A paradise of skiing France. Map of ski resorts in France: elite and prestigious holidays French Alps ski

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. Highest point 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 most high 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. Maximum height The slopes reach 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.

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, and 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-kilometer toboggan run, a snow and ice track for cars, a large sports complex, the best discotheque in France, the Underground, and many wonderful après-ski spots.
Photo gallery of the Val Thorens resort

Les Menuires – family resort and a paradise for beginners, most of the trails 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. Straight cable car Olympus will take 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 Cup alpine skiing. 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, aquatic center, 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 is an 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. There are great hotels here, wonderful 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 in 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, gymnasium and fitness center, Megève has cinemas, a bowling alley, an indoor Olympic skating rink and even an aviation club. Lovers evening entertainment Casinos, jazz and bridge clubs, discos and many boutiques await you. 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 nearest train station, Moutieres Salins, is half an hour's drive 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, information tourist office, rental point, restaurants, bars, disco and 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 pistes, 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, the ski season opens at the beginning of October, in other areas - 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 snowpark with a halfpipe, a mogul slope and a magnificent 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 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. Resort towns are located here at altitudes from 1600 to 2000 meters above sea level and are united ski slopes and lifts. The skiing season is from mid-December to the end of April. Fans of mountain winter sports in Les Arcs will find 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, Le Tours, Breven, Les Houches, Flègeres, 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.

France offers many ski resorts located in different parts of the country - in the southeast, in the Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, on the border with Switzerland and Italy. The remaining locations are located in the Pyrenees region, close to the border with Andorra.

220 ski resorts await ski lovers in France, there is a truly huge selection of all winter ski sports. Freeride is practiced in deep snow in Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc, the Alpine Skiing World Cup takes place in Val-d-Isere or on the 300 km pistes of the Three Valleys, cross-country skiers can ski on the slopes of Villars-de-Lans.

Many ski resorts have a long history. The oldest resort is Chamonix, where the first Olympic Games in France were held in 1924. This became a fundamental point for the development of other resorts that offer much more than just a winter holiday.

The most famous ski resorts in France

Northern Alps

The Northern Alps are home to the best ski resorts in the world. There are first-class large and small ski stations here. All places are connected by highways and pedestrian paths.

Tignes - for experienced skiers

The height of the descents is from 1500 to 3500 meters (150 km). 155 tracks, including:

• blacks - 26;
• red - 40;
• blue - 67;
• children's or green - 22.

The total number of lifts is 45. The approximate maximum amount per day is 43 €. The tourist resort will appeal to fans of freeride, ice diving, snowmobiling, and paragliding. Also in your free time you can do heli-skiing, ice climbing, and speed riding. A ski holiday in Tignes offers tourists numerous leisure opportunities in France: cinemas, hotels, restaurants, playgrounds, clubs, shops, indoor swimming pools.

Val D'isere is the best

The length of the tracks is from 1550 to 3450 meters. The number of tracks is 154, of which:

• green - 20;
• blue - 67;
• red - 41;
• blacks - 26.

Lifts - 79. Approximate maximum amount per day - 49 €. With a long history, extraordinary slopes and exceptional services, Val d'Isere is one of the best ski resorts in France.

Courchevel - luxury holiday

The length of the tracks is from 1850 to 2740 meters. Number of tracks - 98, of which:

• green - 19;
• blue 37;
• red - 31;
• black - 8.

Lifts - 87. Approximate maximum amount per day - 70 €. Courchevel is a place where people who value quality holidays in an elite environment meet.

Southern Alps

The meeting of the Alps and the Mediterranean climate gives these places a special character with a southern accent. Here all the modern ski resorts are located next to charming little old French villages.

Oron - democratic holiday

The length of the tracks is from 1600 to 2450 meters (135 km). Number of tracks - 42, of which:

• black - 8;
• red - 16;
• blue - 16;
• green - 2.

The total number of ski lifts is 11. Oron is located near Nice and its international airport. It is located in the heart of four French ski resorts, which offer a variety of excellent quality ski slopes.

Pyrenees

A natural border between France, Spain, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the Pyrenees is an array of contrasts. The villages are home to the most modern, but accessible to most tourists, ski resorts.

Ax-les-Thermes - for lovers of cross-country skiing

The length of the tracks is from 1400 to 2400 meters (80 km). Number of tracks - 35, of which:

• black - 6;
• red - 10;
• blue - 10;
• green - 9.

The total number of lifts is 17. The French resort offers a snow park and gentle slopes of Bonaskre and Baggins.

Massif Central

The Massif Central has everything you need for winter sports activities - cross-country skiing, dog sledding, paragliding, not to mention gastronomic diversity and the natural and architectural heritage of France.

Mon-dor - universal

The length of the tracks is from 1200 to 1840 meters (41 km). Number of tracks - 31, of which:

• black - 1;
• red - 6;
• blue - 8;
• green - 16.

Total number of lifts - 15. Estimated price max - 30€. The resort is suitable for beginners and experienced skiers; they will teach you how to choose ski equipment, offer sledding, skijoring, ice climbing, and mountain tourism.

Vosges

The Vosges resort in France juts out over vast forests and lakes, miles of trails and snow, and offers superb skiing. There are especially many family stations here.

Saint-Maurice - for cross-country lovers

The length of the tracks is from 1100 to 1250 meters (23 km). Number of tracks - 11, of which:

• black - 1;
• red - 2;
• blue - 3;
• green - 5.

Total number of lifts - 5. Estimated price max - 19.5 €. An ideal place for a healthy holiday.

French ski resorts- are considered one of the best winter resorts in the world. They are located in the French Alps, representing vast interconnected ski areas. There are more than four thousand excellent ski slopes, snowboard trails, bobsleigh and other interesting types of active winter holiday. All slopes have different levels of difficulty, which makes a holiday in the French Alps comfortable not only for beginner skiers, but also for professionals. Let's talk about the best ski resorts in more detail.

French ski resort Megeve- a very prestigious winter resort in the country, which has been operating since 1913, the time the Office of Tourism opened here. In 1921, the very first luxury hotel appeared here. Skiing on numerous ski slopes attracts to this ancient French town, in Savoyard style, the richest and most famous people in the world. There are many chic, fashionable hotels here. In general, the city of Megève is located in French region Rhône-Alpes, in the department of Haute-Savoie. Previously, there was a charming mountain village, which over time turned into one of the most prestigious on our planet. Megève united several ski stations: Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc, Bellevue, Mont-Joly. Getting to Megeve is not a problem: you can fly by plane, making a transfer in Paris, and then fly to Annecy airport, forty kilometers from here, or fly to Chambery, which is ninety-five kilometers away, you can fly to Geneva, located eighty-eight kilometers from here , to Grenoble, which is one hundred and sixty kilometers away, to Lyon, which is one hundred and eighty kilometers away, and then a transfer by car awaits you, but if you have the finances, you can transfer by helicopter. Of course, you can also get to Megève by train. The nearest railway station is twelve kilometers away, in the town of Salanches; trains go there from Paris on weekends, then transfer by car. If you rented a car in Paris, the distance to Megève will be six hundred kilometers. There are many accommodation options in Megeve: there are many excellent apartments and there are quite budget hotels, despite the high cost of this resort. There are forty-seven hotels in total, ranging from two to four stars, and there is also a large selection of five-star hotels, suites, and chalets. People come to Megève to ski between December and April. There is a well-developed tourist infrastructure, a large selection of restaurants famous for their best chefs. But most importantly, it is a wide selection of ski slopes, with varying levels of difficulty and length. Many of them passed through absolutely stunning forests. The resort has the opportunity to relax with children: there are children's ski gardens, schools, as well as a snowboard school and a freeride school. There are other, no less pleasant entertainments: indoor swimming pools, fitness rooms, indoor skating rinks, tennis courts. The resort of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains has an excellent thermal park with healing mineral springs.

Ski resort "Three Valleys"- “Les Trois Vallees” - belongs to the Savoyard ski area and is the largest combined ski area in the world ski region, with six hundred kilometers of excellent trails located at altitudes from one thousand three hundred to three thousand two hundred and thirty meters. “Three Valleys” or “Le Trois Vallées” united several resort bases of the Vanoise mountain range. It is this zone that includes the famous resort of Courchevel, as well as the resorts of Meribel, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, La Tania, Brides ", Saint Martin - "Saint-Martin", Crell - "Crelle". All six hundred kilometers of Le Trois Vallées ski slopes are connected by lifts, of which there are two hundred, and every hour they can deliver a quarter of a million people to the peaks.

Ski resort Courchevel– the most famous ski resort in France, especially loved by Russians, famous for the best ski slopes, the best hotels, amazing service and wonderful restaurants. This is one of the oldest ski resorts, opening to skiers in 1946. In 1992, the Winter Olympics were held here. The resort is divided into five towns: - the most sophisticated of them is Courchevel 1850, where millionaires relax; - just below is Courchevel 1650, famous for its stunning landscapes and mountain views; - “Courchevel 1550” is even lower; - followed by “Courchevel 1300” and “Courchevel 1100”. All the towns are incredibly cozy; holidays there are ideal for families with children. The five towns are located in one large web of ski slopes; there are many lifts, thanks to which you can reach any slope of the resort.

There are different types of lifts here: eighty-eight - rope tows, sixty-eight - chairlifts, thirty-nine - small-sized cabins, two - large-sized cabins, one - funicular. The ski season in Courchevel starts at the end of November and ends at the beginning of May. In addition to the ski slopes, here you can go ice skating, dog sledding, play billiards, tennis, relax in the evening in excellent nightclubs and bars, and pay tribute to the amazing French cuisine in best restaurants, go on great shopping. As you already understood: everything is here! It’s not for nothing that in Russia we believe that a holiday in Courchevel is an indicator of a person’s success.

Ski resort of France Meribel– “Meribel” is another resort included in the resort ski area"The Heart of the Three Valleys" It is located at an altitude of one thousand four hundred meters, and in turn is also divided into zones: - “Meribel Center”, built in the traditional French style, - “Meribel Mottaray” - a more modern part of the city. In both zones you will find excellent slopes, gorgeous cross-country trails, various entertainment: hockey rinks, skating rinks, dog sledding and so on.

French ski resort Chamonix– a resort that dates back more than two centuries. In 1924, the first Winter Olympic Games were held here. Chamonix is ​​located in the picturesque valley of the same name, right at the foot of Mont Blanc. The resort is divided into five skiing areas: “Grand Monte”, “Le Brevent”, “Vallée Blanche” - “White Valley”, “Le Tour”, “Le Flègere”. There are slopes for both beginners and experienced skiers. There are forty-two lifts: eighteen rope tows, seventeen chairlifts, five small-sized cabins, eight large-sized cabins, two funiculars. The routes have a total length of one hundred and forty kilometers. The ski season in Chamonix starts in December and lasts until April on the lower slopes, and until May on the higher ones. The resort has three children's clubs where you can leave the kids while the adults ride. Children are accepted there from six months old. In the Vallée Blanche area there is the longest ski slope in Europe, twenty-two kilometers long. The resort of Chamonix is ​​magnificent, but it has one drawback: it is impossible to ski here directly from the hotels; tourists first need to take a bus to the ski lift. In addition to skiing, you can snowshoe, paraglide, and parachute jump. There is an “Aquacenter” with a large swimming pool, a children’s area, a water slide, the height of which is one hundred and thirty meters, a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a solarium. In the evening, vacationers can go to casinos, bars and discos, as well as to a bridge club or bowling alley.

French ski resort Espace Killy– “Espace Killy” - located in the picturesque region of the French Alps and is considered one of the best winter resorts in the world. This region includes such famous resorts as Val d'Isère and Tignes, as well as four more modest resorts. There are the most modern slopes everywhere, excellent infrastructure. The slopes are suitable for both amateurs and professionals. Plus relaxation on this The resort is that you can ski on the mountain glacier both in winter and in summer. A free ski pass is provided for teenagers, there are many ski schools here. This is a paradise for snowboarders: there are excellent skiing corridors “Les Danaides”, “Le Lasvancher”. ", "La Table", "Kern". In addition to the ski slopes, here you can take a helicopter ride over the beautiful area, ride a dog sled, ride a motor sleigh, or go snowshoeing.

French ski resort Alpe d'Huez– “Alpe D'Huez” is an excellent winter resort in the southern Alps, where the sun shines three hundred days a year. For this, the French called this place “Island of the Sun”. The ski slopes are located on the upper plateau, and due to the fact that they are almost all facing south, you can ski in the sun until late in the evening. Here are the most famous European ski slopes: the Saren descent, sixteen kilometers long, as well as the Tunnel route, which was cut through a centuries-old glacier. By the way, one of the Bond films was filmed on the Alpe d’Huez Tunnel highway. A holiday at this ski resort is suitable for beginners, families with children, as well as lovers of other winter activities. The resort has an excellent ice stadium.

Ski resort of France Paradiski– “Paradiski” is a fairly young ski area. This is a united region that includes La Plagne, Peysé-Valandry, Les Coches, and Les Arcs. You can ski here all year round, as the resorts are located in an area of ​​glacial snow that does not melt all year round.

French ski resort Portes du Soleil– “The Portes du Soleil” - this winter resort has a romantic name, which can be translated into Russian - “Gate of the Sun”. The fact is that it is constantly sunny here. There are slopes at the resorts for both professionals and beginner skiers, there are ski schools and six hundred and fifty kilometers of excellent trails of varying levels of difficulty. This ski area also unites several winter resorts: Les Gets, Morzine, Avorias, Chatel.

Every year, the beautiful French mountain slopes attract numerous tourists and skiers, for whom absolutely all the necessary conditions have been created here: there are excellent ski lifts, pistes, hotels, shops and restaurants, for every taste and budget.

Why do millions of people around the world prefer ski tourism to other types of recreation? It's simple. Beautiful scenery, fresh air, active recreation with the whole family, new acquaintances and a sea of ​​positive emotions. This is what a vacation in the mountains is!

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Every year, hospitable France welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists and vacationers from all over the world. Many people come to the country with one sole purpose - to relax at the ski resorts. Why, among all the other countries that offer their services in this area, should you choose it?

Firstly, the country is famous for its large number of resorts and a large total length of ski trails, with varying degrees of difficulty. Therefore, France is an ideal place for both an inexperienced beginner in this matter and an experienced outdoor enthusiast. Secondly, ski tourism in the country is very well developed, which means high-level service. This is explained by the fact that the first resorts of this kind in the country appeared more than a hundred years ago.

The first Winter Olympics in the history of sports took place back in 1924, and it took place on the slopes of the French Alps. Therefore, the country already has certain ski traditions and an impeccable reputation that has been earned over the years. This is where France compares favorably. There are basic information that applies to all resorts. The season begins at the beginning of winter, since, as a rule, snow begins to fall in November and by the beginning of December a good and uniform snow cover is formed.

Useful information for tourists

At the beginning of the season, you can take advantage of various discounts and promotions that allow you to attract tourists and actively start the new season. The peak occurs at the beginning of January, during New Year's holidays. At this time, many of the routes are filled with visitors and sometimes you have to stand in line for the funicular. Such points should also be taken into account, as well as the fact that prices rise significantly at this time. The ski season lasts until the end of April, although everything may depend on weather conditions in a specific area.

March-April is an excellent period for visiting the ski resorts of France with the whole family, since the influx of visitors is declining and at this time there are again discounts and promotions that you can take advantage of. There are over 200 resorts in France, so it can be difficult to decide on a direction and decide where exactly to go. It all depends on several facts, one of which is the planned vacation budget.

Although France is famous for its prestigious, and therefore expensive, resorts with an appropriate level of service, people of average income can also have a good rest at the country’s resorts.

Now it’s worth talking about the most famous and popular ski resorts in the country.

Chamonix

The first on this list is worth mentioning Chamonix, which, in fact, is the oldest resort in the country. Its history goes back more than 200 years. The resort is located at the foot of the famous Mont Blanc peak. The resort attracts large numbers in both the winter and summer months. In addition to skiing enthusiasts, climbers and those who like to explore the local beauty with the breeze on mountain bikes come to the resort. The resort is always crowded at all times of the year.

Regarding skiing, I would like to note the following: there are slopes with a total length of several hundred kilometers. In addition, thanks to its location near the border, you can not only ski on the mountain slopes of France, but also visit neighboring Italy and its resort of Courmayeur. You can also go to Switzerland, to the resort of Vallorcine. The skiing season is open from the beginning of winter until mid-April. It is clear that the high season is during the winter and Christmas holidays, when thousands of tourists and vacationers from all over the world fly to the resort.

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The total length of the trails is about 170 km, with a height difference of more than 2.5 km. There are more than a dozen simple trails that are suitable for the most inexperienced beginner. Most are equipped with funiculars and lifts, rope tows, chairlifts or gondolas. In addition, one cannot help but say a few words about the legendary “White Valley”. This is a valley in the Mont Blanc massif at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters. This valley has 22 km of off-piste skiing. What does this mean? This area is not specifically groomed for skiing or snowboarding and is not maintained like the rest of the resort. This kind of skating is called freeride and is fraught with great risk. But at the same time, skiing on untouched snow allows you to make wider use of the capabilities of alpine skiing or snowboarding, and get more adrenaline.

Courchevel

The resorts of the Three Valleys are prestigious and world famous. Let's first talk about Courchevel, which is distinguished by excellent service, developed infrastructure, fashionable hotels and excellent mountain skiing slopes. In fact, this is not one resort, but four, which are located at different altitudes. The most prestigious is Courchevel 1850, which welcomed ordinary tourists, the rich, and members of the royal family on its hospitable slopes.

Courchevel has a well-thought-out and successful layout, thanks to which you will never go down the same slopes and will be able to enjoy new landscapes and overcome new obstacles every day. For variety, there are two tracks designed for ski jumping, which were used during the Olympics and various competitions.

By visiting this place, you have the opportunity to visit the legendary ski resort, stay in a luxury hotel, stroll through various boutiques and, of course, enjoy skiing. The resort has enough trails that are suitable for both beginners and aces in this matter. The season opens at the beginning of winter and ends at the beginning of May, during which time the resort annually receives tens of thousands of visitors, among them about 20 thousand come from Russia.

Alpes Hotel du Pralong

Courchevel

Direct access to the ski slopes

Amazing

Booked 2 times today

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Hotel de la Loze

Courchevel

6 minutes walk from ski lift

Amazing

70 reviews

Booked 2 times today

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Val Thorens

The resort of Val Thorens, which is located at an altitude of about 2,300 meters, was called the “Roof of the Three Valleys”. This resort is not only the highest in this region, but throughout the world. If you love extreme sports and are not afraid of dangers, and also have experience and dexterity, then you should visit Val Thorens.

Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge

Val Thorens

Luxury hotel with ski-to-door access

Amazing

187 reviews

Booked 4 times today

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The third resort included in the Three Valleys list is Meribel. It consists of two parts - one zone in a more traditional French style, and the second modernized and modern. Visiting Meribel with the whole family is a great idea, since the infrastructure is excellent and there is a lot of entertainment, including sled racing, hockey, as well as skiing and snowboarding, of course.

La Plagne

Now let's talk not about such prestigious, but no less remarkable ski resorts. One of them is La Plagne - an area in which there are a number of small resorts, towns and villages. La Plagne has a huge number of mountain slopes and the total length of all routes is over 210 km. Among them there are trails for beginners, intermediate difficulty and for professionals. Individual stations, such as Plagne Village or Plagne Center, are completely self-sufficient resorts with their own infrastructure. That is, each station has its own hotels, as well as bars, shops and other establishments.

Megève

A few words about Megeve, which is located near the famous Mont Blanc peak. The resort has trails and areas for walking, with a total length of 300 kilometers. All routes are carefully prepared. The resort is perfect for family vacation, because there are not only difficult and dangerous trails for those who like to tickle their nerves, but also safe trails for beginners. It is worth noting that Megève is located not far from another famous resort, Chamonix.