Ski France. Where to ski in France? Holidays in the mountains of France

Ski France and its best ski resorts. Expert reviews about alpine skiing in France.

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France, along with its neighbors in the Alps - Italy and Switzerland - is firmly among the big three European key destinations for winter holidays. Ski France can offer fans of snow sports excellent conditions for an active holiday in an atmosphere of comfort and helpful service. There are more than a hundred ski resorts in the country to suit every taste and budget: high-mountain and “low-mountain”, purely sporty and “glamorous”, with slopes for beginners, intermediates and professionals - as well as a complete absence of slopes for the most “crazy”. Well, the abundance of direct flights and seasonal charters, coupled with the ease of obtaining a French Schengen visa, make this destination even more attractive for a ski holiday.

If you want to ski on as many slopes as possible, you should prefer the resorts combined into ski areas: Three Valleys, Portes du Soleil and Espace Killy.

Pros of ski France

In addition to the truly staggering number of ski resorts in France (and this is in a relatively small area of ​​the French Alps), this country can offer tourists several pleasant “buns” of a winter holiday.

Firstly, there is a huge variety of trails. There is no tourist request that France would not be able to fulfill: the number of green, blue, red and black trails can satisfy even the most demanding client - from gentle, wide and almost walking to very steep, winding and difficult.

Secondly, most French ski areas are interconnected by a common lift system. For example, the world-famous Three Valleys resort is the world's largest integrated ski region with 600 km of slopes at altitudes of 1300-3230 meters. Two hundred lifts operate here, and while relaxing in one place (in Val Thorens, Meribel or Courchevel), you can “skate” the slopes of neighboring resorts.

Thirdly, thanks to a considerable number of glaciers, France has been hosting skiers for a record long time. In Espace Killy, for example, skiing continues all year round - after all, the ideal snow cover is “controlled” by the local Pissaya glacier. At the same time, the variety of slopes also did not disappoint: 156 descents of all difficulty levels with a total length of 300 km. And more than a hundred lifts are responsible for the timely and quick delivery of skiers to the start of the slopes.

Courchevel

Where to go

Ski resorts in France are located in one region called Rhône-Alpes. If your goal is to ski on as many slopes as possible, you should prefer resorts combined into ski areas. Among the most popular are the largest Three Valleys, Portes du Soleil and Espace Killy. Evasion-Mont-Blanc and Paradiski are also well-deserved among skiers - these ski areas are more intimate, but also consist of several resorts. The most beautiful ski region in France is the Chamonix Valley. This is a separate resort, but there is no shortage of trails here - there are more than a hundred kilometers of them. Other winter sports are also well developed here, including ice mountaineering, winter rafting, canyoning, etc.

For those who love the sun in the middle of a harsh winter, we recommend choosing the Alpe d'Huez resort, called the island of the sun by the French. Its slopes are oriented to the south, and the sun shines here 300 days a year.

Finally, those wishing to combine a ski holiday with an excursion will not leave unnoticed the charming resort of Megève - in addition to a variety of slopes for beginners and those who are adventurous, there are 200-year-old mansions and ancient cobblestone streets.

Price issue

The approximate cost of a ski tour to France lasting 7-8 days will be about 700-1000 EUR. This amount includes airfare and hotel accommodation. You will need to pay extra for meals, ski pass and other additional services.

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 be an excellent place to relax for 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 in the world for 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. There are wellness centers and heated swimming pools (indoor and outdoor) on site. 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 zone is considered one of the most visited in Europe. It is located right at the foot of the glaciers of the world famous Mont Blanc mountain. 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 highest point of the local ski lift is 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.

Ski resorts in France are considered one of the most modern not only in Europe, but throughout the world. The French Alps offer tourists magnificent landscapes, and skiing on the equipped trails is breathtaking. Fans of alpine skiing, snowboarding, as well as bobsleigh and other winter sports come here.

All trails are divided into categories, depending on the level of difficulty. Some of them will be most comfortable for beginners, while others will appeal to professionals. Sports competitions are often held on the local tracks, and the Olympics have also been held here three times. 200 resorts are connected to each other so that every traveler can find the perfect option for themselves.

Skiing on plains or steep slopes occurs on trails that are illuminated at night. Modern ski lifts and cozy hotels with a high level of service await tourists in.

Ski season in the French Alps

In the French mountain region, the ski season begins in February. It is during this period of the year that the weather is clear here.

• The first snow covers the mountain slopes in November. At this time, precipitation falls from six to eighty centimeters.
• In December, the mountain peaks (at an altitude of 1.5 km) are covered with 90-120 cm of precipitation.
• In January, this figure reaches 140-200.
• In February, the ground is covered with 160-240 centimeters of snow.
• And from March to April the snow cover remains at a level of 140-220 cm.

There are also areas where the volume of snow can exceed four meters. The melting of precipitation begins in the second half of May.

Pricing policy of French ski resorts

More than two hundred ski lifts and about 600 kilometers of marked trails await tourists in the Three Valleys region. Even a long stay at the resort does not involve repeating routes, which impresses professional skiers. To relax in the resort of Val Thorens in a 3* hotel, tourists will have to pay about 750 euros for one week, and accommodation in a four-star hotel will cost two hundred euros more.

The most famous French ski resort, Courchevel, offers accommodation in the most luxurious hotels. Also, elite restaurants and boutiques are open here. For a week's holiday in a three-star hotel, tourists will spend about 700 euros, in a 4-star hotel - 1300 euros, and in a 5-star hotel - about 2150 euros, per person.

More than three hundred kilometers of modern trails await travelers at the highest mountain resorts of Tignes and Val D'Isere. The snow cover here lasts the entire season. A week of rest for one person in a 2* hotel will cost 720 euros; a room in a hotel 3 will cost only 10 euros more *. For accommodation in a four-star hotel they will ask about 850 euros, and in a 5* hotel - 1100 euros.

The best winter resorts in France

Among the most impressive resorts in France, we can highlight the following Top 7 best:

1. Meribel

This stunning resort is located in the “heart” of the Three Valleys ski system. Excellent pistes, equipped ski lifts and recreation areas will give tourists a pleasant pastime. This resort is deservedly called the “pearl” of vacation spots for skiers and snowboarders.

Original route schemes connect the small town of Meribel, the Meribel Village and the town of Mottaret. There are 150 kilometers of trails for recreation and skiing. There are 8 “green” routes open for beginners. The blue markings mark the trails for those who have basic skiing skills. Twenty-three “red” slopes are suitable for experienced skiers, and nine slopes marked in black will appeal to extreme skiers.

This fabulous place is characterized by sunny slopes, where warm rays warm skiers during the day. The resort has fifteen gondola lifts, as well as chair lifts and 14 rope tows. To ensure that the snow cover remains even, 685 snow installations are used.

Walking along equipped paths, hang gliding, cable car travel, a bowling alley, an ice skating rink and a swimming pool, as well as sports shops and many cozy catering establishments - all this awaits guests of the Meribel resort.

This tourist resort is equipped with comfortable ski lifts and cozy hotels for travelers. This place is open to tourists all year round, and invites outdoor enthusiasts to ski or snowboard in winter, as well as enjoy the beautiful scenery at any time of the year.

In addition to snowboarding and alpine skiing, sports such as telemark and squall riding are offered here. Snow remains on the mountain tops all year round. There are three hundred kilometers of modern trails and one hundred high-speed lifts (including a funicular with seated cabins). This resort is visited by both beginners and professional athletes. Competitions often take place here.

1. Val Thorens

This resort is considered the most democratic in France. It can be easily reached from many cities by plane or train. The varied recreational activities include relaxing activities and winter sports. Most hotels here have access to ski lifts. The overhead lift is capable of simultaneously moving 150 people. For the convenience of skiers and snowboarders, the slopes are equipped with avalanche control systems. Snow cannons and other snowmaking systems provide excellent coverage throughout the season, which begins in November and ends in May.

The local snowboard parks are distinguished by the presence of jumps, quarter pipes, half pipes and other places for skiing where competitions take place. Val Thorens has thirty-one ski lifts and sixty-six marked pistes, with a total length of 140 kilometers. Relief slopes, difficult trails or a flat area at the foot of the mountain for beginners - all this will appeal to athletes of any level.

There is a ski school for adults and children. Also, the resort has an aqua club (with a swimming pool and sauna), tennis courts, areas for playing squash and volleyball, a climbing wall, a roller skating rink, gyms and even a paragliding club. Especially for children, there are mini clubs and a Fun Park, where there is a pool filled with balls, slides for kids, trampolines and an inflatable palace. Among other things, there are a large number of cafes, restaurants, bars, discos and night clubs.

1. Chamonix

This mountain valley will give tourists an unforgettable experience. A fourteen-kilometer natural glacier and a twenty-kilometer ski slope connect here. The snow cover here remains from December to May. Forty-seven lifts and seventy-eight trails, with a total length of 140 kilometers, will conquer any skier or snowboarder.

In addition to boarding or skiing, you can go snowshoeing, snowmobiling, or dog sledding to the icy peak. Also, tourists are offered hang gliding and helicopter flights. Among other things, there is a bowling alley, an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, dance floors, bars and restaurants where you can have fun.

1. Courchevel

The most beautiful famous resort is considered one of the most presentable French regions. This elite holiday destination is distinguished by developed infrastructure, amazing natural resources, as well as a large number of chic restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues, from the windows of which the peak of the famous Mont Blanc mountain is visible.

Here you can go ice skating and play bowling, squash or tennis. A large selection of trails for beginners, as well as extreme routes, appeal to snowboarders and skiers. There are sixty-two lifts open here, and the length of multi-level trails is one hundred and fifty kilometers.

1. Les Arcs

This popular resort is located in the province of Savoy. Several villages, connected to each other, are located at different levels. A large number of lifts (there are fifty-four in total), professional equipment, as well as tracks with a total length of about 420 kilometers impress tourists. There are slopes of all levels here. You can ride here from December to the end of April.

Professionals practice off-piste skiing on the slopes of the resort. All slopes are illuminated at night. Cross-country trails will appeal to cross-country skiers. The snowboard park has amazing facilities for jumps and tricks, as well as a half-pipe and a boarder cross track. There are schools for beginner skiers and children.

Among other things, here you can visit an ice cave or a museum, as well as go hang gliding, ride horses or dog sleds, play paintball, and relax in the sauna, swimming pool or solarium.

1. Megève

The very “heart” of the Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc can be seen by visiting this fashionable resort. This place is very prestigious, so hotel rooms here are booked in advance. A huge variety of entertainment, as well as unforgettable skiing or snowboarding, awaits tourists here. The length of ski trails is 440 kilometers. A multi-faceted holiday will appeal to connoisseurs of luxury.

Answers to frequently asked questions from readers

What is the temperature in French ski resorts in winter?

The Alps offer wonderful weather all year round. Pleasant temperatures remain here even in winter. The following temperature indicators are typical for the entire season:

• November and March: from 0 to -2 ⁰С;
• December and February: from -2 to -4 ⁰С;
• January: from -5 to -7 ⁰С (very rarely -10 ⁰С);
• April: from +2 to +4 ⁰С.

Which resorts are best to visit with children?

Anyone who prefers a family holiday should go to resorts where there are children's ski schools, mini clubs, kindergartens and amusement parks. Such options will include resorts such as:

• Les Arcs;
• La Plagne;
• Avoriaz;
• Val Thorens;
• Samoen.

Which resorts are distinguished by the presence of thermal springs?

Among the French mountain resorts that allow you to combine skiing and SPA holidays, the following stand out:

• Brid Le Ben. The large city SPA center offers everyone who wants to relax and improve their health immediately after skiing.
• Megève. Near the resort is the thermal park "Saint Gervais les Bains". Tourists can improve their health thanks to the local hot mineral springs.

An extraordinary experience of charming mountains and the French lifestyle awaits tourists here. It’s worth going here for the thrill and wonderful emotions of contemplating the landscapes, and you are guaranteed to get the most amazing ski tour.

To begin with, you must be prepared for the fact that skiing in France is an expensive pleasure. Prices are several times higher than at ski resorts in Bulgaria, Poland or Ukraine. I won’t tell you anything about such a world-famous ski resort as Courchevel, since the prices there are simply sky-high. Let's see what cheaper options there are.

Nice and calm ski resort of Maribel. This place will delight you with the opportunity to relax in silence, among beautiful nature and ride on trails of varying difficulty. There are not many tourists here; this place is preferred by the French and whole families come here.

There is a ski resort called Brides Les Bains, which was thoroughly improved for the 1992 Olympic Games. Holidays and skiing at this resort are about 25 percent cheaper than in other places. The resort is located near the town of Moutiers. You will not have any problems with transport. The height of this place is 600 meters.

One of the most popular ski resorts in Europe is the French ski resort of Chamonix. This resort is over 200 years old. There is an excellent infrastructure here, which includes more than 60 hotels, about 200 shops and 100 restaurants. The resort is located at an altitude of 1050 meters above the level, and most of the slopes are located at an altitude of more than 2 thousand meters. The highest point of the lift is 3842 meters. In total, the resort has 49 lifts and 69 slopes, the length of which is 149 kilometers.

One of the newest French ski resorts is Val Thorens. This is one of the highest mountain resorts, so you don’t have to worry about good snow. There are more than 1000 trails in the vicinity of this resort. There are more than enough cafes, shops, restaurants and hotels here.

Near Mont Blanc is the beautiful and unique resort of Megève, which has more than 300 kilometers of ski slopes and hiking routes. The maximum height of the slopes reaches 2350 meters. According to the level of difficulty, the slopes are divided into 15 black, 21 green and 39 blue, which creates conditions for skiing for skiers of different levels. The resort is served by 81 ski lifts. There is no need to worry about the snow; the resort has 170 cannons that can compensate for the lack of natural snow.

The largest ski resort in the world, La Plagne, is located on an area of ​​10 thousand hectares. There are 110 lifts here, including cable cars with closed cabins. The resort has 124 ski slopes, of which 72 are blue, 35 are red and 11 are green.

Based on this, choose the most suitable place to relax, both in terms of location and cost.

Ski regions

The French Alps (Rhône-Alpes region and Alps department) are the highest mountains in Western Europe, the ski resorts of France are the world's largest winter sports center: 380 ski stations, the world's largest number of ski lifts (3900!) and the shortest queues for them . This is the largest area for skiing and the widest selection of slopes, the highest peak in Western Europe, Mont Blanc (4807 m), stable weather, plenty of sun, guaranteed snow cover from early December to mid-May, plus the possibility of skiing in the summer. The most popular resorts in the region are Chamonix, Courchevel, Val d'Isère, Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Deux Alpes, La Plagne, Megève, Meribel, etc. 175 resorts are equipped with snow cannons. 230 sports centers offer cross-country ski trails .

In addition to the famous alpine resorts, France has a huge range of wonderful places for skiing, scattered in abundance throughout all the country's mountain systems. Most often these are small mountain villages, used as local holiday destinations and, by and large, unable to compete with the Alps. But such small sports centers are very attractive both as summer mountain climatic and balneological resorts, and as recreation areas for lovers of cross-country skiing, paragliding, rock climbing and walking excursions. Usually located in very picturesque places near major roads, on weekends and holidays they often attract no less guests than the famous alpine centers, but the price level here is usually significantly lower.

One of the most interesting and rapidly developing ski holiday centers is Pyrenees.

IN Massif Central Due to its natural and climatic features, a “pure” ski holiday is unlikely. However, for the same reason, this area is considered one of the best places in France for cross-country skiing, initial training in alpine skiing and snowboarding, hiking and horse riding routes, and its amazing nature allows you to relax here at any time of the year.

Short Vosges widely known as a great place for fans of cross-country and cross-country skiing.

Surprisingly, even a hot Mediterranean island Corsica has a whole network of its own mountain centers. The topography of the island and the abundance of zones with their own microclimate make it possible to ski from December (usually from mid-January) to March-April.

Climate

The first snow in the French Alps falls at the end of November and lasts until mid-May. Thanks to the mild climate, even in winter in the valleys at an altitude of about 1500 m, the temperature does not drop below -10°C. The most favorable time for skiing begins in mid-February, when stable sunny weather sets in. The height of the snow cover, depending on the height of the area, ranges from 0.7 to 4 meters.

Average monthly air temperature at an altitude of about 1500 m (°C): in November 0..-2, in December -2..-4, in January -5..-7, in February -2..-4, in March 0..-2, in April +2..+4.

The average height of snow cover at an altitude of about 1500 m (cm): in November 6-80, in December 90-120, in January 140-200, in February 160-220, in March 160-240, in April 140-220.

Subscription

In France, a subscription can be purchased for half a day, for a day, for two, etc. You can purchase either a general pass for the entire ski area or a separate one for each valley. It is more convenient and profitable to buy a subscription for the entire ski area at once. Ski-pass for children under 5 years of age and for adults over 72 years of age is free, special rates are available for adults over 60 years of age. There are also special family rates.

The Olympic ski area includes the Three Valleys, Espas Killy, and Paradiski. A subscription to one of the zones (minimum 6 days) gives the right to one day of skiing in one of the others (during the validity period of the subscription).

Equipment rental

Rental of equipment for alpine skiing and snowboarding is available in almost all sports stores. There are also points for servicing equipment: edge sharpening, lubrication, etc. Equipment for athletes is selected individually: depending on weight, height and level of skating.

Ski schools

There are several levels of training - for beginners, advanced training, for professionals, etc. If you combine booking lessons at ski schools with purchasing a ski-pass ticket, it will be cheaper. Special discounts are available for families of 3-4 people. During the Christmas (Catholic) holidays, when booking a lesson for one adult, one child studies for free.