Southern Alps Ski Resorts

Alpes du Sud: 2500 Kilometres Of Alpine Skiing, Riding - The Alpes du Sud or ‘Southern Alps' encompasses the Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Provence and the Alpes Maritimes. It is home to 2500 kilometres of Alpine skiing pistes, 1200 kilometres of cross-country pistes, and 65 ski resorts. Much of the area is protected by the... Full Overview

Alpes du Sud: 2500 Kilometres Of Alpine Skiing, Riding -

The Alpes du Sud or ‘Southern Alps' encompasses the Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Provence and the Alpes Maritimes. It is home to 2500 kilometres of Alpine skiing pistes, 1200 kilometres of cross-country pistes, and 65 ski resorts. Much of the area is protected by the National Parks of Ecrins, Mercantour and Queyras.

The Haute-Alpes boasts well-known high-altitude ski resorts, including Serre Chevalier, La Grave-La Meije, Montgenevre, Puy St Vincent, Risoul, Vars, Les Orres, Orciers1850, and Le Devoluy.

Serre Chevalier is one of the biggest ski resorts in Europe - with 250 kilometres of pistes - and is comprised of the villages of Briancon, Puy Saint Andre, Puy Saint Pierre, Chantemerle, Villeneuve, and Le Monetier les Bains. Le Grave-Le Meije is renowned for its thrilling vertical of 2150 metres. Skiers can also take the aerial tramway to the high-altitude glacier of Le Meije and the area's huge snow fields give new meaning to the phrase ‘off-piste'.

The modern, purpose-built resort of Puy St Vincent (1600) sits at the edge of the National Park Les Ecrins and offers access to 60 kilometres of pistes for all levels. It is a hit with families for its gentle nursery runs, good ski school, relaxed restaurants, and a range of childcare facilities.

The traditional alpine village of Montgenevre has 65 kilometres of local slopes as well as offering access to the Milky Way ski area with its 400 kilometres of ski slopes. Risoul is linked to neighbouring Vars and offer a combined 174 kilometres of pistes. The ski area is called the Domaine de la Foret Blanche and offers a maximum height of 2750 metres. Devoluy has 100 kilometres of pistes, making it one of the largest ski areas in the Southern Alps.

The Haute-Provence is home to smaller, lesser known ski resorts with a traditional French feel. The largest ski area in the Haute-Provence is access from Pra Loup. The ski resort of Pra Loup is divided into two villages - Pra Loup 1500 and Pra Loup 1600 - together they offer 165 kilometres of pistes linked by 53 lifts.

Other ski resorts in the Haute-Provence include Le Grand-Puy with its well-groomed runs, Sauze Super Sauze with its wide tree-lined runs, Saint-Jean Montclar with its friendly ‘mountain village' feel, as well as Chabanon-Selonnet, Sainte-Anne-La Condamine, Larche, Val d'Allos, Soleilhas-Vauplane, and Montagne de Lure.

Alpes Maritimes is home to the Mercantour ski area (1600 to 2450 metres) with 135 kilometres of slopes shared by the resorts of Isola 2000 and Auron. At 2000 metres altitude, Isola is one of the highest resorts in the Alps and has reliable snowfall. The extensive modern lift system offers access to seven green runs, 21 blue, 11 red, and four black. It also has a snowpark with jumps, rails and halfpipe, and three kilometres of cross-country skiing.

The neighbouring resorts of Beuil-Les Launes and Valberg make up the Grand Valberg ski area. Its 90 kilometres of slopes are divided across 52 slopes (11 green, 13 blue, 22 red, and six black). Other ski resorts in Alpes Maritimes include Greolieres les Neiges, La Colmiane, L'Audibergue, Peira Cava, Roubion les Buisses, Saint-Auban, Turini-Camp d'Argent, and Val Pelens.

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