Ski resorts in France: alpine ski areas, slopes and ski lifts

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc has a ski area with 150 kilometers of slopes spread across several valleys at the foot of Mont Blanc. This station offers descents suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced skiers. The ski lifts serve different sectors such as Brévent-Flégère, Les Grands Montets, and Le Tour-Balme, providing varied slopes between 1000 and 3300 meters altitude. Skiers can enjoy their sport from December to April across the entire domain.

Courchevel is a ski resort that is part of the Three Valleys domain and offers 150 kilometers of interconnected slopes served by cable cars. This resort allows skiers to access directly the extended network of the Three Valleys, which includes several interconnected resorts. The cable car infrastructure facilitates movement across the entire ski area, and the slopes are spread across various altitudes to suit both beginner and experienced skiers. Courchevel is located in Savoie and serves as one of the main access points to this alpine network.

Val d'Isère has a ski area of 300 kilometers of slopes served by 78 lifts. This resort extends between 1850 and 3456 meters above sea level, a setup that ensures consistent snow coverage throughout the season. The significant altitude difference and the presence of the glacier allow skiing in favorable conditions from December to April, with options for summer high-altitude skiing.

Méribel offers 150 kilometers of slopes of various levels. This Savoie resort is centrally located in the Trois Vallées ski area, which connects Courchevel and Val Thorens. Its location provides easy access to the full network of 600 kilometers of pistes, while also featuring its own zones suitable for beginners and experienced skiers. The lifts connect Méribel directly to other resorts within the area, facilitating movement between valleys from December to April.

Les Deux Alpes has a 200-hectare glacier with slopes reaching up to 3,600 meters altitude, allowing winter sports from October to May. This setup ensures prolonged snow cover and provides skiers with an high-altitude area accessible for several months each year.

Tignes offers 300 kilometers of accessible ski runs from October to May, complemented by the opportunity to ski in the summer on the Grande Motte glacier, located at 3456 meters above sea level. This high-altitude resort allows skiing throughout the year thanks to its extensive ski area and glacier, which ensures stable snow conditions even during the summer season.

La Plagne has 225 kilometers of slopes spread across different difficulty levels. This resort connects with Les Arcs via ski lifts to form the Paradiski area, which totals 425 kilometers of slopes. This network allows skiers to access a wide variety of descents and altitudes, making La Plagne a strategic starting point for exploring the entire ski area.

L'Alpe d'Huez offers 250 kilometers of ski runs spread across its ski area. The resort is home to the La Sarenne descent, which is 16 kilometers long with an elevation change of 1800 meters, making it one of the longest ski slopes in the Alps. The area extends over several sectors connected by lifts, allowing skiers of all levels to explore the different altitude zones that make up the resort.

Les Arcs offers 200 kilometers of slopes within the Paradiski domain, with a direct connection to La Plagne via the Vanoise Express, a cable car connecting the two resorts 380 meters above the void. This Savoyard station spans between 1200 and 3226 meters in altitude and allows skiing on varied slopes, from learning areas to technical high mountain routes. The four high-altitude villages, Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950, and Arc 2000, provide access to the different sectors of the domain.

Avoriaz is a car-free resort situated at an altitude of 1800 meters, offering access to the Portes du Soleil area with its 650 kilometers of pistes. This Haute-Savoie resort is characterized by its architecture integrated into the mountain landscape and direct access to the slopes from accommodation. The ski area extends between France and Switzerland, providing connections with nearby resorts such as Châtel, Morzine, and Les Gets.

Les Menuires provides access to 600 kilometers of pistes within the Trois Vallées area, connecting several resorts and offering 160 ski lifts. This station is part of the largest ski area in the world, with varied routes for all skill levels, from wide beginner slopes to technical descents for advanced skiers. Its high altitude ensures favorable snow conditions throughout the winter season.

Morzine is part of the Portes du Soleil area, which offers 650 kilometers of slopes spread across twelve French and Swiss resorts. This cross-border network allows skiers to explore different sectors connected by lifts, providing varied routes for all skill levels. The station thus has direct access to one of Europe's largest ski areas, with connections to Avoriaz, Les Gets, and neighboring Swiss resorts.

Châtel provides access to the French-Swiss area of Portes du Soleil, with 130 kilometers of pistes across different levels of difficulty. This station in Haute-Savoie allows skiing between France and Switzerland, offering varied runs for both beginners and experienced skiers in an Alpine environment. The ski lifts connect the ski sectors directly and facilitate movement between the French and Swiss sides of the domain.

The La Clusaz ski area spans five interconnected mountains, offering 125 kilometers of groomed slopes suitable for all skill levels. The infrastructure includes modern cable cars and chairlifts that provide efficient access to the different ski sectors. Located in the heart of the Aravis mountain range, the resort combines alpine skiing with the traditional character of a Savoyard mountain village.

Val Thorens is situated at 2,300 meters above sea level in the French Alps and is part of the Three Valleys domain. This resort offers 150 kilometers of snow-covered slopes, with a season typically spanning from November to May due to its high altitude. The ski lifts provide access to various areas suitable for different skill levels, from gentle slopes for beginners to technical descents for experienced skiers. Snow coverage is maintained by the altitude of the resort and supplemented by a snowmaking system.

Les Houches hosts the Kandahar downhill ski race and offers clear views of the Mont Blanc massif. This resort features a family-friendly ski area ranging from 1000 to 1900 meters above sea level, with various slopes accessible from the Chamonix valley.

Megève is a winter sports resort located in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,113 meters. The resort offers a ski area with 325 kilometers of slopes, connected to neighboring resorts. The village features numerous upscale shops, several Michelin-starred restaurants, and luxury hotels. The historic town center preserves its traditional Savoyard architecture with wooden facades and stone buildings. Megève hosts regular cultural events and concerts throughout the winter season.

Flaine sits at 1600 metres altitude in the Grand Massif and was built in the 1960s following plans by architect Marcel Breuer. This resort stands out through its brutalist concrete buildings and car-free layout. The ski area provides access to 265 kilometres of slopes across the Grand Massif and features modern lift systems. The architecture incorporates works by contemporary artists including Vasarely and Dubuffet. Flaine welcomes skiers of all levels with direct access to the slopes from the accommodations.

This ski resort in the Savoie Alps sits at elevations between 1550 and 2620 meters and features 25 kilometers of marked runs. Sainte Foy provides access to numerous off-piste descents in unmarked terrain. The area is served by 4 chairlifts and 2 drag lifts. The runs include 2 green, 4 blue, 4 red, and 1 black trail. The ski domain borders the Vanoise National Park and allows excursions into high mountain terrain.

Les Gets offers 120 kilometers of ski runs between 1172 and 2002 meters altitude. The resort features contemporary lift systems and forms part of the Portes du Soleil area. The ski domain connects several sectors with varying difficulty levels and provides access to neighboring resorts through an interconnected network of slopes.

The Pralognan-la-Vanoise ski area is located within the Vanoise National Park at an altitude between 1410 and 2360 meters. The resort offers 24 slopes with a total length of 26 kilometers, divided into 6 green, 9 blue, 7 red and 2 black runs. Ten ski lifts serve the area. The village sits at the foot of the Grande Casse glacier.

The Vars resort sits at elevations between 1650 and 2750 meters in the Forêt Blanche ski area. The domain includes 185 kilometers of groomed runs serviced by 53 lifts. Vars features a speed skiing track where skiers can reach speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour. The resort offers runs for various skill levels and freestyle zones. The village is located in the Hautes-Alpes department and forms part of the southern French Alps.

La Rosière is a French-Italian ski resort in the Savoie Alps at 1850 metres altitude. The area connects the French side with the Italian resort of La Thuile through the San Bernardo pass. Skiers can access 160 kilometres of groomed runs across both sides of the border. The resort operates 34 ski lifts and offers slopes between 1175 and 2800 metres elevation. The area caters to families and skiers of all levels with numerous blue and red runs.

Aussois ski resort is located in the Maurienne valley at an altitude of 1500 meters and provides access to 55 kilometers of slopes reaching up to 2750 meters. The ski area includes 21 runs of varying difficulty levels, served by 11 lifts. Beginners will find suitable practice slopes, while experienced skiers can use more demanding descents. The resort combines winter sports facilities with the traditional character of a mountain village in the French Alps.

Les Orres is a ski resort in the southern Alps featuring 100 kilometers of slopes that wind through larch forests between elevations of 1550 and 2720 meters. The area operates 19 ski lifts providing access to varied terrain. Located in the Hautes-Alpes department, the resort benefits from its southern position with frequent sunshine throughout the winter season.

Le Grand Bornand ski resort is located in the Aravis mountain range and offers 90 kilometers of slopes served by 29 ski lifts. The ski area extends between 1000 and 2100 meters altitude and connects several sectors. The village maintains its alpine character with wooden chalets and local shops. The slopes are distributed across different difficulty levels and accommodate families as well as experienced skiers. The area features snowmaking equipment and modern grooming infrastructure.

Montgenèvre sits at the Italian border at an altitude of 1,860 meters and ranks among the oldest ski resorts in France. Founded in 1907, the resort forms part of the international Via Lattea ski area that spans both sides of the Alps. The domain provides access to 400 kilometers of slopes extending to Sestriere and Sauze d'Oulx in Italy. Its position at the Col de Montgenèvre, a historic Alpine pass, allows direct access to Italian ski areas without additional transfers.

Samoëns is an alpine village in Haute-Savoie that forms part of the Grand Massif ski area. The resort provides access to 265 kilometers of ski runs ranging from 700 to 2500 meters in altitude. The ski domain connects five villages and operates numerous chairlifts and gondolas. The slopes are distributed across various difficulty levels suitable for beginners through to advanced skiers. The historic village center features stone houses from the 18th century and is classified as a protected architectural site.

Peyragudes is a ski resort in the Pyrenees that spans the Louron and Aure valleys. The area features 60 kilometers of groomed runs distributed between 1600 and 2400 meters in elevation. 17 ski lifts provide access to the different sectors of the resort. The runs cater to skiers of varying abilities, from beginners to experienced practitioners. The resort connects two mountain sides through modern lift systems.

Piau-Engaly is a ski resort in the Pyrenees located at altitudes ranging from 1420 to 2600 meters. The area offers 65 kilometers of ski runs distributed across 42 slopes of varying difficulty levels. The resort features 13 ski lifts and sits in the Vallée d'Aure. Thanks to its elevation, Piau-Engaly guarantees snow coverage from December to April. The slopes accommodate skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.

Font Romeu - Pyrénées 2000 is a ski resort in the French Pyrenees featuring 43 slopes ranging from 1800 to 2213 meters in altitude. The domain is equipped with 500 snow cannons to supplement natural snow conditions. The station offers varied runs for different skill levels and is located near the town of Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via.

Les Contamines-Montjoie offers a ski area with 120 kilometers of runs extending between 1200 and 2500 meters of altitude. The village features several wooden buildings from the 17th century in its historic center. The resort is located in the Mont Blanc massif and provides access to various slopes of different difficulty levels. The area includes modern lift facilities and combines alpine skiing with the architecture of a traditional mountain village.