Author: Romain Boisaubert

Saturday 7 December marks the kick-off to the winter season with "La Première Montée des Arcs", a unique event that brings together mountain and board lovers. Since 2019, this initiative has been inviting ski touring enthusiasts to explore the snowy landscapes in a friendly atmosphere. The event will start at 10am at the Pré Saint Esprit ski lift (Arc 2000). Participants will have the chance to discover the beauty of Les Arcs while testing their skills on a 5-kilometre course with 700 metres of ascent. "La Première Montée...

The Grand Tourmalet ski area, which brings together the villages of Barèges and La Mongie, has added a major new facility this season: the Les Quatre Termes chairlift. Due to be inaugurated in December, it promises to transform the experience of skiers and hikers in both winter and summer. After decades of loyal service, the old Les Quatre Termes two-seater chairlift, which dates back to the 1980s, was replaced over the summer. Faster, safer and more modern, the new chairlift is a real revolution for the area. It is now capable of transporting 1...

Val Thorens has retained its prestigious status as "World's Best Ski Resort" for 2024 at the famous "World Ski Awards." READ ALSO: Find out all the latest news from Val Thorens in our section devoted to the 3 Valleys resort This award, which is based on votes from Internet users around the world assessing the quality of the tourist welcome, is further proof of the international appeal of the Savoyard resort. Situated in the 3 Valleys ski area, Val Thorens, nicknamed "Val Tho", is preparing to welcome its first skiers this summer.

The prestigious resort of Courchevel is preparing for a 2024-2025 season full of new features that will delight lovers of luxury, gastronomy and unique experiences. With new restaurants, talented chefs and exclusive collaborations, here are the highlights of your stay. ALSO READ: Courchevel: resort, ski area, ski passes, activities... The Winter 2025 Guide The Hotel Annapurna, Rewarded Luxury Maison Pinturault is striking hard this year with the award of the Michelin Clef to the Hotel Annapurna. This prestigious accolade recognises the commitment of Sandra Pinturault, general manager and owner, and the efforts of the teams who combine tradition and modernity...

In November, Bourg-Saint-Maurice comes alive with culture and entertainment, offering an eclectic programme that will appeal to fans of cinema, circus and music. LIRE AUSSI : Les Arcs: resort, ski area, ski passes, activities... The winter 2025 guide Here are the not-to-be-missed events to make the most of this artistic and festive month. Les Arcs Film Festival - Presentation evening On Friday 8 November at 8.30pm, the Cœur d'Or cinema will host the presentation evening for the 16th edition of the Arcs Film Festival. This special evening, hosted by the festival's founding team, will...

With the ski season just getting underway in many French resorts, Le Petit Montagnard has taken a look at other European countries (Austria, Switzerland, Italy...) where it's also possible to stay and spend a pleasant holiday in the snow. The first issue in this series: Austria. Considered to be the destination of choice for winter sports fans, this country with its many mountain peaks attracts thousands of ski and snowboard enthusiasts every year. With its sublime landscapes, incredible snow cover, quality of welcome and attractive prices, Austria has many exceptional resorts. The...

Raclette is a traditional dish, generally eaten in winter in the mountains, but also at home. Originating in Switzerland, this recipe involves melting raclette cheese over a variety of accompaniments. ALSO READ: Which cheeses should you choose for a fondue? Here's a list of typical ingredients for an unforgettable raclette evening. Raclette cheese This is the main ingredient. Choose quality raclette cheese, usually sold in blocks, and allow around 200 to 250 grams per person. Potatoes Potatoes are usually cooked and served as a side dish. You can steam them, bake them,...

La Plagne is once again set to vibrate to the rhythm of the Grande Boucle. The 112th edition of the Tour de France, unveiled by A.S.O., marks the return of this Savoyard resort as a stage town after a 23-year absence. LIRE AUSSI : La Plagne: resort, ski area, ski passes, activities... The winter 2025 guide It's a date already engraved in people's memories: on Friday 25 July 2025, an intense stage will take the riders from the town of Albertville to Plagne Villages, culminating at an altitude of 2,052 metres. This 130-kilometre 100% Savoie stage, with its demanding programme of 4 stages,...

With winter just around the corner, Les 2 Alpes is transforming itself into a key training centre for mountain professionals. The period leading up to the resort's official opening, scheduled for 30 November, is crucial for training those involved in safety and slope management. Perched at an altitude of 3,600 metres, the resort benefits from an early snowfall, making it a prime location for training piste rescue workers, fire-fighters and avalanche dog handlers. The Les 2 Alpes ski area, open until 4 May, offers ideal conditions for getting back into the swing of things...

Two ski resorts in the Alps, in Isère and Savoie, are shutting down for good even before the start of the 2024-2025 season. The closures are attributed to a lack of natural snow and precarious finances. In Isère, the Alpe du Grand Serre resort, located at an altitude of 1,370 metres in the commune of La Morte, had to close its doors after more than 80 years in existence. This ski area, which opened in 1938, included three chairlifts, several drag lifts and 50 kilometres of pistes, culminating at 2,200 metres. SEE ALSO: AT...

October promises to be particularly lively in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with a series of friendly, cultural and festive events. If you're looking for local discoveries, exciting shows or activities for all the family, here are the highlights you won't want to miss this month. 1. La Friche en Folie - Friday 4 and Saturday 5 October Come and discover the creative atmosphere of the Quartier des Alpins with the second edition of La Friche en Folie. This festival showcases local talent through a varied artistic programme. Artists in residence, local performers and craftspeople from the Jetzyplu recycling centre will be coming together to offer you...

The famous Club Med resort of Serre Chevalier, anchored in the heart of the Southern Alps since 1965, is preparing for a major transformation ahead of its eagerly awaited reopening on 15 December 2024. This ambitious project, estimated at €50 million, reflects Club Med's desire to strengthen its commitment to this emblematic region, while offering a top-of-the-range experience to its customers. With this renovation, the resort is turning a corner in terms of infrastructure and services, incorporating state-of-the-art energy performance. The works also aim to improve the quality of welcome for the teams who will be working throughout the resort.

Nestling in an exceptional natural setting, surrounded by larch trees and with the peaks as a backdrop, "Les Déjeuners au Sommet" promises a timeless experience on Saturday 5 October in Serre Chevalier, under the guidance of local chef Jimmy Sarron. Known for his creativity and commitment to local produce, Jimmy Sarron, who runs the L'Alpin, Le Quinze-Neuf and Oxalys restaurants in Briançon, is reinventing Alpine gastronomy. His aim is to get off the beaten track by offering refined dishes made using local produce and short distribution channels, while remaining true to his inspiration: the...

Marlene Giacometti, Director of the Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Les Menuires Tourist Offices, talked to us about the summer season and the upcoming winter season. ALSO READ: Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, the new Eldorado for well-being at altitude? How would you sum up the summer of 2024? The average occupancy rate is down by 1.3 %. We had a poor July with -5 %, but an interesting August with +2.3 %. We managed to increase from an already high base in August. This is becoming a recurring phenomenon: July...

With the Orcières Merlette ski area due to open between 14 December 2024 and 13 April 2025, Jordane Juschka, Director of the Tourist Office, tells us all about the upcoming projects. Winter looks set to be a promising one at Orcières Merlette, with a number of new features designed to improve skiers' comfort. "We're going to install a conveyor belt instead of a ski lift on the snow front, making access easier for everyone," explains Jordane Juschka. LIRE AUSSI : Jordane Juschka: "Customers appreciate Orcières for its identity" As part of a more sustainable approach, the resort is also investing in...

Are you dreaming of hitting the slopes in Les 2 Alpes this winter, while keeping an eye on your budget? The good news is that the resort offers a wide range of ski passes to suit all skiers and all budgets! Whether you're coming for a day, a week or outside peak season, there's bound to be a good deal waiting for you. LIRE AUSSI: What's new this winter at Les 2 Alpes? High season: Several offers available The Christmas period and the winter holidays (21 December 2024...

François Badjily, Director of the Alpe d'Huez Tourist Office, talked to us about the summer season and the upcoming winter season. How would you sum up the summer of 2024? 2024 was a good summer for Alpe d'Huez. June was modest, July saw a slight drop due to capricious weather and the elections which disrupted departures, but August exceeded expectations, with an increase of 10 % compared to 2023. Events such as the Marmotte Granfondo Alpes, the Megavalanche and the women's Tour de France...

In less than three months, winter sports fans will finally be able to enjoy the first snows. Les 2 Alpes opens its winter season on Saturday 30 November. Here's a look at what's new this year. While most resorts close their doors well before spring arrives, at Les 2 Alpes the winter season will run until 4 May. One of this season's key innovations is the preparation of the new Jandri 3S cable car. Designed by the manufacturer POMA, this project is one of the most ambitious in the French Alps in recent...

The Tignes ski area is continuing to modernise. As resort manager Frédéric Porte told us in an interview, a number of new features will be unveiled this winter. Here's an overview. LIRE AUSSI: Frédéric Porte: "Tignes has a vocation to be dynamic all year round" One of the main new features this winter is the new 6-seater detachable chairlift "Le Marais", which will be inaugurated in December 2024. This chairlift replaces the old one, offering a faster and quieter ascent thanks to "Directdrive" technology. With a capacity of 2,020 skiers per hour,...

Christopher Diericx, Director of La Plagne Montalbert, talks to us about the summer season and the upcoming winter season in the La Plagne resorts. How would you sum up the summer of 2024? Compared with 2023, there was a slight drop in visitor numbers, between -3% and -5% depending on the different sites in La Plagne. This trend has been observed nationwide and is not specific to the mountains. It can be explained in part by a capricious spring, which delayed bookings, particularly in May and June, the key months. "July...