Although not as well known as their counterparts in Austria and Switzerland, ski resorts in France are, if anything more spectacular, much more varied in activities and are definitely very much better value. If you are thinking of a skiing holiday, then the place to have your vacation is the French Alps.

The French Alps are renowned for their stunning scenery complete with beautiful mountains, rolling foothills, and pristine lakes and rivers. Well-known resorts such as Chamonix and Val d'Isere make the French Alps a world famous destination for skiing, with Chamonix, host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, known as its capital. Its prize peak is Mont Blanc, which, at 15,771 ft, is Europe's highest.

Some of the best and most spectacular resorts are:

Chamonix sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc and offers some of the most challenging skiing in Europe. The town is in the centre of a string of villages spread out along a valley cutting deep through the Alps; the village of Argentiere is six miles up the valley, beneath the renowned Grands-Montets slopes, and Les Houches is a small resort a few miles below. The huge variety of on- and off-piste skiing in Chamonix attracts ski bums and serious skiers and this is reflected in the sportive atmosphere in the bars and restaurants.

La Plagne is a vast ski resort with an enormous vertical drop of 6,562ft, double that of Aspen for example. One of Europe's largest resorts, La Plagne is made up of 10 different 'villages', six purpose built and four traditional that are connected by public conveyances and a lift system. This high altitude resort centers on apartment life; there are few hotels and its convenience makes up for its lack of charm.

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About the Author David Seymour is lives in South West France and is the managing director of Adept Marketing SARL, a company specialising in property for sale france

First Published: Jan 13, 2007