Skiing in France. Ski resorts in France: overview, prices, service. How to choose a ski resort in France for your holiday? Training center for beginner skiers

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 free time Here 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 rest in an elite setting.

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 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-Termes - 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 €. Ideal place for a healthy holiday.

France is amazing place, truly heavenly, thanks to its so successful geographical location.

Here you will find everything you need for a carefree vacation – the sea, the sun, and the mountains. The beaches of France attract the elite, and the ski resorts are rightfully considered the best in the world.

French ski resorts are highly rated by both amateurs and professionals. France was the host of the white Olympics three times - Chamonix (1924). Grenoble (1968) and Albertville (1992). It was here in Chamonix in 1924 that the tradition of the Winter Olympic Games was first established.

Ski resorts located in both the Alps and the Pyrenees. Alpine resorts are better known and popular due to their high location, long season and extensive ski areas. However, the Pyrenees also has its fans - those who love snow and sun, and a relaxing holiday away from noise and crowds come here. We must also pay tribute to holidays in the Pyrenees for much cheaper with the same quality.

Ski resorts in France began to develop since the beginning of the nineteenth century, and especially rapidly after the Second World War. Having started much later than the Austrians and Swiss, the French soon surpassed them in terms of equipment and resort infrastructure. It was the French who came up with the idea of ​​uniting the ski areas of small villages, thereby creating an offer that is impossible to resist.

Such ski areas as the Three Valleys and Portes du Soleil, which are the largest in the world, brought France worldwide fame.

Porte du Soleil includes 650 km ski slopes and 12 separate resorts in the Franco-Swiss region; the most popular French resorts of them are Avoriaz, Morzine and Les Gets.

Three Valleys is the world's largest interconnected ski resort, spanning 600 km ski slopes and connecting the famous resorts of Courchevel,

The Paradiski ski area is worthy of special mention: the 420 km ski area of ​​the association of the resorts of Pesseus Vallandry, La Plagne and Les Arcs. The last two are the most famous, as they offer large and varied terrain above 3000 m with a guarantee of snow cover.

It is impossible not to mention the “number one resort in France” - Espace Killy. A huge combined ski area, two popular ski stations Tignes and Val de Zir, guarantee of snow in winter, long season and glacier skiing in summer, excellent infrastructure and inviting night life– all this attracts winter sports fans like a magnet. Space Killy is positioned as youth resort.

Most French ski resorts, like La Plagne, were purpose-built from scratch in the 1950s and 1960s as ski resorts, and as a result, many are among the highest in Europe, like Val Thorens at 2,300 m or Tignes at 2,100m, which means excellent snow conditions for almost six months.

Most French ski resorts, including Chamonix, are now large and cosmopolitan. So many bars concert venues, discos, sports clubs and shops sometimes cannot boast of a small provincial town. And no one is surprised by the Michelin star on the door anymore local restaurant.

However, there are pleasant exceptions, Chatel and Les Gets in the Haute-Savoie department are two examples of small stations that have retained their traditional charm, with Alpine architecture, family boarding houses and typical cuisine of the region produced by farmers living nearby.

Family-type resorts are especially valued in France, specially awarded the "Famille Plus" sign by the French Tourist Council. If you are looking for a resort at affordable prices for family vacation - kindergarten, children's ski school and daily entertainment programs for children, then pay attention to the resorts marked with this \"Famille Plus\" sign, for example, Chatel, Les Gets, Les 2Alpes or Val Thorens.

The 20 ski resorts scattered throughout the French Pyrenees tend to be smaller and less developed than those in the Alps, but they offer a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and large expanses of untouched terrain. wildlife. Some of the most popular ski resorts in the French Pyrenees include Saint-Lary, Piau Engely, Gavarnie and Cauterets.

Ski lift prices are similar to Switzerland, Austria or Italy, ranging from €22 to €48 per day.

The airports of Geneva, Lyon, Nice and Milan provide international shipping in the French Alps. Buses and transfer services are organized according to the days of arrival from these airports.

France is the most interesting country and it has the world's largest ski areas and big amount lifts. This country is considered the most visited in the world, because Paris is elegant and fashionable city, and the Eiffel Tower is a world landmark. Many lovers active rest, including newlyweds during honeymoon prefer a ski resort in France.

Tourists are attracted by hospitality and first-class service, when they can enjoy the variety of difficulty of the routes and the beauty of the landscapes. There are several dozen modern and best ski resorts here, which are known to all skiers and snowboarders from all over the globe.

Ski resorts in France are not easy beautiful landscapes and steep mountains, there are more than four thousand different slopes that are suitable for both beginners and experts and masters of skiing.

This is an indescribable sensation and immense pleasure over several thousand kilometers of specially prepared ski slopes.

In France, Mont Blanc is considered the most high mountain Alps, while the Three Valleys have become contenders for the title of the largest ski region in the world, and the Vanoise Express is the fastest and largest two-story cable car.

It is believed that the ski resorts of France are the largest center in the world winter holiday and sports. There are 380 ski stations and 3900 lifts, this is the largest area for skiing and snowboarding, and the largest selection of different trails.

The highest peak of Western Europe is Mount Mont Blanc, it is 4807 meters high and at the same time guaranteed snow and sunny weather, which lasts from December to May, are provided to you.
The most popular resorts in France are Courchevel, Chamonix, Meribel, Megeve, Les Deux Alpes, Val d'Isere, Tignes, La Plagne, Val Thorens - these are exactly the places where you can properly relax and enjoy the climate and scenery.

Pyrenees

This is by far the most interesting and developing center ski holiday, because the mountain range stretches for 430 kilometers along the southwestern border between the Bay of Biscay and the well-known Mediterranean Sea.

This is considered the most colorful region of the country, because snowy mountains are replaced by green and dry foothills. The nature here is pristine and pure, so fans and tourists are attracted by the variety of recreation and small resort areas.

If you are a beginner and don't know how to snowboard or ski, then your best bet is to learn in flatter places like the Massif Central. This is the most best area for flat skiing, as well as for learning snowboarding and alpine skiing for beginners and children.

Haute-Provence is located in the south-east of France, sparkling with a variety of landscapes and a wonderful combination of gorges and rocky and mountain ranges.

This place is simply ideal for active recreation in winter.

The villages, which are illuminated by sunlight, have tracks at an altitude of three thousand meters and attract with their cleanliness and freshness.

Hautes Alps

The highest and most massive mountains are located in the Hautes-Alpes, such as Barre des Écrins, four thousand meters high, and Mont Pelvoux, also four thousand. All these mountains complement each other perfectly, and the views and landscape are simply stunning, and the conditions for winter various types sports are simply perfect.

It is the Hautes Alps that attract many athletes with their quality and quantity of mountains. There are tracks for every choice, both for beginners and professionals.

Haute Savoie

Haute-Savoie has stunning nature and attractions and is a first-class region. After all, it is in Haute-Savoie that the most high mountain throughout Europe - Mont Blanc, Lake Annecy, Lake Geneva, Chamonix Valley and Rhone River.

Here, vacationers will fully enjoy a first-class holiday, beautiful scenery and skiing. alpine skiing. In this region today there are the best ski resorts in the country, such as Portes du Soleil, Chamonix, La Clusaz.

The most visited ski resorts in France

Three Valleys - are the most famous high mountain ski center France.

Trois Valais is the second name for the Three Valleys and is the largest ski area for tourists.

The resort is located in the most famous ski province of Savvoy. There are eight main resorts: Val Thorens, Meribel, Brides-les-Bains, Saint Martin, Courchevel, Les Menuires, La Tania, de Belleville and Orelle.

The length of the slopes is 600 km and 200 lifts, which are capable of transporting a quarter of a million people to the mountains every hour. Here every beginner and professional will find a suitable route, travel routes and riding modes for themselves.

It is very convenient that you can alternate alpine skiing with cross-country skiing and snowboarding. The most powerful network of ski lifts in the world and there are fan parks and half pipes especially for snowboarders.

Val Thorens

Val Thorens is the most visited high-mountain resort of the Three Valleys ski area; it is a kind of roof; thanks to modern technologies, there is the most spacious aerial lift in all of Europe, it is designed for about one hundred and fifty people.

The mountains here are mostly steep, starting from three thousand meters, so the terrain here is more suitable for experienced skiers. The landscapes for holidaymakers are stunning beautiful view from the most picturesque peak of Cime de Caron, it opens directly onto Mont Blanc.

Meribel

Meribel is the heart of the Three Valleys, as it is the largest and most famous of all the ski resorts in France. This resort is mainly for families and for less experienced skiers. This is a calm place where you can relax and enjoy not only regular alpine skiing, but also cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

Here vacationers are provided entertainment centers, where you can play hockey, go ice skating or even have a sled race. A wonderful place to relax with your family, located at an altitude of 1400 meters.

Brides-les-Bains

Brides-les-Bains is a resort located at an altitude of six hundred meters and is the most cheap resort in France, it is thirty percent cheaper than in high mountain resorts.

And it is in Brides-les-Bains that there is not only a ski resort especially for vacationers, but also the most famous thermal resort with a special sports and fitness complex and a wonderful recreation park.

Vacationers and tourists come here from all over the world, not only in winter for skiing, but throughout the year to improve their health or just have a pleasant rest.

Courchevel

This high-altitude ski resort consists of four well-maintained villages, which are located on four levels - the first at an altitude of 1300 meters, the second at 1500 meters, the third at 1650 meters and the fourth at 1850 meters. This resort is considered the most prestigious and luxurious ski resort in the world.

Many people know that Courchevel is the most expensive and sophisticated resort, and the pistes there are well-groomed, and the guides are polite and can speak all foreign languages. This ski resort has become a leader in terms of hotel complexes and entertainment centers.

There is the highest quality service and maintenance, the friendliest staff and people relax there famous people. There are several slalom runs, two Olympic tracks specially prepared for ski jumping, a downhill track, ice arenas and cross-country ski trails.

Chamonix

Chamonix – largest resort Of the French Alps, famous for over two hundred years, it is located right at the foot of the famous huge Mont Blanc massif. The fact is that Chamonix is ​​the site of the very first Winter Olympic Games in the world.

The length of the tracks is 152 kilometers, total area- 762 hectares, number of lifts - 49. Today it is a popular and relatively affordable holiday for lovers of snowboarding and alpine skiing. Evening landscapes, restaurants and cafes, everything was created with comfort especially for relaxation.

Paradiski is the most large area skiing. The most popular resorts: Les Arcs, La Plagne, Les Coches and a small area in Peys-Valandry. The name itself is translated from French as “ski paradise”.

Paradiski - ski paradise

There are two glaciers, 425 kilometers of trails of varying difficulty, at altitudes ranging from 1200 to 3250 meters and 144 suspended lifts. Abundant snow cover from December to April, trails of varying difficulty, it will be comfortable for both beginners and professionals. There are also trails for cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

And the famous Flying Kilometer track for breaking speed records has a maximum slope of 76 degrees. Excellent conditions for children will allow the whole family to relax, because there are twenty-three kindergartens, thirty-four ski lifts, two playgrounds, and nine “rolling mats” for them. Ski schools teach children from the age of three, so you can come here with the whole family and have a great time.

Climate in the French Mountains

Snow in the Alps falls in November and lasts until May, and the mild climate provides comfort, because even high in the mountains the air temperature does not drop below 10 degrees Celsius.

But most best time February is considered for skiing, then the sun rises and the sunny weather lasts for a very long time.

Snow cover reaches from 0.7 to 4 meters depending on the height of the area itself. The air temperature, depending on the time of year from November to April, ranges from -7°C.. to +4°C. The coldest weather in January is -5.. -7°C, and the height of snow cover from November to April is from 0.06 to 2.20 meters.

Season tickets and Ski-pass, equipment rental and training school

In France, you can easily and easily buy a half-day, one-day, two-day, etc. pass. as much as your heart desires. You can purchase a pass for each valley separately and for the entire ski area, a Ski-pass for children under five years of age and for adults over seventy years of age is free, and special rates and promotions are available for couples and pensioners.

It is best to order a Ski-pass in advance and have a photo with you, because on the mountain it will cost much more, and the more days you want to spend there, the cheaper it will cost you. The Olympic ski area is Paradiski, Espas Killy and Three Valleys. If you purchase a subscription to one of these zones, then you can spend one day in any other.

For alpine skiing and snowboarding, there is rental in absolutely all sports stores, where you will be provided with a variety of additional services, such as inventory maintenance.

There is no need to worry about the suit, because any sports store will select a ski suit for you based on your height, weight and skiing level. In all corners resort towns There are similar stores that work specifically for you.

Also in France, in any city there are ski schools and you can book lessons there, and if you combine this with the purchase of a ski-pass, it will be much cheaper.

Very convenient discounts are available for families; during the holidays, when booking a lesson for an adult, a child can go for free. The ski school has several levels of training - this is a level for beginners who are trying to ski in France for the first time, for advanced training, and for professionals who want to learn various tricks.

Courchevel and accessible skiing are real

Courchevel has everything, from obscenely expensive hotels and restaurants, to grocery stores and cozy chalets in the old Le Prat. But first of all this ski resort. The air, snow and mountains are free here, and the cost of lifts is no higher than at any other major European resort.

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

Les Menuires is a family resort and a paradise for beginners; most of the slopes here are for those who are just starting out or want to improve their skills. It doesn’t take long to get from hotels and apartments to the slopes; they start right outside the door.
Les Menuires also has tracks for professionals; they are located on the slopes of Mont de la Chambre, and for snowboarders, there is an excellent fun park in the same area. Les Menuires offers beginner skiers a special ski area with an area of ​​about 5000 square meters. m and a conveyor lift. The village has a sports center with an aqua club, a children's club, restaurants and bars.
Photo gallery of Les Menuires resort

Meribel is a great family ski resort. It is located in the center of the Three Valleys region and consists of three villages. This place is perfect for those who are just learning winter mountain sports or want to introduce children to skiing. Wide pistes in the Altiport and Ronde Pointe areas and a free rope tow for beginners help you get in on the charm. skiing any tourist. However, there are also steep slopes in Meribel for professional athletes, for example, the La Face Olympic women's circuit or the descent to Combe du Valon. Meribel will also delight snowboarders - there are two special areas, Platier Snowpark and Arpasson Moonpark. In the first, a 650-meter track with obstacles, a half-pipe and a baby pipe is open to snowboarders, and in the second, a kilometer-long track with obstacles and two half-pipes.
Meribel has a sports complex, bowling alley, cinemas and nightclubs. The resort's restaurants are generally open after 17:00. Fans of parties and noisy parties can recommend the village of Mottare, where there are many discos, bars and nightclubs.
Photo gallery of Meribel resort

Brides-les-Bains is a superbly located ski resort with ideal access to the Three Valleys. The direct Olympus cable car takes skiers and snowboarders to Meribel, Val Thorens and Courchevel. The town was built for the 1992 Olympic Games and offers budget accommodation at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.
The total area of ​​the resort's slopes is 77 km; there are 58 lifts with a capacity of 64 thousand people per hour. There are two fun parks for snowboarders and 33 km of ski trails for cross-country skiers.
In Brides-les-Bains you can not only have great skiing, but also improve your health; there is a large wellness center with thermal springs.

Val d'Isere is one of the most sporting resorts in the French Alps. Every year in November, the first starts of the World Cup are held here; in 1992, the resort hosted the Winter Olympics, in 2009 – the World Alpine Ski Championships. The sports tracks located in the Belleward 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 slopes, including 12 green, 24 blue, 28 red and 15 black slopes. Val d'Pistes The Isères are known for their diversity, with an altitude 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, night club, 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, 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. Fans of evening entertainment will find casinos, jazz and bridge clubs, discos and many boutiques. Magnificent views of Mont Blanc can be seen from Mont Joly, and in Saint-Gervais you can swim in the thermal springs.
Photo gallery of the Megève resort

Courchevel is perhaps the most prestigious French resort, very popular among Russian tourists. A variety of slopes, an excellent choice of tracks, 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.
For beginners, wide green and blue trails 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 snowpark, a half-pipe, many snow cannons, and a 2-kilometer-long toboggan run. Indoor sports complex, bowling alley, fitness center, skating rink, concert hall and a cinema, numerous discos, galleries and restaurants will not let you get bored after skiing.
The resort has more than 100 shops, where all the world's famous brands are represented. Courchevel's restaurants and boutiques are designed for high-income tourists. The closest railroad station, Moutieres Salines, is located half an hour from the resort.
Courchevel Village is a cozy family ski resort, which is located at an altitude of 1550 m. Until 2013, it was better known as Courchevel 1550. This is a small Alpine town in Savoyard style with an economical hotel, excellent apartments and modern luxury chalets.
Two lifts connect Courchevel Village with the main ski areas of the region. There is a ski school, information tourist office, rental point, restaurants, bars, disco and skating rink. You will like the resort family tourists and lovers of secluded relaxation, 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 ski season opens at the beginning of October, in other zones - at the end of November and lasts until the first third of May.
Sports lovers will find 76 slopes in Tignes, most of them blue and red, a 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's infrastructure is famous for its compact and convenient location, and the prices for accommodation here are quite affordable.

Les Arcs is a group of resorts located in the heart of the French Alps, in the Haute Tarentaise valley. Resort towns are located here at altitudes from 1600 to 2000 meters above sea level and are connected by ski slopes and lifts. The skiing season is from mid-December to the end of April. 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.

– these names are known not only to avid skiers or snowboarders, but also to people far from sports. In this article we will tell you about best resorts France, where in winter it’s nice not only to relax, but also to ride with the breeze.

Chamonix, overlooking Mont Blanc

The town of Chamonix is ​​located in great place overlooking the highest peak in Western Europe- Mont Blanc mountain. Height above sea level – 1035 meters. Chamonix is ​​a Mecca for climbers in summer and skiers in winter.

In addition, nearby is nature reserve Mer de Glace (Icy Sea) is one of the most visited in the world.

Near Chamonix you will find a lot of not only ski entertainment. You can go to the town of Annecy, climb Mont Blanc by train, take walks through the caves and a lot more.

Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) - the largest ski resort

Three Valleys (or Les Trois Valais) is a huge resort that combines several bases in the Vanoise mountain range. This includes:

• Courchevel (Courchevel - hotels at this link),
• Méribel (Méribel - hotels),
• Les Menuires (hotels),
• Val Thorens - ),
• La Tania (La Tania - hotels),
• Brides - hotels
• and Orelle (Orelle - hotel offers).

Avoriaz – calmness

Situated at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level, Avoriaz is modern resort in the heart of Portes du Soleil. Between the forest and the mountains, the village, completely closed to cars, fits perfectly into the alpine nature. After you've hit the ski slopes of the Portes du Soleil (total length - 650 km), you can visit Aquariaz - a hot spring center with a temperature of 29°C.

Although you won't see any cars in Avoriaz, there are other modes of transport available. The resort's proximity to nature is its main advantage.

Official website of the Avoriaz resort: www.avoriaz.com

Les 2 Alpes - the largest snow park

In the Oisans Mountains, on the border between the Southern and Northern Alps, lies the dynamic resort of Les 2 Alpes. This is the largest chain of ski slopes in Europe. The resort is located at 3600 m above sea level. So there's almost snow here all year round, so skiers can be found here both in winter and summer.

The station also continues to develop its snow park: a large children's playground, a snow tube, a wall, a slide area for beginners and large pads (a huge 15 m mattress) are installed at the bottom of the slopes.

Chamrousse – a real Olympic village

On the southern outskirts mountain range Belledonne is the resort of Chamrousse, built in the forest. It offers exceptional views of the Grenoble valley. The station was used during the 1968 Winter Olympics. Many future Olympic champions performed or trained here.

Official website of the resort Charmus: www.chamrousse.com

Saint-Dalmas le Selvage – cross-country skiing

Saint-Dalmat-les-Selvages is the highest village in the Alpes-Maritimes (1347 m - 2916 m). The place is an ideal resort for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. In the heart of nature with unspoiled landscapes such as the Braïssa isthmus (2599 m), Mount Aunos (2514 m), the Charles cross (2529 m), the Moutière isthmus (2454 m), the Gialorgues glacial waterfall, you must find your happiness.

A great place for snowboarding too.

Official website of the resort of Saint-Dalmat-les-Selvages: hiver.saintdalmasleselvage.com

Le Sauze – family resort

Ski resort located in the Ubaye valley. Soz became famous as a family resort. In addition to the joy of skiing, don't miss a tour of Igloo Inuksuk Village, a real village with six igloos and Inuit traditions!

Official website of the resort Les Sauze: www.sauze.com

Megève – the most exclusive resort

Megève has retained its authentic charm mountain village. Surrounded by three mountain ranges with gentle slopes and green forests, stands a fourteenth-century medieval village with luxury shops, cobbled streets, a unique atmosphere and, of course, wonderful pistes.

This fashionable resort, where chalets, hotels and restaurants tirelessly fight for their prestige.

Official website of the Megeve resort: www.megeve.com

Serre-Chevalier – the sunniest resort

It is one of the largest ski resorts in the Alps with 250 km of ski slopes. Located at altitudes from 1200 to 2800 m above sea level. At the foot highest peaks is sunlit National Park Ecrins.

Serre Chevalier is one of the most sunny places in the Alps, the sun shines here 300 days a year!

Official website of Serre Chevalier: www.serre-chevalier.com

Enjoy your holiday in the French Alps!