Skiing in France

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. The highest complex at Aime La Plagne is 6,890ft is considered to be the most convenient with many of the best apartments, while the complex with the liveliest atmosphere is the original Plagne Centre, one of the first villages in Europe to be built catering specifically for the skiing season. The lifts are near to the accommodation and you can generally ski to your door. For beginners and intermediates, this is the best of the European ski resorts.

Meribel is in the centre of the Trois Vallees, which also incorporates Courchevel and Val Thorens. Together they form the largest ski area in the world. Unlike most French ski resorts, Meribel has retained an atmosphere of the traditional skiing village, despite having grown enormously in recent years.

Of course, even for skiers, skiing is not everything. Night life is important too and there is plenty of this. Chamonix is known for its 'ski-hard-party-hard' atmosphere and the nightlife won't disappoint. In La Plagne there are several nightclubs in the resort, as well as cafes and coffee houses that offer live music, karaoke and concerts. The nightlife in Meribel is not as wild as in some ski resorts, but there's still plenty going on. Dick's T-bar is the best-known nightclub