorts.
Many schools, pistes of varying difficulty levels in four ski areas on the French side: Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz and Chatel. The choice of local slopes will satisfy skiers of any level, and there is a single ski pass throughout the resort. Due to the low location of the ski areas, Portes du Soleil is best visited from January to March.
Portes du Soleil has 280 pistes, of which 26 are black, 105 red, 112 blue and 37 green. There are 201 lifts, and the resort has 650 km of slopes. Nine snowparks will delight the most experienced snowboarders and freestyle enthusiasts. To Portes du Soleil good conditions for off-piste skiing. And after a busy ski day You can relax in any of the 89 mountain restaurants.
Avoriaz/Morzine
The town of Morzine lies in a spacious valley at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. One of largest resorts Porte du Soleil, Morzine, is at an altitude of just 1000 meters and is the center of the French part of the region. The city is known for its traditional ski resort atmosphere - the first ski lift here was opened in 1934. There are many shops and restaurants, as well as hotels and apartments.
Avoriaz is the youngest Portes du Soleil resort, specially built for alpine skiing. Avoriaz is literally entangled with tracks on all sides. The ski in ski out system works here - you can get from your home to the piste and vice versa. Avoriaz is considered the center of European snowboarding - it was here that the first Snowboard World Cup was played in 1989. There are off-piste ski areas not far from the city. Snowboarding enthusiasts will appreciate the snowparks: The Bleu du Lac for experienced snowboarders and The La Chapelle for beginners. For freestyle there is a superpipe. For advanced skiers there are simply unlimited possibilities, the slopes are simple, long, mostly sunny. A very interesting ski area in Champery and Les Gets, but there is one inconvenience: you can only get to Les Gets through the Morzine station by taking off your skis.
Les Menuires
The resort is located in the Belleville valley a few kilometers from Val Thorens at an altitude of 1850 meters and is connected by a network of ski lifts to Val Thorens, Meribel, La Tanya and Courchevel. Ski season is from December to May. The total length of the trails is 160 km, there are 28 km of cross-country ski trails.
The resort is actively developing the North American beginners village model. There is a designated ski area (about 5,000 sq. m) for beginner skiers, which is served by six free ski lifts. There is also a special one for beginners ski pass for another 11 ski lifts in the region at especially low prices.
Particularly interesting are the red and black trails, which are located on the La Masse massif. While relaxing in the Menuirs resort, you should definitely take a ride along the 3 Marches and Mont de la Chambre routes. The resort is surrounded by numerous slopes, ideal for freeriding, from which you can access the lifts, avoiding the need to use a bus. The vast majority of tracks are blue and red.
Tourists can enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, parasailing, hiking, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. Après ski - restaurants, cafes, bars, pastry shops and pizzerias, disco, nightclub, bars with live music. And also billiards, two outdoor swimming pools, indoor tennis courts, fitness center with Turkish bath, sauna and gym, toboggan run, ice skating rink.
La Tanya
The ski resort of La Tanya is located between the ski resorts of Meribel (5 km) and Courchevel (2 km) on the border national park Vanoise belongs to the Three Valleys ski region. The resort is located at an altitude of 1400 meters. The ski season is from mid-December to the end of April. The number of ski slopes is 318 (30 black, 108 red, 129 blue, 51 green). The total length of the routes is more than 600 km. The total length of cross-country ski trails is 118.55 km (of which 26.5 km is in La Tanya itself).
All pistes are well-groomed, there is a lighted one for night skiing, and the lifts are located so that there are no queues. In La Tania there is the opportunity to ski on and off the numerous and varied pistes in neighboring Meribel and Val Thorens. Tourist infrastructure includes luxury hotels and restaurants, dear shopping mall“Forum”, even its own airfield. And of course, magnificent views of the mountains.
Among the nearby attractions are: National Park Vanoise, famous for its population of wild alpine mountain goats - Ibex. The park is home to chamois, alpine marmots, lynxes, snowshoe hares, stoats, bearded vultures, golden eagles and black grouse. Vanoise borders Italy's Gran Paradiso National Park, both of which form the largest protected area in Western Europe.
Half an hour's drive from La Tanya there are two health complex- spa center Grand Spa des Alpes in Brides-les-Bains and the Thermes de Salins les Bains in Salins-les-Thermes, famous for the healing properties of salt water used in the treatment of rheumatism and skin diseases.
Les Houches
The resort is located at the foot of highest peak Alps - Mont Blanc mountains (4807 m), from where the panoramic view to the landscapes of the foothills of the Chamonix valley. Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels come here - from beginners to experts. The reason for this is the unprecedented variety of descents, peaks, routes and slopes. Les Houches is also famous for hosting the annual World Cup downhill skiing competitions. One of the features of the resort is that most of the trails are laid through the forest.
Ski slopes range from 950 to 1900 meters in length, a large area for beginners and amateurs. There are 2 short slopes for beginners, right at the top of the Prarion and Bellevue lifts. Les Houches is suitable for beginner skiers. This is a more protected resort, in the sense that you can ski here quite comfortably even in bad weather.
Additional entertainment includes cafes and restaurants, dog sledding, and helicopter flights over the Chamonix Valley. Near Les Houches there is the picturesque village of Servoz, where you can visit the picturesque gorge Les Gorges de Diosaz, the Alpine Museum, and shops of local artisans. Annual local events - Christmas market, artisan festival, mule fair, markets with a wide variety of local delicacies.
Of course, it will never be possible to achieve complete unanimity on the issue of the best ski resort in France, because they are all so different! And at the same time, any of them will provide you with excellent conditions for skiing, incredibly beautiful landscapes and the atmosphere of a real holiday. Some resorts have a distinct theme and are meticulously styled, while others maintain a natural charm French Alps, some are especially famous for their après ski. Each boasts extraordinary ski terrain where you'll have a great time. In addition, all resorts have individual activity programs that will keep you and your family members entertained, regardless of age or hobby. We offer brief overview five of the most popular and luxurious French ski resorts, where you will definitely not be disappointed.
Chamonix
It retains the charm of Alpine culture and is one of the oldest ski resorts in France, where the 1924 Olympic Games took place. The stunning, majestic Mont Blanc provides magnificent scenery, making this place a true paradise for lovers of skiing and spectacular holidays. Chamonix is a luxurious, cozy resort where skiers of all levels have access to... great opportunities, which has excellent après ski and offers countless other activities. It has 145 trails with a total length of more than 140 km, which are located in 8 different zones of the valley. Extreme lovers will find very steep and high-speed descents for themselves. Excellent here too transport system: special buses will take you to any of the resorts. You can stay during your vacation in first-class chalets, rented apartments or a hotel.
Taking the cable car from the valley to the peaks, travelers can enjoy amazing views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps.
Well, gourmets should try fondue cheese - a dish for which this area is famous.
Courchevel
Courchevel is part of the Three Valleys ski area
Courchevel 1850 is an exclusive, popular and amazingly designed resort. Here you will find palaces and 5-star luxury chalets, which make this place especially popular among Parisians and Russians.
In addition to skiing, here you can enjoy excellent cuisine in gourmet local restaurants, wonderful shopping and unforgettable relaxing treatments.
Meribel
Part of the Three Valleys, it has a reputation for excellent après ski and is considered best place for real hedonists. By the way, this place is also great for both advanced skiers and those just starting to learn. First-class instructors will do everything necessary for you to confidently master the ski slopes.
In addition to skiing, it offers flights to hot air balloon, many heavenly spa treatments, walks on the glacier and excellent food. Fondue and raclette are again on the list of dishes that you definitely need to try while in these places.
Val d'Isere
One of the most popular ski resorts in France, which is especially appreciated by young skiers and snowboarders who want to get excellent physical activity and a lot of vivid impressions.
This big resort became the site of many Olympic events in 1992.
The ski area is quite extensive, so it can satisfy the requirements of any athlete and ordinary ski enthusiast. The place is also famous for its extremely active après ski scene. There is no shortage of bars and other entertainment venues in the city.
Val Thorens
It is the highest ski resort in Europe and the largest ski area. Val Thorens is part of the "Three Valleys", and its treelessness and high location make the resort one of the most attractive for true ski fans.
Val Thorens is one of the most stunning and impressive ski resorts, the feature of which, in addition to its height, can be considered extraordinary environment. Its wide slopes are suitable for skiers of all skill levels, and its delightful atmosphere will make your holiday unforgettable. With its excellent après ski and dog sledding opportunities, this resort is a popular destination for tourists visiting France.
The ski resorts of France are considered one of the best in the world. This is the location of the fabulously beautiful French Alps, where there are very extensive, interconnected ski areas. Fans of alpine skiing, snowboarding, bobsleigh and other winter sports can expect more than four thousand varied trails here. Tourists can choose the most suitable descent depending on their level of training, so local resorts will great place for relaxation, both professionals and beginners. On the local alpine slopes we hold competitions of the highest class.
The French Alps have hosted the Olympic Games three times.
Val d'Isere and Tignes
These French ski resorts are located next to each other. Val d'Zer and Tignes are recognized as the kings of alpine skiing among professional athletes. The height of the peaks is 1850 m and 2100 m, respectively. Local ski slopes are not only recognized as the best in France, but also compete with the best resorts world championship. Centers for winter sports fans are located 200 km from Geneva.
If you get to these resorts in France at the beginning of winter, you can watch with your own eyes the World Cup called “First Snow Criterium”. By the way, the trails are covered with snow from November to May. Not only are there no such diverse slopes anywhere else, but all the work revolves around tourists. An important point is the absence of queues for the lifts.
Val d'Zer and Tignes are not in vain discussed as a single entity. These resorts are connected into the "Killie Expanse" by ski lifts. It is in the complex that resorts provide maximum pleasure to active holidaymakers. The funicular (3500 m) called Grand Motte has a fairly high speed. In just 6 minutes you can rise from the station at 2100 m to an altitude of 3300 m. “Killy Space” offers vacationers comfortable trails of sufficient width, with high-quality markings. Their length is up to 300 km. Skiing enthusiasts can enjoy virgin snow skiing, and glacier skiing is also available all year round.
Les Deux Alpes
This ski resort in Alpine France is located literally at the foot of the Mont-de-Lans glacier, which is considered the largest in all of Europe. Height – 1650 m. The easiest way to get to it is from Geneva. To do this, you will have to overcome a distance of 220 km. Not only skiers, but also snowboarders love to relax here. A local “snowboard park” has been opened especially for them.
The glacier provides snow all year round, including the summer months, so alpine skiing in France is relevant not only during the frosty season.
The total length of the slopes at the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes is 200 km, including:
- Reds – 21;
- Blue – 25;
- Green – 22;
- Black – 8.
The Loisan massif is home to a high-mountain region of grandiose proportions. It is considered as unique as the White Valley of Mont Blanc. Vacations will not be limited to skiing; the ski resort offers a lot of entertainment for vacationers. On the territory there are health centers, heated swimming pools (indoor and outdoor). To experience the fabulous atmosphere, you should go down into the artificial ice grotto. Other leisure options include paragliding and skiing with torches.
Kurveshel
“Chosen by the stars” is what this ski resort in modern France is called. It gained such fame thanks to its high-quality service. Here are the most comfortable hotels and restaurants with the best level of service in the world. The resort has 4 levels from 1030 m to 1850 m, which are connected by lifts. The total length of local ski slopes is 600 km. Also located in Courchevel:
- 2 Olympic springboards designed for ski jumping;
- 1 high speed downhill track;
- 3 slalom tracks;
- 2 tracks for snowboarders;
- Climbing wall (13 m);
- Ice climbing tower (39 m).
To make your leisure time unforgettable and vibrant, restaurants and bars, discos and nightclubs, and sports complexes with tennis courts are constantly operating in Courchevel.
Meribel
A ski resort located right in the heart of the Three Valleys. Height - from 1450 to 1800 m. It is famous for its architectural sophistication. This high mountain point in France consists of three parts - Belvedere, Motare and the central part. They are connected to each other using lifts and roads.
Trails of varying difficulty make the picturesque landscapes even more gorgeous. It is the beauty of the French Alps that attracts so many tourists to Meribel. An equally exciting holiday awaits both lovers of comfortable descents and fans of virgin lands at the resort. The length of the tracks is 600 km.
The lift system is designed so that skiers do not have to use taxis and buses.
La Plagne
It was impossible to keep silent about this ski resort, because it is the largest in France. Despite the fact that the number of descents is simply incredible (123), the quality of the slopes can also amaze you. The resort includes four stations at the foot of the mountains and six high-mountain stations.
If you purchase a special pass in La Plagne, you can ride all the lifts in Les Arcs for free. If the subscription lasts 6 days or more, then you can ride for free during the day at each of the Olympic resorts belonging to the Savoy area. This way you can visit the main ski resorts in France and save significantly. These are places like:
- "Three Valleys";
- Pralonian en Vanoise;
- Le Sesy;
- "Killie Spaces".
Each La Plagne station has one free ski lift and a ski kindergarten. Not only skiers come here, but also snowboard lovers. There is a snowboard park for them. To replenish your energy after skiing, La Plagne has 21 restaurants, so it’s difficult to stay hungry here.
Chamonix
This ski resort in the French border area is considered one of the most visited in Europe. It is located right at the foot of the world's glaciers famous mountain Mont Blanc. The height of the peak is 4807 m, and the resort itself is at an altitude of 1050 m, occupying the intersection of the borders of France, Italy and Switzerland. The most high point local ski lift – 3842 m.
Chamonix is famous for its “White Valley”, which offers tourists as much as 20 km of off-piste skiing. People from all over the world come here to admire nature. But it’s not just about fabulous landscapes, but also about comfort. Chamonix has a well-developed infrastructure, which makes the holiday not only interesting, but also convenient for every tourist.
The following are open for guests' leisure:
- Wellness centers;
- Climbing wall;
- Athletics stadium;
- Indoor ice skating rink;
- Pool;
- Gym.
Val Thorens is located at an altitude of 2300 meters and is considered the highest ski resort in Europe. There is always a lot of snow here, and skiing safety is ensured by the special Gaz-ex avalanche control system. The "black" and "red" slopes of Val Thorens are located in the areas of Cime de Caron, Lac du Loup and La Mas, while in Pointe de Torrance fans of freeride will find excellent virgin fields. Snowboarders will be delighted by the fun park in the Plateau sector with unusual modules and special tracks for competitions. The resort also has slopes for those who are just starting to ski.
In addition, Val Thorens has a 6 km toboggan run, a snow and ice track for cars, a large sports complex, the best disco in France Underground and many wonderful places for après ski.
Photo gallery of the Val Thorens resort
Les Menuires is a family resort and a paradise for beginners; most of the slopes here are for those who are just starting out or want to improve their skills. It doesn’t take long to get from hotels and apartments to the slopes; they start right outside the door.
Les Menuires also has tracks for professionals; they are located on the slopes of Mont de la Chambre, and for snowboarders, there is an excellent fun park in the same area. Les Menuires offers beginner skiers a special ski area with an area of about 5000 square meters. m and a conveyor lift. The village has a sports center with an aqua club, a children's club, restaurants and bars.
Photo gallery of Les Menuires resort
Meribel is a great family ski resort. It is located in the center of the Three Valleys region and consists of three villages. This place is perfect for those who are just learning winter mountain sports or want to introduce children to skiing. Wide pistes in the Altiport and Rond-Point areas and a free ski lift for beginners will help any tourist to join the charm of skiing. However, there are also steep slopes in Meribel for professional athletes, for example, the La Face Olympic women's circuit or the descent to Combe du Valon. Meribel will also delight snowboarders - there are two special areas, Platier Snowpark and Arpasson Moonpark. In the first, a 650-meter track with obstacles, a half-pipe and a baby pipe is open to snowboarders, and in the second, a kilometer-long track with obstacles and two half-pipes.
Meribel has a sports complex, bowling alley, cinemas and nightclubs. The resort's restaurants are generally open after 17:00. Fans of parties and noisy parties can recommend the village of Mottare, where there are many discos, bars and nightclubs.
Photo gallery of Meribel resort
Brides-les-Bains is a superbly located ski resort with ideal access to the Three Valleys. The direct Olympus cable car takes skiers and snowboarders to Meribel, Val Thorens and Courchevel. The town was built for the 1992 Olympic Games and offers budget accommodation at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.
The total area of the resort's slopes is 77 km; there are 58 lifts with a capacity of 64 thousand people per hour. There are two fun parks for snowboarders and 33 km of ski trails for cross-country skiers.
In Brides-les-Bains you can not only have great skiing, but also improve your health; there is a large wellness center with thermal springs.
Val d'Isere is one of the most sporting resorts in the French Alps. Every year in November, the first starts of the World Cup are held here; in 1992, the resort hosted the Winter Olympics, in 2009 – the World Alpine Ski Championships. The sports tracks located in the Bellewarde area are open to everyone in the afternoon. At the same time, Val d’Isere has special ski areas for beginners, as well as excellent ski schools that will teach everything necessary for both children and adults. Resort guests have at their disposal a well-designed lift system that connects Val d'Isere with all ski areas, and 150 km of well-prepared pistes, including 12 green, 24 blue, 28 red and 15 black slopes. Val d'Pistes The Isères are known for their diversity, with a height difference of up to 1300 m.
Three ski areas: Bellevard, Solace and Col de Lisérant offer sports lovers a variety of trails. There are freeride areas, sports slopes, challenging black runs and magnificent panoramic slopes that will not leave you indifferent. Snowpark Val d'Isere is located in the Bellevard area. The resort is famous for its beautiful architectural appearance, an excellent selection of comfortable hotels and apartments and excellent restaurants. Outdoor skating rink, an aquatic center, a nightclub, many restaurants and cafes will allow you to have a great time after skiing. Tourists can be sure that Val d'Isere offers a truly diverse range of leisure activities.
Photo gallery of the Val d'Isere resort
Megève – excellent alpine resort, where both skiers and snowboarders will find plenty of opportunities for interesting skiing. The city itself looks great with buildings in the Savoyard style. Here great hotels, beautiful entertainment centers, restaurants and shops.
The resort offers its guests 222 pistes and is located in the center of the large Evasion-Mont Blanc ski area, where there are about 445 km of marked pistes of varying difficulty levels and 113 lifts. The ski season here lasts from December to April. The most interesting, beautiful and at the same time difficult slopes can be found in the Mont Joly and Mont Joux areas. There is another section with “red” and “black” tracks in Kot-2000. Those who are not so confident in their abilities should pay attention to the descents to Mont-d'Arbois or Comploux. Beginners will also find a place to ski in Megeve; easy “green” and “blue” slopes can be found not only below the town, but also in all three ski areas.
Snowboarders will appreciate the slopes at Combloux-Les-Jaillers, as well as the Piste de Fentin boarder route in Côte 2000 - Rochebrune. In addition to the Sports Palace with a swimming pool, saunas, gym and fitness center, Megève has cinemas, a bowling alley, an indoor Olympic skating rink and even an aviation club. Fans of evening entertainment will find casinos, jazz and bridge clubs, discos and many boutiques. Magnificent views of Mont Blanc can be seen from Mont Joly, and in Saint-Gervais you can swim in the thermal springs.
Photo gallery of the Megève resort
Courchevel is perhaps the most prestigious French resort, very popular among Russian tourists. A variety of slopes, an excellent selection of trails, beautiful virgin slopes - all this allows both beginners and experienced ski lovers to get a lot of pleasure from their holiday. The shopping and social life of Courchevel is amazing.
Beginners will enjoy the wide green and blue pistes in the Belcôte and Pralon ski areas. Those who are confident in skiing and snowboarding should look at the beautiful forest slope of Buc Blanc and the “red” slopes in Marmot and Creux. Professionals will appreciate the “black” slopes of Col de la Loz, Les Aval, Col du Pass du Lac, as well as descents from Saulir stations. 65 lifts take tourists to the Alpine peaks. Courchevel has a snow park, a half-pipe, many snow cannons, and a 2-kilometer long toboggan run. An indoor sports complex, bowling alley, fitness center, ice skating rink, concert hall and cinema, numerous discos, galleries and restaurants will not let you get bored after skating.
The resort has more than 100 shops, where all the world's famous brands are represented. Courchevel's restaurants and boutiques are designed for high-income tourists. The closest railway station, Moutieres Salines, is located half an hour from the resort.
Courchevel Village is a cozy family ski resort, which is located at an altitude of 1550 m. Until 2013, it was better known as Courchevel 1550. This is a small Alpine town in Savoyard style with an economical hotel, excellent apartments and modern luxury chalets.
Two lifts connect Courchevel Village with the main ski areas of the region. There is a ski school, a tourist information office, a rental shop, restaurants, bars, a disco and an ice skating rink. The resort will appeal to family tourists and lovers of a secluded holiday, however, from here you can easily reach the noisier parts of Courchevel with famous restaurants, shops and nightclubs.
Photo gallery of the Courchevel resort
The popular ski resort of Tignes is located at an altitude of 2100 m in the Espace Killy ski area. Spacious wide tracks, excellent freeride opportunities and a long season make it an excellent choice for skiers and snowboarders. The three ski areas of Tignes - Tignes-le-Lac, Val Claret and Lavache - are connected by a system of lifts and are located next to a picturesque lake. On the Grand Motte glacier ski season opens at the beginning of October, in other zones - at the end of November and lasts until the first third of May.
Sports lovers will find 76 slopes in Tignes, most of them blue and red, a snow park with a half-pipe, a mogul slope and an excellent ski school. Here you can also go cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowskiing, ice climbing, or paragliding or helicoptering.
Cozy cafes and restaurants, noisy discos and bars will not let you get bored after skiing. The resort's infrastructure is famous for its compact and convenient location, and the prices for accommodation here are quite affordable.
Les Arcs is a group of resorts located in the heart of the French Alps, in the Haute Tarentaise valley. The resort towns are located here at altitudes from 1600 to 2000 meters above sea level and are connected by ski slopes and lifts. The skiing season is from mid-December to the end of April. Mountain lovers winter species sports in Les Arcs offers 121 ski and snowboard trails, a wide variety of ski lifts, and two snow parks with halfpipes. There are also opportunities for unusual sports, such as speedwriting and skijoring.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is a popular ski resort in the Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. The first tourists appeared in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc at the beginning of the 19th century, and since then the resort has only been gaining popularity. In 1924, the First Winter Olympic Games were held here. Today Chamonix-Mont-Blanc welcomes up to 5 million tourists and athletes a year.
There are several ski areas in the Chamonix Valley: Grand Montet, Les Tours, Brevin, Les Houches, Flegeres, as well as the famous off-piste descent from the top of the Aiguille du Midi, 20 kilometers long - the White Valley. It is because of the White Valley that the resort is considered the capital of extreme skiing in France.
There is no single ski area in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, however, ski buses will take tourists to the ski lifts in 7-15 minutes. Nice hotels and great bars, interesting museums and mountain railway to Mont Blanc (at an altitude of 2372 m) will make your holiday in Chamonix interesting and enjoyable, even if you are not going to ski all day long.
Ski resorts in France: everything about ski holiday in France, as well as reviews from tourists and experts.
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Ski resorts in France are considered among the best winter resorts all over the world. It is here, in the French Alps, that there are extensive and interconnected ski areas: more than four thousand slopes for alpine skiing, snowboarding, bobsleigh and other types of active winter holiday. The trails vary in difficulty level, allowing both beginners and true aces to have a comfortable time. Winter sports competitions of various classes are often held on the slopes of the Alps, including championships and Olympics.
The French Alps have hosted the Olympic Games three times. Moreover, the first ever Winter Olympics in 1924 took place right here in Chamonix, in 1968 they took place in Grenoble, and in 1992 in Aberville, near which many excellent tracks have been preserved.
In total, more than two hundred ski resorts have been created on the slopes of the French Alps. Many of them are interconnected, so once you visit one, you can easily move to another. So every ski lover can find a suitable option here and get real pleasure from skiing down the mountain or skiing on the plains.
Chamonix
Chamonix - the heart of the largest ski area French Alps at the top of the famous Mont Blanc. Chamonix Valley - unique natural area near the borders of Italy and Switzerland, included in the list of landscapes that constitute the world heritage. The total length of the ski slopes is hundreds of kilometers on slopes of varying difficulty. The highest point of the resort is the legendary “White Valley”, 20 km of off-piste skiing at an altitude of 3842 m. Ice mountaineering, rock climbing, canyoning, winter rafting and paragliding are also developed here - that is, a large selection of extreme sports for every taste. In the summer months, Chamonix is a popular holiday destination for climbers and mountain biking enthusiasts (including off-road freeride).
Espace Killy
Espace Killy is an area of the French Alps, named after three-time world ski champion Jean-Claude Killy, and is considered one of the best winter resorts not only in the Alps, but throughout the world. The region includes the famous resorts of Val d'Isère and Tignes and four less popular places for skiing, which, meanwhile, are ultra-modern slopes with excellent infrastructure not only for amateurs, but also for professionals of downhill skiing. The special beauty of the region is that it is possible to ski on glaciers not only in winter, but also in summer. For young skiers, a free ski pass and many ski schools are provided, and for snowboarders, the famous corridors Les Danaides, Le Lasvancher, La Table and Kern are equipped. For additional entertainment and to explore the surrounding area, you can choose a helicopter ride, dog sledding, motor sleigh rides or snowshoeing.
Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallees)
The Three Valleys (or Les Trois Vallées), the Savoyard ski area, is the world's largest unified ski region with 600 km of slopes at altitudes of 1300-3230 m. Two hundred lifts are capable of delivering up to a quarter of a million people - ski lovers and snowboard. The history of the resort goes back half a century, and in 1992 these slopes were conquered by Olympic champions.
The Three Valleys includes the high-mountainous Val Thorens - “Roof of the Three Valleys” at an altitude of 2300 m, a sports part resort area. Its peak is the picturesque summit of Cime de Caron, which offers magnificent views of Mont Blanc.
The second resort - Meribel - “The Heart of the Three Valleys”, is located at an altitude of 1400 m and is divided into zones Meribel Center in the traditional French style and the more modern Meribel-Mottaray, both zones offer excellent slopes and cross-country trails, as well as all kinds of entertainment such as hockey fields and skating rinks, sled racing, etc.
And finally, chic Courchevel - one of the most prestigious resorts French Alps, a leader in the level of hotels, quality of service and a variety of entertainment among the world ski centers. However, Courchevel, located at altitudes from 1300 to 1850 m, is not only social life and famous parties: a lover of ski slopes can stay here for a whole month and never ride the same slope, conquering new heights and slopes every day. In addition to the traditional tracks, there are two Olympic ski jumping tracks, several slalom and downhill tracks, cross-country ski trails, open-air ice arenas, etc.
Alpe D'Huez
Alpe d'Huez is a first-class ski resort in the southern Alps, one of the sunniest in the world: the sun shines here up to 300 days a year! The French themselves call it the “Island of the Sun” - the pistes are located on the upper plateau and mostly face south , allowing you to enjoy the sun until the evening. This is the fifth largest ski area in France, and is home to some of Europe's most famous runs: the 16-kilometre Sarennes run and the Tunnel run through the glacier.
Route Alpe d'Huez Tunnel - famous place filming one of the James Bond films.
In addition, this resort is a good solution for beginners in skating, children, and those who prefer other types of winter recreation: tens of kilometers of flat slopes, an excellent ice stadium.
Megeve
Megève is an excellent ski resort that includes three ski areas: Rochebrune-Côte, Mont-d'Arbois and Les Jailles, as well as an open-air museum. The center of the town is paved with ancient cobblestones, free of vehicles, and some houses here have been standing for at least 200 years. The main attractions are the 13th century church, the medieval monastery and the city tower. Ski areas are located at 1113-2350 m, and there are many slopes for both beginners and the youngest skiers, as well as for real extreme sports enthusiasts - for example, the JOLY slopes and the exciting descent of the World Cup “la Gote 2000”.
Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is an international-class resort located at the foot of the largest glacier in Europe and inviting ski lovers to ski all year round. These are 104 ski slopes at an altitude of 3600 m, suitable for both traditional slopes and snowboarding, freestyle, freeride and others. There are many schools here, including for those who have never skied or snowboarded in their lives - by the end of training, the newly minted athlete will be able not only to ski decently, but also to truly enjoy the descent.
Paradiski
Paradiski is the youngest high-mountain ski area, which translated means “ski paradise”. This is the name of the united ski region, which includes the resorts of La Plagne, Peyce-Valandry, Les Coches and Les Arcs. These are glacial snows that do not melt all year round, allowing you to learn the basics of skiing whenever you want. Regardless of seasonality.
The Portes du Soleil
Portes du Soleil is also known as the "Gateway of the Sun" resort - always sunny slopes for both pros and beginners. Many schools, 650 km of prepared trails of varying difficulty levels in four ski areas: Les Gets, Morzine, Avoria and Chatel.
Every year, the French slopes attract many tourists and ski enthusiasts. All the necessary conditions have been created for them, lifts have been installed, excellent trails have been equipped and all the necessary industry has been built. In addition, it is not only sporting achievements and sparkling snow slopes all day long: here you can stroll through charming Alpine villages, visit cozy restaurants, enjoy unique French cuisine, and find entertainment for any age, taste and budget.
