Author: Le Petit Montagnard

The message is clear: every piece of rubbish collected counts. To mark World Clean Up Day, the Haute Tarentaise Community of Communes is renewing its commitment to raising awareness of environmental protection among the younger generation. Last year, despite the capricious weather, 440 pupils and their carers got involved in five schools across the region. The result: more than 337 kilos of rubbish were collected in the participating municipalities. This was clear proof of the impact that collective action can have, even on a local scale. An expanded 2025 edition This year, the campaign is getting bigger. Seven schools are joining the initiative to take part in...

The winter season is approaching and skiers are eagerly awaiting the opening of the ski areas. The dates communicated by the resorts are provisional, and may be brought forward if there is enough snow, or postponed if there is a lack of snow. Here is an overview of the main opening dates for the 2025-2026 season. ResortOpening dateAbondance20 DecemberAbriès en Queyras20 DecemberAiguilles en Queyras20 DecemberAillons Margeriaz20 DecemberAlbiez Montrond20 DecemberAlpe d'Huez29 NovemberAlpe du Grand Serre27 DecemberAlti Aigoual3 JanuaryAncelle13 DecemberArêches-Beaufort20 DecemberArtouste20 DecemberArvieux en Queyras20 DecemberAscou Pailhères20 DecemberAuris-en-Oisans6 DecemberAuron6 DecemberAussois13 DecemberAutrans Méaudre20 DecemberAvoriaz13 DecemberAx 3 Domaines13 DecemberBeille27 DecemberBellevaux - Hirmentaz20 DecemberBernex20 DecemberBessans20 DecemberBesse Super-Besse20 DecemberBeuil les Launes27 DecemberBolquère - Pyrénées...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In the 1960s, France embarked on a frantic race to build modern ski resorts in response to the boom in winter sports. Many of these resorts followed classic urban models: roads and car parks galore, buildings scattered across the mountains. In Les Arcs, a different approach was adopted. The developer of the site entrusted the project to an avant-garde architect: Charlotte Perriand, a collaborator of Le Corbusier and a leading figure in modern architecture. Together with a team of architects, landscape architects and town planners, she came up with an original concept: "To create an art of living adapted to the mountains", explains Jean-Marie Chevronnet, guide and lecturer for the...

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - Some shops you'd never suspect. Nestling in the main street in the heart of the old town, "La Cour des Miracles" is like no other. A shop for men, a barber's salon, a tattoo studio, a piercing booth... Here, the worlds intertwine in an atmosphere that's both relaxed and meticulous. The project was the brainchild of David Balmont and Béatrice Millet, a couple of passionate entrepreneurs who have been based in the Tarentaise region for many years. "We were a little cramped in our first premises, further up the road. We wanted to regroup our activities,...

The resort of Saint-Lary offers a wide choice of accommodation. All the ingredients for an unforgettable stay in the heart of the Pyrenees. ALSO READ: Saint-Lary: mountain activities, highlights, restaurants, hotels... What to do in summer? Hôtel Mir The Hôtel Mir in Saint-Lary-Soulan is located in the heart of the village. This charming, characterful 4-star establishment (formerly La Pergola) has large, comfortable rooms with views of the peaks, a cosy bar and a lovely shaded terrace. As an added bonus, charging points are available for electric cars. Address: 25 rue Vincent Mir, 65170...

They have seen generations of skiers pass through their doors, echoed with laughter and played host to unforgettable memories. Today, these once-popular ski resorts are frozen in silence, abandoned to the whims of time. In his latest report for Brut, Lucas explains the worrying phenomenon of mass resort closures in France. Behind the rusting chairlifts and motionless ski lifts, what do these deserted resorts reveal? Is it a sign of a climate or economic crisis, or simply a change in mountain tourism? SEE ALSO: VIDEO: Discovering abandoned ski resorts Investigation into the heart of these ghost resorts...

Serre Chevalier is getting ready to rock on 8 and 9 February 2025 with a brand new event that combines sliding, technique and adrenalin. The Pumptrack Battle, the brainchild of double Olympic snowboard cross champion Pierre Vaultier, promises a spectacular contest where speed and balance will make all the difference. A unique playground where riders will have to be the last ones standing on a pumptrack line that gets progressively shorter. Since the end of his competitive career, Pierre Vaultier has lost none of his creativity. After revolutionising snowboarding with his Shapes (2019) and Reshapes (2022) videos, the native of Serre...

Do you dream of finding unique objects and having exciting adventures in the great outdoors? Your metal detector will help you do just that, provided you know how to use it effectively. Perhaps you've already tried, but without getting the results you were hoping for. To make every outing a success, here are a few steps to follow. Invest in a reliable metal detector for optimum results Entry-level models are suitable for modest beginnings, but a top-quality device offers high capabilities. To find the right tool for your needs, take into account the depth of detection, the...

With over 7,000 kilometres of slopes in the Jura, Pre-Alps and Alps, Switzerland has confirmed its status as a winter paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. This winter, Interhome, Europe's leading holiday rental company, reveals the preferences of its French clientele for the 2024-2025 season, highlighting some choice destinations. French skiers have a particular soft spot for French-speaking Switzerland, as shown by the top three resorts most popular with Interhome customers. Nendaz, at the heart of the famous 4 Valleys ski area, is at the top of the...

Winter 2025 is just around the corner, and it's time to get your equipment ready for the slopes. Choosing the right pair of skis can make all the difference between memorable days and chaotic descents. Here's our guide to finding the right skis for your level, style and desires. ALSO READ: How do I choose the right winter tyres? 1. Assess your skiing ability 2. Identify your skiing style 3. Take your body shape into account 4. Test before you buy Many resorts offer test days. Take advantage of them to try out several models and find the best ones for you.

On the ski slopes, it's not just the bumps and tight turns that put your nerves to the test: certain phrases heard repeatedly can also spoil the mood. READ ALSO: Ranking: Top 5 "most hated" behaviours on the ski slopes Between clichés, pretentious remarks and lines from "Les Bronzés", discover the 5 most annoying (and sometimes hilarious) expressions you're bound to come across this winter. So you can ski with a better ear... Or a well-insulated helmet! 1 "The most important thing is to plant the pole...". This reference to...

In the mountains, after a hearty meal, certain digestifs can be particularly appreciated for aiding digestion and providing an unforgettable taste experience. Here are some of the best digestifs to enjoy in the mountains. Génépi Génépi is an emblematic liqueur of the French Alps. It is made from mugwort (Artemisia) and has a herbaceous and sometimes floral flavour. Génépi is often drunk in small quantities, either neat or on the rocks. Chartreuse Chartreuse is a liqueur produced by the Carthusian monks. It comes in two versions, green and yellow. The green Chartreuse has a more herbaceous and...

The creation of the first ski resort reflects the evolution of winter sports and tourism over the decades. Although skiing as an activity dates back several millennia, ski resorts as we know them today began to develop in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. READ ALSO: Once upon a time: Poma, the French ski lift specialist The first ski resort to be recognised as such was Davos, in Switzerland. It became a popular destination for winter sports at the end of the 19th century,...

The property advertising website Pap.fr has calculated the prices of the ten resorts with the most snow, all establishing the best value for money and snow.

Disengageable chairlifts are an advanced technology used in ski resorts to transport skiers and snowboarders to the top of the slopes.

Snow cannons are used to produce artificial snow to supplement or replace natural snow on ski slopes. But how do they work? Snow cannons mix water and air under specific conditions of temperature and pressure to produce artificial snow. This process generally requires an ambient temperature of 0°C or less, although some more modern systems can operate at slightly higher temperatures. The snow gun sprays a finely atomised mixture of water and compressed air into the air. The air pressure helps to disperse the...

Winter 2024-2025 promises to be a year of innovation and performance, with models that push back the limits of alpine skiing. Whether you're a fan of carving on groomed pistes, an off-piste enthusiast in deep powder, or a hiker in search of summits, this selection will help you find the perfect ski for your season. READ ALSO: How do you choose your skis? Our guide to winter 2025 Here's a detailed look at the 10 must-have models for this winter. 1 Rossignol Hero Master Who's it for? Expert skiers looking for speed and precision on groomed slopes.

Winter is approaching and winter sports fans are getting ready to hit the slopes. Whether you're a fan of the majestic Alps, the authentic landscapes of the Pyrenees or the accessible terrain of the Massif Central, each mountain range has announced its opening dates for the 2024-2025 season. ALSO READ: The 2025 guide to winter ski resorts In this summary, you'll find all the information you need about ski resorts in France and elsewhere, so you can plan your holidays in the mountains as effectively as possible. Ski resorts opening times - Northern Alps ResortsSki areaOpening timesAlbiez MontrondN/A21/12/2024 - 25/03/2025Alpe d'HuezGrand...

September promises to be a dynamic and eventful month in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Whether you're a fan of sport, culture or music, there's something to fill your diary. Here are the 5 highlights of the month not to be missed. 1. The Étincelle Festival (13-15 September) From Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September, the centre of Bourg-Saint-Maurice plays host to the Étincelle Festival, an open-air musical and cultural event. Admission is free and the programme is packed with concerts and shows. This festival promises to rock the town with a friendly, festive atmosphere. The perfect opportunity to discover local and national artists...

Many ski resorts have already launched their offers for the 2024-2025 season. With attractive discounts, particularly on season and week passes. LIRE AUSSI : Ranking: Top 10 most-booked ski resorts In the Northern Alps... Avoriaz Pre-sales of season passes for the entire Portes du Soleil area have already begun. Until September 30, the season pass for an adult is priced at 935 euros, while that for a senior citizen is 841 euros. From 1 October and until 15 November, the price...