Map of ski resorts in France: elite and prestigious vacation. Ski resorts in France Popular ski resort in the French Alps

Ski regions

The French Alps (Rhone-Alpes region and Alpes department) are the most high mountains Western Europe, the ski resorts of France are the world's largest winter sports center: 380 ski stations, the world's largest number of 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 (Mont Blanc, 4807 m), stable weather, lots of sun, guaranteed snow cover from early December to mid-May, plus the possibility of skiing in summer. The most popular resorts region - Chamonix, Courchevel, Val d'Isere, Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Deux Alpes, La Plagne, Megeve, Meribel and others. 175 resorts are equipped with snow cannons. 230 sports centers offer trails for flat skiing.

Except the famous Alpine resorts, France has a huge array of great skiing destinations scattered throughout the country's mountain ranges in abundance. Most often these are small mountain villages used as local recreational areas and, by and large, are not able to compete with the Alps. But on the other hand, such small sports centers are very attractive both as summer mountain climatic and balneological resorts, and as recreation areas for lovers of flat skiing, paragliding, rock climbing and hiking. Usually located in very picturesque places near major roads, on weekends and holidays they often collect nothing fewer guests than the famous Alpine centers, but the price level here is usually significantly lower.

One of the most interesting and intense developing centers ski holidays are Pyrenees.

IN Central massif due to its natural and climatic features "clean" ski vacation unlikely. However, for the same reason, this area is considered one of the the best places France for cross-country skiing, initial training in alpine skiing and snowboarding, hiking and horseback riding, and his amazing nature allows you to relax here at any time of the year.

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

Surprisingly, even a hot Mediterranean island Corsica has a whole network of its own mountain centers. The relief of the island and the abundance of zones with their own microclimate make it possible to ski from December (more often 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 fall below -10°C. The most favorable time for skiing starts from mid-February, when stable sunny weather sets in. The height of the snow cover, depending on the height of the terrain, ranges from 0.7 to 4 meters.

The 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, you can buy a subscription for half a day, a day, two, etc. You can purchase both a general subscription for the entire skiing area, and a separate one for each valley. It is more convenient and more profitable to buy a subscription for the entire skiing area at once. Ski-pass for children under 5 years old and for adults over 72 years old is free, there are special rates for adults over 60 years old. There are also special family rates.

The Olympic ski area includes Three Valleys, Espas-Killi, Paradiski. A pass for one of the zones (6 days minimum) entitles you to one day of skiing in one of the others (during the validity of the pass).

Equipment rental

Ski and snowboard equipment rental is available in almost all sports shops. Equipment maintenance points are also located there: edge sharpening, lubrication, etc. Equipment for athletes is selected individually: depending on weight, height and level of skiing.

Ski schools

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

Ski resorts in France are considered to be some 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 skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding and other winter sports can expect more than four thousand different tracks here. Tourists can choose the most suitable descent depending on the level of training, so local resorts will great place for recreation, both professionals and beginners. On the local alpine slopes, holding competitions of the highest class.

The French Alps have hosted the Olympic Games three times.

Val d'issere and Tignes

These ski resorts in France are next to each other. Val d'Sere and Tignes are recognized as the kings of 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 fans of winter sports 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 "The Criterion of the First Snow". By the way, the tracks are covered with snow from November to May. Not only that there are no such diverse slopes anywhere else, but all the work is moving 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 whole. These resorts are connected to "Killi Space" via lifts. It is in the complex that resorts deliver maximum pleasure to active vacationers. Funicular (3500 m) called Grand Mot has a fairly high speed. In just 6 minutes, you can climb from the station at 2100 m to a height of 3300 m. "Killi Space" offers vacationers comfortable trails of sufficient width, with high-quality markings. Their length is up to 300 km. Skiers can ski on the virgin lands, and glacier skiing is also available all year round.

Les Deux Alpes

This mountain ski resort Alpine France is located literally at the foot of the Mont-de-Lan 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 even a length of 220 km. Not only skiers, but also snowboarders love to relax here. Especially for them, a local "snowboard park" is open.

The glacier provides snow all year round, including the summer months, so skiing in France, they are relevant not only in the frosty season.

The total length of the slopes in the Les Deux Alpes ski resort is 200 km, among them:

• Reds - 21;
• Blue - 25;
• Greens - 22;
• Black - 8.

In the Loisan massif there is an alpine region of grandiose proportions. It is considered as unique as the White Valley of Mont Blanc. Recreation 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 touch the fabulous atmosphere, you should go down into the artificial ice grotto. Other leisure options include paragliding and torch skiing.

Courvechel

"Chosen by the stars" - that's what they call this ski resort modern France. He gained such fame thanks to high-class 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 combine lifts. The total length of the local ski area is 600 km. Also located in Courchevel are:

• 2 Olympic hills designed for ski jumping;
• 1 track for downhill at high speed;
• 3 slalom tracks;
• 2 tracks for snowboarders;
• Climbing wall (13 m);
• Ice climbing tower (39 m).

To make your leisure time unforgettable and bright, restaurants and bars, discos and nightclubs are constantly working in Courchevel, sport complexes with tennis courts.

Meribel

Ski resort, which is located right in the heart of the "Three Valleys". Height - from 1450 to 1800 m. It is famous for its sophistication in architectural terms. This high point of France consists of three parts - Belvedere, Motare and the central part. They are interconnected by 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 in the resort, both lovers of comfortable slopes and lovers of virgin lands. The length of the trails 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 in France it is the largest. Despite the fact that the number of descents is simply incredible (123), the quality of the slopes is also able to strike on the spot. The resort includes four stations at the foot of the mountains and six high-mountain stations.

If you buy a special subscription in La Plagne, you can ride all the ski lifts of Les Arcs for free. If the subscription has a duration of 6 days or more, then it will be possible to ride for free during the day on each of Olympic resorts relating to the space of Savoy. So you can visit the main ski resorts in France, significantly saving. These are places like:

• "Three Valleys";
• Pralonian en Vanoise;
• Le Sesy;
• "Killi spaces".

Each La Plagne station has one free lift and a ski kindergarten. Not only skiers come here, but also snowboarders. They have a snowboard park. To recharge after skiing, La Plagne has 21 restaurants, so it's hard 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 world's glaciers. famous mountain Mont Blanc. The height of the peak is 4807 m, and the resort itself is located at an altitude of 1050 m, occupying the place where the borders of France, Italy and Switzerland cross. The highest point of the local lift is 3842 m.

Chamonix is ​​famous for its "White Valley", which gives tourists as much as 20 km of off-piste skiing. People from all over the world come here to admire nature. But the point is not only in fabulous landscapes, but also in comfort. Chamonix has a well-developed infrastructure, which allows you to make your vacation not only interesting, but also convenient for every tourist.

For the leisure of guests are open:

• Health centers;
• climbing wall;
• Athletics stadium;
• Indoor ice rink;
• Pool;
• Gym.

France's Alpine ski resorts are rightly said to be some of the best winter resorts worldwide. The French Alps is the largest center in the world winter holiday: more than three hundred ski stations, almost 4 thousand lifts, and the shortest queues for them. There are more than four thousand trails connected and differing in difficulty for lovers of skiing, snowboarding and other types of extreme winter recreation. If you ever see a choice of resorts in France, use this article!

On the slopes of the Alps, various competitions are often held, including world championships and the Olympics.

The most popular resorts in the region are Chamonix, Courchevel, Val d'Isère, Val Thorens, Les Deux Alpes, Tignes, La Plagne, Megeve, Meribel and others.

Chamonix

Chamonix- the largest ski resort in France, located in the heart of the French Alps at the top of the famous Mont Blanc crystalline massif.

Chamonix Valley- unique natural area near the borders of Italy and Switzerland is included in the list of landscapes that make up the world heritage. The longest descents reach several tens of kilometers. high point Chamonix is ​​the famous "White Valley".

Its height reaches 3842 m, and its length is more than 20. Such extreme sports as ice mountaineering, rock climbing, winter rafting, paragliding, canyoning are developed here. In summer, the resort welcomes fans of mountain biking and climbers.

You can stay in the resort of Chamonix in the following hotels:

• Les Chamonix Sud
• La Riviere
• Res. Chamois Blanc
• Le Cristal D'argentiere
• Res. La Ginabelle

Espace Killy

Espace Killy is an area in the French Alps, named after its three-time world champion in skiing Jean-Claude Killy, rightfully deserves the reputation of one of the most wonderful resorts not only in the Alps, but throughout the world. The popular resort towns of Val d'Isere and Tignes are located on its territory - ultra-modern slopes suitable not only for beginners, but also for mountain slopes professionals.

The glaciers of this region can be skied not only in winter, but also in summer (thanks to the Pissaillas glacier), beginners in skiing have the opportunity to study at ski schools located right on the gentle slopes. Snowboarders can enjoy the ultra-modern corridors of Le Lasvancher, Les Danaides, La Table and Kern. The resort is visited not only by sports enthusiasts, but also by those who want to try a helicopter ride, dog sledding, snowshoeing or snowshoeing.

Espace Killy can be reached from the following airports: Geneva - 160 km, Grenoble - 143 km, Chambéry - 120 km and Lyon - 340 km. Alternatively, take the motorway via Albertville or Moutiers. There are bus routes to the resort area from Geneva and Lyon airports 3-4 times a day.

You can stay in the following hotels:

• AVENUE LODGE 5*
• AIGLE DES NEIGES 4*
• CRETES BLANCHES 3*
• BREVIERES CLUB HOTEL MMV (2*)

Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallees)

The Three Valleys (Le Troy Vallee) is the largest region in the world mining ski slopes with a total length of 600 km, located at an altitude of 1.3-3.2 km.

It includes a resort Val Thorens- "The Roof of the Three Valleys", located at an altitude of 2,300 km, Its peak is the mountain picturesque peak of Cime de Caron, offering a magnificent view of Mont Blanc.

The second resort Meribel- Heart of Three Valleys. It is located at an altitude of 1.4 km and is divided into the classic French Meribel Center and the more modern Meribel-Mottareu, both areas are completely covered with perfectly smooth slopes and cross-country tracks. In addition, here you can play hockey, just ride a skating rink and even take part in sledding races.

And finally the famous Courchevel- which is one of the most prestigious resorts in France, with a developed infrastructure, hotels of the highest level, excellent quality of service and a developed network of entertainment. Courchevel is located at altitudes from 1300 to 1850 m. At the same time, a ski lover can ski on various tracks every day for a month, conquering new heights and descents every day, never repeating his route.

In addition to the traditional courses, professionals can appreciate the two Olympic courses for jumping. There are several icy slopes for slalom and downhill,

Alpe d'Huez- one of the few resorts where a rich variety of tracks is presented in a relatively small area. A cozy compact village in the shape of a triangle is located above the Romansh valley, most of the hotels and residences are located next to the highway or ski lift.

Among the French themselves, Alpe d'Huez has earned the romantic name "The Skeleton of the Sun" due to the fact that the pistes located on the upper plateau and facing south from early morning until late evening are bathed in sunshine.

It's the fifth largest french region for skiing. Here are the most famous tracks in Europe: the Saren descent, which is 16 km long, and the Tunnel track, cut through the glacier.

Resort hotels:

• Res. L'ours Blanc
• Res. Le Cristal De L'alpe
• Res. Les Bergers
• Res. Les Horizons D'huez
• Res. Les Melezes

Location:

The resort can be reached from Geneva, from where there are regular flights daily. On Saturdays, very quickly (only 1.5 hours) you can get from Grenoble by charter flight.

Megeve

Megeve is an excellent ski resort, consisting of three ski areas. These are Rochebrune-Cote, Mont-d'Arbois and Le Zhai. It also houses a museum open sky. Megeve is considered to be the most elegant and refined mountain resort France.

This is one of the oldest resorts in the French Alps, and recently rightfully entered the club of privileged ski resorts "The Best of the Alps". The resort has a classic alpine village atmosphere. For example, it is forbidden to travel by transport along the main street and you can ride only on horse-drawn carts. The central streets of the town are paved with old cobblestones; some houses were built here at least 200 years ago.

Main attractions - old church built in the 13th century medieval monastery And city ​​tower. Places for skiing are located at an altitude of 1-2.3 km, and there are many slopes for both beginners and real extreme sportsmen.

You can plan your ski vacation in Megeve at once on three arrays that make up the Evasion ski area: Rochebrune-Cote 2000 (Rochebrune-Cote 2000), Mont d`Arbois, Le Jaillet .

Ski tours in Megeve will satisfy skiers of any level, because the resort can offer a wide variety of pistes.

For professionals - areas of Mont Joly (Mont Joly) and Mont Joux (Mont Joux), there are black and red slopes in Rochebrune - Côte 2000 (Cote 2000).

For the intermediate level - trails in Mont d'Arbois (Mont d`Arbois), trails are more difficult - in the areas of Combloux (Combloux) and Le Jaillet (Jaillet).

For beginners, Rochebrune and Mont d'Arbois are connected to the ski lift.

Location:

Megeve Located 70 km from Geneva airport and a few km from neighboring Chamonix.

Megeve Hotels:

• Relais & Chateaux Flocons de Sel
• Chalet d'Antoine
• Les Cimes
• Les Fermes de Marie
• Alpaga

Climate in the Alps

The tourist season in the Alps starts in December and ends in March. For a Russian tourist, the climate of the Alps will always be favorable. Winter here is much milder and warmer than in Russia. average temperature+ 1 degree Celsius in winter. And although sub-zero temperatures can occur at any time, it never drops below -10. The winds in the Alps are also not very strong. You can relax with children at any time of the tourist season.

Tourist impressions

The French Alps leave only pleasant impressions for Russian tourists. Snow-white snow is associated among Russians with severe frost or muddy roads in slush. In the Alps, snow resembles clouds. Firstly, the climate of the Alps is very mild and warm, and secondly, there is very clean air and everything around.

Service in the Alpine resorts of the most real European quality. Here you will find comfortable hotels, gourmet cuisine, and stunning ski slopes. For Russians, the French Alps are like winter at home, only cleared of all shortcomings ...

If you like holidays in the mountains, regardless of the season, we recommend that you read the following articles:

• - Going to Italy, you can look at the Alps from the other side.
• - beautiful Polish resort with decent service.
• - as you know, Bavaria is famous not only for castles, but also for its extremely beautiful mountain landscapes.

Don't rush to leave! Here are some more interesting articles:

The French Alps attract both beginners and advanced skiers from all over the world. It is understandable: the variety of tracks and the beauty of nature are combined with the modern infrastructure of luxury resorts. Total in France there are more than 400 ski resorts, from large and well-known 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 Murienne valley, where there are a huge number of sunny plateaus, are suitable. Courchevel, Megeve, Val d'Isere can be recommended to a lover of a prestigious holiday - these resorts amaze with the number of luxury hotels, luxury chalets, restaurants and boutiques.

Chamonix

Chamonix is the center of the popular Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ski region. Now Chamonix is ​​known as a popular and relatively accessible resort for skiers and snowboarders. The Chamonix Valley, which stretches for 16 km, includes several skiing regions: Grand Monte, Le Tour, Les Houches, Logs, Fleger, as well as the famous white valley- off-piste descent of about 20 km from the top of the Aiguille du Midi (3843 m). Skiing in Chamonix is ​​so varied, there are 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 area all year round. The lift system gives access to the highlands around Mont Blanc.

Ski resorts Chamonix is ​​suitable for children, beginner and intermediate skiers as well as advanced skiers. In Chamonix there is no single ski area connected by a network of lifts. To the ski areas (Le Brevent, Les Houches, Le Tour, Argentiere) you need to go 7-15 minutes by ski bus.

Espace Killy

The resorts of Val d'Isere and Tignes form a single skiing area Espace Killy, and this is a total of 300 km of ski slopes of various levels of difficulty and about a hundred lifts. Skiing at the resort is guaranteed not only in winter, but also in summer thanks to the Pissey glacier.

Val d'Isère

IN Val d'Isère the ski lifts are located quite conveniently in relation to the apartments and hotels, some of them can be reached on skis. Val d'Isere is several thousand hectares of marked ski slopes and 10 thousand hectares of virgin land at an altitude of 1550 to 3500 m. Here is the best school for skiing and snowboarding, as well as experienced freeride instructors. ski season lasts from the beginning of December to the end of March. The halfpipe is located at the end of the Face de Belle-varde, where the snowpark is located. The length of trails for cross-country skiing is 24 km.

For fans of extreme skiing, the breathtaking rocky bastions of Galiz and Grand Aigui Russ are breathtaking. For beginners - classic routes in the forests of Santon and Vallon. The pros will appreciate the Bernard Roussy downhill Bellevard rock (height 2809 m, vertical drop 972 m, length 2905 m, average slope angle 350, maximum slope angle 63 degrees).

Val d'Isère retains the atmosphere of a traditional French village. The architectural appearance is unique among other French ski resorts.

Tignes

Tignes(2100 m) - high mountain resort in Espace Killy - one of the best places in France for freeride. The World Cup stages are held here every year. Tignes is very popular with snowboarders for its wide, rather steep slopes. This resort is ideal for a fun-filled youth holiday.

Snow cover is guaranteed thanks to the glacier, which makes summer skiing possible. Modern lifts, many different slopes are the advantages of this resort. Tignes consists of several stations: Tignes-le-Lac and Tignes-Lavache (located nearby), Tignes-Val-Claret (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 in Val d'Isère and in Tignes 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'Isère with 450 teachers), where you can not only acquire or improve your skills, but also fly to helicopter to remote areas to pass the most interesting routes with an instructor guide. For the youngest children there are kindergartens, nannies and nurses.

Three Valleys (Le Trois Vallee)

Three Valleys is the largest ski resort in the world. It combines more than 200 lifts, more than 600 km of marked trails. It 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 Tania, Meribel, Mottare, Les Menuires, Val Thorens. From the point of view of skiing, it does not matter in which town to stay. A single ski pass for all Three Valleys gives you access to all 200 ski lifts.

Meribel

Meribel- an excellent place for those who ride at an intermediate level. There are excellent opportunities for ski safari, there are many wide, not too difficult slopes throughout the ski area. It's good to hone your technique on the tracks between the Pas du Lac and Platierre. Almost every slope has easy descents.

The advantage of Meribel, which provided the resort with immense popularity, is its central location in the Three Valleys. Being here, you benefit a lot from the possibility of choosing the direction of movement and the territory of skiing, depending on the weather, mood and level of skiing or snowboarding. The Meribel resort (1400-1600 m) also includes the Meribel Mottare station (1700-1800 m).

Val Thorens

Val Thorens, a French ski station at an altitude of 2300 m, is the highest in Europe. Val Thorens is 68 ski slopes, stretching for 140 km, of which green (easy) - 8, blue (medium) - 25, red (difficult) - 27, black (for experts) - 8. 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, half-pipe). In the resort of Val Thorens, located in the heart of a large natural park with six glaciers, there are numerous routes for skiing.

Courchevel

One of the most prestigious ski resorts in France - Courchevel- famous for its huge selection of trails and virgin descents. The Alpine villages of the Courchevel valley are located on 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 are wide and smooth blue and green slopes, a large number of which are located under the Jardin Alpin lift. The longest and softest pistes lie in the ski areas of Belcote and Pralon. For intermediate skiers, we recommend the slopes in the La Vizel area. The best red runs are Marmot and Cre.

Brides les Bains

Brides les Bains- a resort, the infrastructure of which 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 Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens in just 20 minutes.

Here you can not only ride, but also get medical treatment: a large wellness center with thermal springs, pool with mineral water, curative mud treatments, all types of massage.

Sports opportunities in the region - mountain and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiles, tobogganing, sledding, bobsleigh, rock climbing, hiking. Bars, restaurants, cafes, discos will provide a fun resort life in Brides-les-Bains. Here is the only casino in the mountains (except Chamonix resort). As well as shops, cinemas, excursions. The resort hosts ski competitions, music festivals.

Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez- 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 sunny days per year and proximity to Grenoble airport make Alpe d'Huez one of the most visited and loved ski resorts in Europe.

This is one of the 20 resorts in the world where the lifts serve a vertical drop of more than 2000 meters. The staggered location on the mountain and the longest internal lift system allow skiing directly from the hotel. There is a huge beginner skiing area right next to the resort. The season is from the end of November to the end of April. Summer skiing on the Sarenne Glacier is possible in July and August.

The difficulty of the pistes according to the local classification is underestimated, many red pistes in other resorts would have a black designation. The longest certified track in Europe is Sarenne (16 km). The Tunnel track, filmed in one of the James Bond films, passes through a tunnel in a glacier. Snowpark and halfpipe for snowboarders at Lac Blanc. For lovers of flat skiing - three circular tracks with a total length of 54 km.

megeve

One of the world's most prestigious and picturesque ski resorts. Pedestrian area with cobbled streets in the center, 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, which give a special charm to this place. megeve includes three ski areas: Rochebrune-Cote, Mont-d'Arbois and Le Jay. It is good for beginner skiers and those who prefer family vacations.

Professionals will enjoy the steepest and most difficult slopes in the Mont Joly and Mont Jou areas, there are black and red slopes in Côte 2000, but they are not very long. For the middle level, the tracks in Mont-d'Arbois are suitable, the slopes served by the Grand-Vorasse lift are also interesting; the tracks are more difficult - in the Combloux and Jeillet areas. In general, Megeve is ideal for skiers of this level. and at the top in all three districts, but only two of them are connected by a lift - Rochebrune and Mont-d'Arbois.Le Jeuillet can only be reached by land transport.

In Megeve there is an Olympic skating rink, dog sledding, sleigh rides, horseback riding, helicopter flight, etc. are also possible.

Les Deux Alpes

Resort Les Deux Alpes 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 ski lifts, allow you to climb to a height of 3520 m. The Les Deux Alpes 3600 ski area extends over 430 hectares. The height difference is from 1300 to 3600 m, the total length of the tracks is 225 km.

Winter and summer snowparks are equipped on the glacier. The ten ski areas of the snow park are designed for both beginner snowboarders and freestyle fans, as well as experienced fans of extreme winter sports. Ski jumps and turns of various complexity make it possible to hold official competitions. There are many schools for beginner skiers. Professional instructors (including Russian-speaking instructors) teach beginners how to ski and snowboard, while advanced skiers can take part in individual or group lessons in freeride, slopestyle, etc.

The resort offers tourists a huge palette of entertainment: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, an ice rink, swimming pools, paragliding school lessons, bowling, excursions to an ice grotto located at an altitude of 3400 m.

Villars de Lans

ski resort Villars de Lans located in the heart of the largest natural park in France - Vercors, on the slopes of the Aigle massif and the Dauphine Prealps. This town is especially attractive due to its location - from all sides it is surrounded by gorges and picturesque mountain ranges.

The slopes of Villars de Lans are included in a single ski area with slopes small resort Correncon-en-Vercors. This ski area is perfect for beginners and those with intermediate skiing skills. 130 km of trails are laid here with a height difference from 1160 to 2285 meters. About 50 km of them belong to the "green" and "blue", 49 km - to the "red", 31 km - to the "black". The slopes are very beautiful, as they pass through forests, picturesque canyons and plateaus.

The climate in the resort is quite humid, so in its upper parts there are many virgin areas with an abundance of snow. For cross-country skiers and hiking in Villars de Lans a route of 160 km has been laid. Any of the tracks can be reached with the help of 29 lifts, most of which are rope tows. The skiing season in Villars de Lans lasts from early December to early April.

In addition to the beautiful slopes, the resort has a wonderful water park, ice rink, fan park (in Correncon-en-Vercors), cinema, bowling, casino, sports center, numerous restaurants and bars. Kindergartens, ski schools are open for children, separate slopes and lifts are equipped. You can also visit the Choranches caves of the Vercors reserve and see a light or sound show, visit the robot museum, the water museum and the historical museum.

paradisks

Paradiski unified region includes resorts La Plagne, Peisey-Valandry, Les Coches and Les Arcs. This resort area is very young (created in 2003), and its name was born during an international competition, in which Paradiski became the winner (a combination of the French word Paradis - "paradise" and English ski - "ski"). Paradiski has excellent conditions for freeriding and teaching skiing to children. Skiing on two glaciers is possible all year round.

The pistes stretch from the summit of the Aiguille de Rouge (2335 m) in the west, the Bellecote peak (3417 m) in the center and Les Verdons (2500 m) in the east to the foot of the Tarentaise valley, forming an extended skiing area that runs 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 black, 24% red, 58% blue and 5% green. The slopes are serviced by 144 lifts, and individual resorts are connected by a single system of lifts (including Europe's largest cable car Vanoise Express with a length of 1.6 km and 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 slopes of the Arc-1600 are steeper, the Arc-2000 offers to conquer the Olympic slopes of the Aiguille Rouge (3226 m). Thanks to groomed trails and smooth mountainous terrain Les Arcs has been chosen more than once as the venue for international downhill competitions. Les Arcs has a fun park and a 180m halfpipe for snowboarders.

The resort of La Plagne is formed by 10 stations, six of which are connected by an extensive network of lifts, and four are slightly removed from them. The region is dominated by medium-difficulty slopes, but there are also slopes for the pros descending from the peaks of Belcote and Biolei. The "blue" slopes may well be mastered by a beginner who has come to rest in La Plagne, and the slopes of "Kamikaze" and "Harakiri" will appeal to advanced athletes. One of the local attractions is the bobsleigh track, where the competitions of the 1992 Winter Olympics were held.

Porte du Soleil

The resort of Portes du Soleil is also known as the "Gate of the Sun" - it is always 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.

Lots of schools, pistes of varying difficulty in four ski areas on the French side: Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz and Châtel. The choice of local slopes will satisfy skiers of any level, and a single ski pass operates throughout the resort. Due to the low location of the ski areas in Portes du Soleil, it is best to go from January to March.

Porte du Soleil has 280 runs, of which 26 are black, 105 are red, 112 are blue and 37 are green. There are 201 lifts, 650 km of slopes have been laid in the resort. Nine snowparks will delight the most sophisticated snowboarders and freestyle enthusiasts. Portes du Soleil has good conditions for off-piste skiing. And after a busy ski day you can relax in any of the 89 mountain restaurants.

Avoriaz/Morzine

City morzine lies in a spacious valley at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. One of the largest resorts of the Portes du Soleil, Morzine, is located at an altitude of only 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 was opened here in 1934. There are many shops and restaurants, as well as hotels and apartments.

Avoriaz- the youngest resort of Porte du Soleil, specially built for skiing. Avoriaz is literally entangled with tracks from all sides. The ski in ski out system works here - you can get from home to the track and vice versa. Avoriaz is considered the center of European snowboarding - it was here that the first Snowboard World Cup was played in 1989. Not far from the city there are areas of off-piste skiing. Snowboarders will appreciate the snow parks: 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 tracks are simple, long, mostly sunny. A very interesting ski area in Champery and Les Gets, but there is one inconvenience: Les Gets can only be reached through the Morzine station, taking off your skis.

Le Menuire

The resort is located in the Bellevile valley a few kilometers from Val Thorens at an altitude of 1850 meters and is connected by a network of lifts to Val Thorens, Meribel, La Tania and Courchevel. Ski season - from December to May. The total length of the trails is 160 km, there are 28 km of cross-country skiing trails.

The resort is actively developing the North American beginners village model. There is a ski area (about 5000 sq. m.) for beginner skiers, which is serviced by six free lifts. Also for beginners there is a special ski pass for another 11 ski lifts in the region at especially low prices.

Particularly interesting are the red and black slopes, which are located on the La Masse massif. Resting at the resort Menuir, be sure to ride the 3 Marches and Mont de la Chambre slopes. The resort is surrounded by many slopes, ideal for freeriding, from where you can go down to the lifts, which will avoid the need to use the bus. The vast majority of the tracks are blue and red.

It offers tourists snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skiing, hiking, dog sledding, snowmobiling. Après ski - restaurants, cafes, bars, confectionery and pizzerias, disco, night club, bars with live music. As well as billiards, two outdoor pools, indoor tennis courts, a fitness center with a Turkish bath, a sauna and a gym, toboggan runs, a skating rink.

La Tania

ski resort La Tania located between the ski resorts of Meribel (5 km) and Courchevel (2 km) on the border national park Vanoise and belongs to the Three Valleys skiing region. The resort is located at an altitude of 1400 meters. Ski season from mid-December to late April. Number of ski slopes - 318 (30 black, 108 red, 129 blue, 51 green). The total length of the tracks is more than 600 km. The total length of trails for cross-country skiing is 118.55 km (of which 26.5 km are in La Tania itself).

All pistes are well-groomed, there are lights for night skiing, the lifts are located so that there are no queues. In La Tania you have the opportunity to ski on and off the numerous and varied pistes in neighboring Méribel and Val Thorens. Tourist infrastructure includes luxury hotels and restaurants, expensive shopping mall"Forum", even its own airfield. And of course, great mountain views.

Of the nearby attractions is national park Vanoise, famous for its population of wild alpine mountain goats - ibexes. Chamois, alpine marmots, lynxes, white hares, ermines, bearded vultures, golden eagles and black grouse live in the park. Vanoise borders the Italian national park Gran Paradiso, and both of them make up the largest protected area in Western Europe.

Half an hour from La Tania there are two wellness centers - the Grand Spa des Alpes in Brides-les-Bains and the Thermes de Salins les Bains wellness center in Salins-les-Thermes, known for the healing properties of salt water used to treat rheumatism and skin diseases .

Lez Ouch

The resort is located at the foot of the highest peak Alps - Mont Blanc mountains (4807 m), from where a panoramic view of the landscapes of the foothills of the Chamonix valley opens. Skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels aspire here - from beginners to experts. The reason for this is an unprecedented variety of descents, peaks, trails and slopes. Les Houches is also famous for hosting the annual World Cup downhill skiing competition. One of the features of the resort is that most of the trails are laid through the forest.

Ski slopes from 950 to 1900 meters long, great 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 it is quite comfortable to ride here even in bad weather.

From additional entertainment - cafes and restaurants, dog sledding, helicopter flights over the Chamonix valley. Near Les Houches is the picturesque village of Servoz, where you can visit the picturesque gorge Les Gorges de Diosaz, the Alpine Museum, shops of local artisans. Annual local events - Christmas market, craft festival, mule fair, markets with all the variety of local delicacies.