Skiing in France :: Ski & Lifestyle
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Written by BrusselsLife Team -
01 Oct 2007, 00:00
(Updated: 13 Dec 2012, 07:59)
The advantage of France, it is that it's big. When the snow and the winter come, this singularity comes into its own: as it's big, there's a lot that can be done, in different categories. In terms of skiing holidays, France, with the largest skiable area in the world (25,000 hectares), offers a wide range of solutions, both for families for enthusiasts.
On the whole, the ski resorts can be "sorted" into three categories:
Skiing and Lifestyle - For moderate skiers, these resorts offer, beyond the traditional winter sports, various activities such as wellness, shopping, relaxation, and so on. To have a good holiday, all in all, but on snow rather than on sand.
In the first category, Alpe d'Huez and Val d'Isère clearly stand out. Alpe d'Huez is a relatively old station, since it has been developed as such since 1936. A high-altitude resort (1,860m) and enjoying remarkable sunshine, it has the merit of propose the longest piste in the world (the one known as the "Sarenne Piste"), namely a run of 16 kilometres! In addition, access on skis to Alpe and the various villages is guaranteed by snow-blowers, which is nevertheless pretty practical.
Val d'Isère is more of a "trendy" resort, which accommodates stars (Bono, Richard Branson, Prince Albert of Monaco, etc) and which organises international events (the 1992 Olympic Games, the world of Alpine Skiing Championships in 2009…). The village is still rather charming nevertheless, with its pretty houses and its cultural heritage (11th-century church, 1664 steeple, etc). As for the skiing, the large variety of pistes will be appreciated, intended for beginners and experts alike.
Next :: Winter Charms >>
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