Author: Romain Boisaubert

La Rosière is preparing for an unprecedented end-of-season event. In April 2027, the resort in the Haute-Tarentaise region will host the first edition of the White West Festival, with the ambition of bringing a whiff of the American West to the summits. Ski jumping, entertainment, screenings, competitions, and themed evenings are planned, including a big country music ball. There will be snowy slopes, horses, and a touch of country music at an altitude of 1,850 meters. To end the winter on a resolutely unconventional note, La Rosière has chosen to look the other way across the Atlantic. In April, the resort will launch the White West Festival, billed as one of the most…

From December 15, 2026 to February 13, 2027, the frozen lake of Tignes will host an artistic installation that is at least unusual. Named «Here begins the ocean», it will take place under the ice at an altitude of 2,100 meters, with works depicting several emblematic species of cold seas. A project conceived by the painter Laurence Chilin with the polar explorer Alban Michon. In Tignes, this winter you will have to look under your feet. The station’s lake will become the setting for an exhibition announced as a world premiere, at the border between art, mountain, and environmental awareness. For nearly two…

From the first snows of December to the final runs of April, Les 2 Alpes has a particularly packed schedule for the 2026–2027 winter. An electro festival, a night trail, a derby over 13 kilometres long, the return of mountain biking and even stand-up comedy at over 3,000 metres will punctuate a season open until 2 May. Barely will the ski area open than music will take over the resort. From 5 to 12 December, Rise Festival will return to Les 2 Alpes for its twelfth edition. More than 7,000 British festival-goers are expected for a week blending skiing, live concerts, DJ sets, yoga and outdoor experiences. The event...

Tignes is preparing for a 2026-2027 season packed with unique experiences. A new gourmet table for eight guests, submerged works of art beneath the frozen lake, a yurt evening at 2,300 metres, and a Snowboard Big Air World Cup hosted in France for the first time: the Savoyard resort is rolling out a host of new features ahead of its scheduled opening on 21st November. In Tignes, the upcoming season will not just be played out on the slopes. For 2026-2027, the destination is also banking on more exclusive, cultural or spectacular experiences, with several concepts set to appear over the coming months. Among them, La...

In La Rosière, the 2026-2027 winter season will be marked by the modernisation of the Petit-Bois sector. The Haute-Tarentaise resort is replacing one of its ski lifts with a four-seater device, designed in France, representing an investment of 4.8 million euros. The stated aim? To improve comfort and smooth out traffic flow in this part of the ski area. Just a few weeks before the return of the first skiers, work is continuing in Petit-Bois. La Rosière has chosen to replace the existing equipment with a four-seat chairlift built by GMM, a Grenoble-based company specialising in ski lifts. Equipped with a loading carpet, the future lift will be able to…

As the start of the new term approaches, the desire for fresh air and serenity remains undiminished. Nestled in the heart of the Vallée des Avals, a wild and unspoilt setting in Courchevel, the high-altitude refuges are continuing to welcome visitors and inviting them to savour the final fine days of the summer season. The Refuge des Lacs Merlet, the smallest in the Vanoise National Park perched at an altitude of 2,417 metres, just a stone's throw from the magnificent Lacs Merlet, this intimate refuge, the smallest in the Vanoise National Park with its 14 beds, invites visitors to a unique experience. Until 9 September, Solenne and Charles, the…

Every winter brings its share of surprises, and the Oisans resort is no exception for the 2026/2027 season, open from 28 November to 2 May. A new snow-sliding activity, brand-new dining spots, an extra star and innovations on the ski area: an overview of the genuine new features to discover this year at Les Deux Alpes. A new snow two-wheeler This is THE thrilling new addition for snow sports. Named E-Trott-Rider, this activity swaps skis for all-terrain electric scooters equipped with oversized tyres to grip the snow. To be tried out in the Vallée Blanche sector, it promises...

With one of the largest ski areas in Europe, four communes living to the rhythm of the mountain and UNESCO-listed fortifications, Serre Chevalier Briançon promises an «XXL version» 2026/2027 winter. Between festivals, shows and unusual competitions, the valley is rolling out a packed season. An overview of the must-see events. December: first turns and Christmas magic The kick-off will be given on 5 December with the «Premières Glisses» weekend, punctuated by free entertainment to celebrate the opening of the slopes. The ski lifts will then run continuously until 18 April 2027. Then the valley dons its...

It is one of the most emblematic mountain huts in the Alpes-Maritimes that is about to change its appearance. Perched at an altitude of 2,130 metres, the Refuge des Merveilles is to undergo a complete renovation. A project estimated at 3.5 million euros, led by the French Alpine and Mountain Club Federation (FFCAM), which could begin in the summer of 2027 with a reopening scheduled for 2029. The refuge is no stranger to change. Built in 1913 to house the workers of the lake dam, it served as barracks for Italian soldiers during the Second World War, before being handed over to...

What if the finest summer memories could fit into a backpack? In the Swiss Valais, the Val de Bagnes invites you to slow down so you can better explore. Between alpine passes, high-altitude lakes, perched mountain huts and panoramic trails, escapism is experienced on foot or by bike, for a day, a weekend or several days. An overview of five getaways, from the accessible outing to the major trek for seasoned hikers. By bike, for a day or a weekend For a first immersion, nothing beats an e-bike day to the Chanrion hut. From the foot of the dam…

Wednesday 12 August, all eyes will turn to the skies. To celebrate the solar eclipse in an exceptional setting, Tignes is organising an extraordinary evening at Le Panoramic restaurant, perched at an altitude of 3,032 metres and accessible by funicular. The resort thus offers the highest accessible viewing point in France to admire the phenomenon, at the foot of the Grande Motte glacier. Facing a unique panorama of the French and Italian Alps, nearly 400 participants are expected for this gathering combining science, gastronomy and contemplation. Conceived as an immersive experience, the event promises a rare moment, where the observation…

While temperatures soar in the lowlands, the mountains keep their cool. In the Hautes-Alpes, Orcières Merlette is shaping up as an essential cool-air refuge for the summer of 2026. Between waterfalls, high-altitude lakes and water play areas, the resort promises a refreshing and active cocktail for young and old alike. From art trails to whitewater swimming, here is an overview of five spots for a real shot of coolness in the heart of the Champsaur. The deep end, at O2 Area and Aquaparc. First anti-heatwave reflex: taking a dip. With O2 Area, the former leisure centre is entering a new dimension…

At an altitude of 2,188 metres, between France and Italy, the Little St Bernard Pass is this summer becoming the setting for an extraordinary artistic experience. Until 20 September, the artist Natacha Rottier is taking over the Hospice with «Purple Solstice – Le Creuset du Petit Saint-Bernard», an immersive exhibition exploring the deep connections between light, landscape, memory and transformation. For this local of La Rosière, who now lives in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, it is the culmination of a journey. «It's a bit like the apotheosis of exhibiting in this place, because it's truly in situ, truly tailored to this location.» A phenomenon observed on a solstice evening Everything is...

In Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, at the foot of Mont-Blanc and just a stone's throw from the Valléen lift, the Nexhos group has laid the foundation stone for a new kind of sports and adventure hotel, set to become one of the most unusual hotel projects in the Alps. At the origin of the project are two enthusiasts: Pascal Martin, founder of Nexhos, and Marc Richter, associate general director. Skiers, mountaineers, trail runners, and cyclists, the two men have forged their vision through their own adventures, with a shared observation. Very few accommodations truly meet the needs of athletes – cyclists, runners, hikers, mountaineers – and even fewer...

While cities are suffocating under the heatwave, the mountains, on the other hand, keep a cool head. In Maurienne, Valloire presents itself as a true haven of coolness for summer 2026, with a series of high-altitude experiences that blend adrenaline and the sweet life. An overview of the unmissable events. A night suspended over the void Let's start with the most vertiginous. At the Col du Télégraphe, a night in a portaledge promises an experience as breathtaking as it is unforgettable. After a ten-minute walk on flat ground and a comforting Savoyard fondue on solid earth, it's time for the ultimate thrill: securely harnessed by a...

There are events that stand the test of time. On the 25th and 26th of July, the village of Courchevel Le Praz will be hosting one of the valley's most iconic festivals: the Fête de la Madelon. For one weekend, locals, artisans, producers and visitors will gather by the lake and in the narrow streets to keep alive traditions deeply rooted in local history. The heart of the event is the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine chapel. Dating back to the 15th century, it houses remarkable baroque works, testament to the village's rich religious and artistic heritage. It is held in honour of Saint Mary Magdalene, patron saint of...

There was a time when mules were shod on one side and gold hearts were forged on the other. In Séez (Haute Tarentaise), the Espace Saint-Éloi occupies a completely renovated old village forge, now shared between three worlds: ironwork, Savoyaard jewellery and Baroque art. A visit that the site manager, Isabelle De Pestel, never fails to make surprising. In the basement, the forge's hearth has not moved an inch since its origin. Here, mules and horses were still shod until the 1970s. «Tractors, not everyone had..."

Forty kilometres, eight hamlets passed, two glaciers in the background and a breathtaking descent: welcome to La Fario, the new e-MTB route imagined by the Haute Tarentaise Community of Communes and Bike Solutions. We've donned our helmets and taken the descent with Louis Billot, an instructor, to test this track that's already a hit with thrill-seekers. «The initial idea was to offer the valley a real long-distance cycling route, by creating a course that connects Tignes to Bourg-Saint-Maurice,» explains Dylan Giraud-Pontier, manager of Summit Bike, in Le Petit Montagnard.

It wasn't until 1987 that residents of the hamlet of Saint-Germain and volunteers from the municipality of Séez decided to raise an old flour mill from its ruins. Since then, it has regularly opened its doors to visitors. An adventure that Émilie Arnollet, heritage animator and site manager, tells us about with passion. The mill dates back to the late 17th century, at a time when people began to understand how to harness the motive force of water to drive gears. «They used to set up sawmills, spinning mills... Here, in this case, it's a flour mill,» she explains...

We've barely arrived and a little dog is already coming to greet us. Around us, the smell of cows, the constant murmur of the fountain, and suddenly, at precisely midday, the peal of bells that echoes through the alleys like an immutable ritual. Welcome to La Gurraz, one of the thirteen hamlets of Villaroger, a village where time seems to have stood still. Just a few hundred metres from the Route des Grandes Alpes, used by thousands of holidaymakers speeding towards Tignes and Val d’Isère, almost no one suspects the existence of this gem. A suspended village, facing south, perched at a height of…