EUROPEAN SKI HOLIDAYS

FRANCE

Capital: Paris Currency: Euro Language: French

Time: GMT +1 Telephone Code: 00 33

France country is located in Western Europe. France is the country that is visited the most with nearly 80 million foreign visitors each year. France is one of the founding nations that comprise the United Nations and also the European Union as well as being one of the five permanent members of the UNSC.

France is rich in beauty, culture and architecture and is home to around 40,000 palaces, castles and manor type structures. Rich in art and literature France boasts the highest number of Nobel prizes for literature. France is a perfect destination for a European ski holidays.

France was the first country in Europe to produce nuclear energy and second in the entire world. France also is home to the fastest train in the world; the TGV which has an average speed of 263.3km per hour.

Just as France is abundant in most luxuries and wonderful things such as wine and perfumes, beauty and art it is abundant in ski resorts as well.

Obviously we cannot cover them all in one article; however, we can look at a couple of Frances top ski resorts from various areas. France offers some fantastic ski deals.

The Chamonix is considered not only one of Frances top ski resorts but one of the top ski resorts in the world.

Chamonix is the place to go for adventurous skiers who are looking for long runs, cliffs, headwalls and lots of challenge. Although Chamonix does have some mild courses, their extreme terrain has lent itself to several ski films.

Chamonix has seven close-in ski areas including Grands Montets, home of the Aiguille du Midi. Aiguille du Midi is an exciting 12 mile off piste run that starts at the end of an unloading cable car and ends in the valley. It is a long and dramatic run that is not so challenging, other than avoiding the crevasse in the glacier.

Chamonix has the highest lift served vertical slope at 9209 feet high as well as a 13 mile run, and 762 acres of ski-able terrain. The runs at the Chamonix are made up of 17 beginners, 22 intermediate and 25 advanced runs giving everyone plenty of opportunity to ski. Chamonix runs from December until late April. 

Courchevel is located in France’s fabled Three Valleys and has 3 ski centers located at different elevations and is considered to be one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world. Courchevel’s highest center is considered to be chic and glamorous and attracts high profile skiers and is an extremely popular European ski holiday.

Courchevel has 117 runs 33% beginners, 34% intermediate, 33% advanced and 10% expert runs and has over 150 ski-able acres. Courchevel’s highest vertical drop is 4393 feet high, and the longest run is 4.8 miles long. Courchevel runs from December to late April.

Lift Information

Chamonix offers a total of 47 lifts with 13 gondolas or trams and 16 surface lifts. Courchevel offers a total of 63 lifts with 7 high speed quads, 3 triple chairs, 6 double chairs and 31 surface lifts.

Cross Country Skiing

Chamonix offers a total of 26 miles of cross country ski tracts divided into several tracks and levels of terrain. With over 74 miles of cross country ski tracks Courchevel is the place to put your ski skills to the test and is a perfect destination for a European Ski holiday.

Types of Accommodation

Accommodations at Chamonix range from the budget conscious apartments to swank luxury hotels. Chamonix holds 64,000 beds along the slopes as well as 90 additional hotels nearby. Courchevel offers a total of 32,000 beds slope-side as well as 42 hotels located nearby. There are some really competative ski deals on the market.

Best Ways to Get There

Chamonix is easily accessible from the Geneva, Chambery and Lyon airports with Geneva being the closest at 50 miles from Chamonix. Courchevel is easily accessed from the Geneva, Chambery and Lyon airports as well with the Chambery being the closest at 70 miles from Courchevel. Motorways and railways will also get you to chosen resort.

Après  Ski

Après ski is in abundance in Chamonix and Courchevel with night clubs, bars and restaurants and live music throughout the town. There is never a shortage of things to do and often there is child care available for ages 18 months up to 12 years old.

Ski Resorts in France

AbondanceAime La Plagne
Alpe D Huez
Arc 1600 (Pierre Blanche)
Arc Villaroger Le Pre
Argentiere
Avoriaz
Belle Plagne
Bourg-St-Maurice
Brides Les Bains
Brides les Bains - Feissons-sur-Salins
Brides les Bains - Montagny
Brides les Bains - Planay (Le)
Chamonix
Chatel
Courchevel
Courchevel Le Praz
Flaine
Grand Bornand (Le)
Isola 2000
La Clusaz
La Plagne
La Plagne - Longefoy-sur-Aime
La Rosiere 1850
La Tania
Le Corbier
Les Arc Peisey Nancroix
Les Arc Peisey Vallandry
Les Arcs
Les Carroz d Arraches
Les Coches
Les Contamines-Montjoie
Les Deux Alpes
Les Gets
Les Houches
Les Menuires
Les Praz De Chamonix
Megeve
Meribel
Meribel Le Raffort
Meribel Les Allues
Meribel Nangerel
Meribel Village
Meribel-Mottaret
Montalbert
Montchavin
Montgenevre
Morzine
Notre Dame
Orres (Les)
Oz en Oisans
Plagne Bellecote
Plagne Centre
Plagne Champagny en Vanoise
Plagne Montalbert
Plagne Soleil
Plagne Village
Praz sur Arly
Puy-St-Vincent
Risoul
Samoens
Serre Chevalier
St Gervais
St Jean d Arves
St Lary Soulan
St Martin de Belleville
Superdevoluy / La Joue du Loup
Tignes
Val D Isere
Val Thorens
Valloire/Valmeinier
Valmorel
Vars
Vaujany