France is known for its ski resorts and they are considered to be some of the best in the world. The pistes of the resorts of France are vast and spacious, the skiing areas include places for skiing and snowboarding. They include tracks for athletes of various backgrounds. For beginners, lovers of active mountain recreation, there are professional instructors and separate slopes with gentle slopes.
French resorts differ in terms of availability. There are fashionable resorts with luxury hotels and restaurants, such as Courchevel or Isola 2000. But there are also ski resorts that are affordable for living - Les Sibelles or Les Orres. On the slopes of the mountains of French resorts, world competitions are often held, including the Winter Olympics. This indicates a high level of track preparation and high-quality infrastructure.
The most popular ski resorts in France
List, photo with the names and descriptions of the main ski resorts in the country.
Courchevel
The most famous resort in the country, which is located in the Tanzanian Valley. The total length of all tracks of different difficulty levels is 150 km. All slopes are equipped with a large number of modern lifts. The resort includes 5 small towns with different pricing policies. Fashionable hotels and posh restaurants are located in the upper villages. Affordable prices for accommodation and meals are at the bottom.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
A popular resort on the border of Switzerland and France. All ski areas are located at an altitude of over 2000 meters. In total, the resort has 70 slopes of various categories of difficulty and several dozen lifts. For lovers of sports recreation, cozy wooden houses have been built, from the windows of which you can enjoy beautiful views of the snow-capped peaks. There are separate areas for snowboarding and flat skiing.
Megeve
It is one of the best alpine resorts. Guests note the special aristocracy of this place and the French charm. The historic city center is full of historic landmarks, chic boutiques and gourmet restaurants. Megève is perfect for beginners and lovers of calm, comfortable skiing. There are also difficult trails with steep descents in the Mont-Jou and Mont-Joly area.
Val Thorens
The resort is located on the slopes of the Three Valleys. This is the highest resort in Western Europe and its disadvantage is the long transfer. Driving into the resort is prohibited. Val Thorens is located at the intersection of the pistes, and it successfully operates the concept of "skis on the doorstep". You can put on skis and go immediately after leaving the hotel. The total length of 68 ski slopes is 150 km.
Les Menuires
Located in the Belleville Valley at an altitude of 1850 meters. Holidays in this resort are considered the most budgetary of all the resorts of the Three Valleys. The resort can offer athletes 160 km of well-prepared pistes, equipped with 33 lifts. There is a separate ski area for beginners with an area of 5000 m². The difference in altitude on the most difficult 2.4 km track is 700 meters. There is a snow park for snowboarders.
Meribel-Mottaret
An alpine resort that is great for families. It features ski slopes, cross-country skiing trails and a snowboard park. There are many wide trails for beginners with a free drag lift. For professionals, there is a trail with a steep descent Combe du Valon. Cafes and restaurants open in the evening, and on Fridays there is a “market on wheels” with goods from large sports stores.
Val d'Isere
World Cup competitions are held annually on the slopes of this resort. More than half of the trails are for professionals who appreciate steep and steep descents, including glacier skiing areas. There are several lifts at the disposal of athletes, two of which pass through the ice and rocks. For travelers there is a large selection of comfortable hotels and inns, bars and restaurants.
Alpe d'Huez
Alpine resort, one of the largest and most visited in the country. The slopes of the resort are located between heights from 1100 to 3300 meters. An excellent snow cover is supported by artificial snow cannons. A unique feature of the resort is the maximum natural light - there are about 300 sunny days in this area a year. The total length of all tracks is 240 km, they are served by 85 lifts.
Les Deux Alpes
Located at the foot of a large glacier at an altitude of 1650 meters. The skiing season here lasts all year round. There are different types of lifts and a cable car, some of them lift the guests of the resort to a height of 3520 meters. The ski area consists of 104 tracks with a total length of 225 km. In addition to the ski slopes, the resort has several snowboard parks. There are separate areas for freestyle, difficult turns and jumps.
Avoriaz
One of the most unusual resorts in France with a high level of infrastructure. It is prohibited to enter the resort by car, and visitors are transported to their destinations by sleigh. The resort surprises its guests with its architecture - the buildings are built in the Art Nouveau style. The thickness of the cover of the slopes of the Avoriaz resort reaches 8 meters. The territory of the resort is divided into zones - 42 ski slopes, several snowboard parks and 8 cross-country skiing trails.
Les Arcs
Ski resort in the Tarentaise valley. The territory is divided into several zones according to categories of difficulty. For novice athletes, the Ark-1800 slopes are more suitable. Professionals will be attracted by the steep slopes of Arc-1600, in the area of Arc-2000 - by the slopes of the Aiguille Rouge peaks. An interesting track called "Flying Kilometer", where world speed records are set. Some of the tracks are illuminated at night, there is the possibility of off-piste skiing.
Chamrousse
The resort is built in the forests of the Grenoble Valley. From the tops of the mountains, where the slopes start, there are wonderful views. The resort covers an area of 865 hectares. There are both simple and difficult tracks for guests, their total length is 77 km. For families with small children, excellent conditions are organized here - there are specialized nurseries, where qualified educators will look after the children while the parents ride.
Serre Chevalier
The resort is known for its well-groomed pistes and excellent infrastructure suitable for families. More than 100 tracks have been prepared for athletes - 42 "red", 15 "black", 25 "green" and 33 "blue". There is a thermal spring next to the ski slopes. On the territory of the water complex there is a jacuzzi, hot tubs, a salt grotto and an outdoor pool overlooking the natural landscapes of the Alps.
La Plagne
Most of the resort's trails are suitable for intermediate to beginner athletes. For professionals, there are several trails on the descent from Bioli or leading from the Bulkot glacier. For freeriders, the southern slopes of the Roche de Mio peak are suitable. There are separate slalom areas. Two snowboard parks with interesting reliefs have been built. La Plagne has a complex of entertainment facilities - bowling, cinemas, swimming pool and skating rink.
Le Grand Massif
The resort appeared in 1981 as a result of the unification of several ski areas - Le Carroz, Morillon, Samoens, Sixt-Fer-Cheval and the resort of Flains. 133 tracks of different zones are connected by a single network of lifts. As a result of combining trails of different complexity into one zone, the resort has become attractive both for professionals and for beginners and families with children. Wide gentle slopes are offered for training, instructors work.
Le Sibel
A resort with 6 ski resorts. Combines beautiful nature, great ecology, modern tracks and lifts. The most interesting for skiing are the slopes of the peaks with a height of 3510 meters and 3464 meters. The longest piste in the Le Sibel region is 8.5 km.The total length of all tracks is 310 km. Prices for holidays in Le Sibelle are considered one of the most affordable in the country.
Galibier-Tabo
It combines the resorts of Valloire and Valmeinier. First of all, they are aimed at families with children, but there are also restaurants, shops, night discos. More than half of the resort's tracks are located at an altitude of over 2000 meters. The winding "blue" and "green" trails for beginners are laid among the dense forest. "Red" slopes are located on the slopes of the Crete de Quar. "Black" trails start at the peaks of Gros Cre and Sete-des-Prés.
Espace San Bernardo
This ski center consists of the Italian resort of La Thuile and the French resort of La Rosiere. A common network of lifts and a single ski pass give access to 160 km of pistes. Most of the tracks are designed for professionals, amateurs of difficult tracks. The longest slope is the 11-kilometer-long San Bernardo, which starts at a summit of 2850 meters. For experts, there are black runs at Le Suches and Le Belvédère.
Faure Blanche
Formed by the slopes of the resorts Vars and Risul. The total length of all tracks is 185 km. They are located at altitudes from 1650 to 2750 meters. The skiing area is vast and open. From some places you can view the entire territory of the resort. At the highest point, there is an observation deck with a panoramic view. The gentle and wide slopes are especially interesting for beginners. At the same time, the relief of other tracks is varied - there are turns and bends.
Val Cenis
The difference in the heights of the slopes of the resort is at levels from 1300 to 2800 meters. To maintain a comfortable snow cover, an artificial snowmaking system functions. Val Cenis has one of the longest green runs in Europe. Its length is 9 km. In addition to its length, it is interesting for its large amount of bend, for its appearance athletes call it "snail". There is a 27 km long cross-country ski trail.
Le Contamine
It is included in the ski area of the Evazion Mont Blanc region, located at an altitude of 1164 meters. This is a small cozy resort, which consists of 47 tracks 120 km long. There are 8 tracks for beginners, 10 "black" tracks for experts. There are 28 lifts working here. In February, Le Contamine hosts the Snow Festival, during which ice figures are erected, light shows and fireworks are set off.
Oron
The resort is popular with the residents of the Riviera. There are 42 tracks on it. The total length of all slopes in the resort is 135 km. Among the athletes, the slopes of the Auron resort are known for their long, long descents. The difference in elevation on the slopes is from 1600 to 2450 meters. The resort can offer guests activities such as parasailing downhill, snowshoeing on untouched snow and snowmobiling.
La Clusaz
The resort has a rich sports history - the first ski club appeared in La Clusaz in 1926, and the first ski lift in 1935. On the slopes of La Clusaz, international competitions are held - cups and world championships. The length of the longest track is 9 km. There are trails for children and novice athletes, many of them are among the century-old conifers. Some of the trails are illuminated at night.
Les 7 laux
The lowest point of the ski area of the resort is located at an altitude of 1350 meters, the top - at an altitude of 2400 meters. There are 40 slopes in the ski center, 12 of which are “black” and 7 are “green”. The tracks are equipped with different types of lifts. The resort is located in the district of Grenoble. It is conditionally divided into three areas - Le Plaine in the east, Praputel in the west and Pipay between them. There are about 50 km of trails for cross-country skiing.
Villars de Lens
Located in the national park at an altitude of 1050 meters. It is known among athletes for its low prices for ski vacations, so they begin to book places in hotels here in the fall. Guests combine active rest with walks in natural places and visiting caves. The ski areas are great for beginners and intermediate athletes.
Espace Lumiere
One of the best ski resorts in the southern Alps. Athletes who appreciate the mild climate and the abundance of sunny days come here. The main ski areas of the resort are the trails of Val d'Allos and Pra Loup villages. They merged into a single resort, Espace Lumiere, in 1977, after which their popularity among French families increased greatly. For extreme lovers there is the possibility of skiing off-piste and a snow park with jumps.
Grand Tourmalet
The resort has 100 km of slopes and 29 ski lifts at its disposal. The ski area is located at a level from 1250 to 2500 meters. Most of the resort's slopes are in treeless terrain. The famous point of the Grand Tourmalet is the Col du Tourmalet, the highest pass in the French Pyrenees. There are more than half of easy tracks, there are no official tracks for freeriding. But the unofficial ones are laid from the Pic du Mid peak.
Isola 2000
The resort is located in the Mercantour National Park, 90 km from the Cote d'Azur. This attracts wealthy tourists to the resort who combine beach and outdoor activities. Weather permitting, the Mediterranean Sea can be seen from the 2603 meter high Cime de Sistron. The snow cover is good all season from December to April; heavy snowfalls are frequent here. The total length of all slopes in the resort is 120 km.
Les Orr
It is located in the south of the French Alps, the altitude of the resort is 1650 meters. On one side there is the Serre-Ponçon Lake, on the other - the mountain ranges of the Parpaillon massif. Les Orres is a modern young resort with excellent infrastructure. Comfortable hotels are equipped, there is a wide network of cable cars, entertainment for children and adults. The longest track in the resort is 9760 meters, the length of all tracks is more than 100 km.
Saint-Lary-Soulan
The slopes of the resort go up the slopes to a mark of 2515 meters. The ski area is 700 hectares. There are trails for both alpine skiing and snowboarding, as well as a separate Pla d'Adet trail for sledding with a length of 1700 meters. For children, there is a Patou Park with snow modules. There are several mountain lakes and swift streams near the resort. There is a ski school for beginners.
