Author: Romain Boisaubert

Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In the heart of the main shopping street in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, between lively terraces, bakeries, sports shops and souvenir stands, a red and white shop front is a real eye-catcher. Since June 2023, David's butcher's shop has been there, with its well-stocked windows and home-made products. Behind the counter, David and Mélanie Excoffier run the shop with passion, like a matter of course. He is originally from Pralognan, not far from here. "I've been a butcher since I was 14 years old", he says straightforwardly. A trade learnt on the job, during an apprenticeship, pursued without ever deviating....

In the heart of Tignes, between the shops that make life in the resort so lively, there's a shop window that catches the eye of gourmets. Behind the counter at La Fromagerie du Lac, wheels of Beaufort cheese sit alongside fragrant tommes, local sausages and fine charcuterie. Here, 90 % of the products come directly from Savoie. The adventure began fifteen years ago, when La Fromagerie du Lac set up shop at Le Palafour. Two years earlier, the family had chosen to leave their native Portugal to come and live in Tignes. "We were already working in a hotel in the resort,...

Fancy swapping the French Alps for a change of scenery this winter? Europe is full of resorts as prestigious as they are original, where local traditions, gastronomy, high-altitude skiing and unparalleled panoramas combine to perfection. From the discreet charm of the Austrian valleys to the snow-covered fjords of Norway, Condé Nast Traveller and European ski experts take a look at the most remarkable destinations. Switzerland: glamour, tradition and guaranteed snow It's hard to beat Switzerland when it comes to Alpine elegance. In Saint-Moritz, chic is second nature: legendary hotels, omnipresent sunshine and panoramic slopes on the heights...

Just a stone's throw from the shores of Lake Tignes, Julietta 23 offers a taste of Italy at an altitude of 2,100 metres. A 100 % transalpine restaurant, with instant tiramisu and products straight from the Botte, run by Martial Debut, a well-known figure in the resort and long-standing manager of L'Escale Blanche. READ OUR DOSSIER - "Tignes, the sports resort par excellence" When he arrived in Tignes in 2000, the resort was still open 365 days a year. "That stopped that year, but we've stuck with it. L'Escale Blanche remained open all year round", he recalls....

On 21 March, 2,026 participants will set off from the summit of Chantemerle for the 7th edition of the Grand Prix de Serre Chevalier. Two courses, «Doux» or «Dingues», crazy events, fancy dress and just one rule: ski without taking yourself too seriously. In Serre Chevalier, the end of the season has its ritual. The serious timekeepers are put away, the improbable costumes are brought out and the ski area is transformed into an XXL playground. The Grand Prix is neither a classic race nor a simple festive gathering. It's a deliberate mix of gliding, strategy and self-mockery, which in just a few years...

From 2 to 5 March 2026, Val d'Arly will be hosting the 3rd edition of its Street Art Festival, featuring forty artists, four village resorts, live frescoes and night-time shows. Urban culture takes to the skies. Nearly 3,000 visitors are expected. On the face of it, nothing predestined these Savoyard villages to become a breeding ground for contemporary graffiti artists and visual artists. And yet. For four days, Crest-Voland / Cohennoz, La Giettaz en Aravis, Flumet / Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle and Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe will see their facades, cable cars and even their ski runs transformed into open-air studios. «Our region is...

Far from the hustle and bustle of the big resorts, some Alpine villages have preserved a unique charm where time seems to stand still. With their pastoral traditions, centuries-old chalets and breathtaking panoramas, these mountain gems are a real invitation to get away from it all. Here are five exceptional destinations to explore without delay. 1. The Val d'Allos, nature and heritage Nestling at an altitude of 1,400 metres, the Val d'Allos captivates visitors with its authenticity and unspoilt setting. This village in the Mercantour National Park is a picture-postcard setting, with its stone buildings and picturesque lanes. One of its most remarkable treasures is...

Skis on, steam in the hammam, Latin music in the background. In Val Claret, the Ynycio hotel cultivates an unexpected art of living at an altitude of 2,100 metres. A four-star address that embraces its quirkiness and attracts a clientele in search of experience as much as skiing. The snow covers the roofs, the snow groomers trace their last lines in the morning twilight, and from the balconies you can gaze out over the immaculate relief of the Tignes ski area. Just a stone's throw from the lifts, Ynycio is a contemporary refuge where winter is intensely experienced. Outside on the slopes, inside in a...

At the foot of the Vanoise massif, Brides-les-Bains is the ideal destination for those who want to combine skiing, relaxation and gourmet pleasures. Just a stone's throw from the Trois Vallées, the world's largest ski area, this spa resort combines adrenalin and relaxation in an unspoilt, accessible setting. Whether you're a skier, hiker or spa enthusiast, Brides-les-Bains has something for everyone. With 600 km of pistes, the Trois Vallées ski area is a veritable white paradise, suitable for all levels of skier. From beginners to experienced skiers, there's something for everyone, thanks to a well-balanced...

Learn to ski... but without pressure, without complexes, and with a healthy dose of conviviality. That's the aim of the very first Ski Festival launched by Les Gets, from 21 to 28 March 2026. A week designed for adult beginners, combining supervised skiing, well-being activities and festive evenings in one of the most accessible ski areas in the Alps. The Haute-Savoie resort has come up with a truly immersive format, aimed at young adults aged 18 and over who have never dared to take the plunge, or who have mixed memories of their first descents. Located in the heart of the Portes...

Fewer people on the slopes, more sunshine and an avalanche of benefits. This spring, a strange new pass is arriving in French resorts with a simple promise: ski smarter, enjoy more, spend less. What's it called? The Marsien Pass. From March onwards, more than forty resorts, from the Alps to the Pyrenees, via the Vosges and the Massif Central, will be joining forces in a single national operation supported by France Montagnes. The idea is as pragmatic as it is ambitious: to make people want to go to the mountains again outside the school holidays, when the snow is still there, the days are getting longer and the...

Between ice, rock and white water, Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pyrenees) offers an extraordinary winter adventure. With helmets on their heads and full-body neoprene suits on their backs, the most daredevil adventurers plunge into a snow-covered canyon for an icy experience of abseiling, translucent pools and frozen waterfalls. A raw, spectacular experience, far from the marked trails. In the Pyrenees, when the mountains freeze under the frost, some people choose not to stay on the slopes. In Saint-Lary, a handful of adventurers swap skis and snowshoes for a full neoprene wetsuit, a balaclava pulled tightly around their face and a well-fitting harness. Heading for a canyon nestled...

Just a few minutes from Orcières Merlette 1850, a hamlet of 25 inhabitants hides one of the most confidential ski spots in the Hautes-Alpes. Three lifts, ten kilometres of pistes, a larch forest and often exceptional snow. Welcome to Serre Eyraud, the favourite playground of locals who want to ski away from the crowds. No huge snow front, no buildings or endless queues. Serre Eyraud is more like a well-kept secret than a traditional ski resort. A single building serves as bar-restaurant, lift ticket office, tourist office and hors sac room. The...

At dusk, when the mountains are calmer, Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000 offers a rare experience. An ascent in a groomer followed by dinner at altitude, in a restaurant perched high above the snowy peaks. An intimate, sensory interlude, far from the hustle and bustle of the resorts. The evening begins with the engine running, at the foot of the slopes. Guests board the Gallinette, the snow groomer that climbs slowly through the sleeping mountain. As you climb higher, the silence settles in, the lights of the resort fade away, and the relief of the Pyrenees massif takes shape under the stars. Head for the...

France, with its varied mountain ranges and exceptional Alpine heritage, is full of ski resorts. Some attract crowds of visitors every season. Others, more discreet, remain sheltered from mass tourism and offer a more intimate experience. Among them, one small Savoyard village stands out: Aussois. In the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in the Maurienne valley, Aussois lies at an altitude of 1,489 metres, just south of the Vanoise massif. This traditional village at the gateway to the...

The winter holidays are in full swing, and in Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, February is shaping up to be a particularly lively month. Between Carnival, night-time freestyle shows, festive get-togethers on the snow front and solidarity events, the Savoyard village has a packed programme designed for families and mountain enthusiasts alike. The festivities kick off on the weekend of 14 and 15 February with a Valentine's Day revisited in ski resort style. A special «Welcome to St So’» welcome, a heart hunt in the village, fun challenges and interactive activities will punctuate these two days, with a simple idea: to create memories, whether...

In Tignes, when the snow fronts are full of freshly-waxed skis and the streets vibrate to the rhythm of the arrivals of holidaymakers, there are very few places that make it through the seasons without ever taking down the curtain. L'Escale Blanche is one of those exceptions. Before it was a restaurant, L'Escale Blanche was a mountain hut on the outskirts of the village, long before the dam was built. Inside, an original wall is still a reminder of this pastoral past. Martial Debut took over the address in 2000, with a simple idea: never close again. «By staying open all year round, we...

Ski touring is attracting more and more mountain enthusiasts. Halfway between alpine skiing and mountaineering, this discipline allows you to get away from the crowds and explore immaculate landscapes. If you're tempted by the idea of climbing summits before enjoying powder runs, here's everything you need to know to get started safely. Ski touring offers incomparable freedom. Unlike downhill skiing, you're not restricted to marked runs. The ascent, equipped with sealskins under your skis, becomes an adventure in itself. You take the time to admire nature...

In the shadow of the big 3 Vallées resorts, Orelle cultivates its discretion and authenticity. Located in the Maurienne, this little-known gem appeals to skiers looking for tranquillity and unspoilt open spaces. There are no long queues at the lifts and no noisy hustle and bustle, just raw, mineral scenery, unspoilt nature and an atmosphere where silence reigns supreme. In Orelle, you can enjoy skiing in a different way. Away from the tourist crowds, this little-known part of the 3 Vallées offers uncrowded pistes and an intimate atmosphere. For adrenalin-seeking skiers and snowboarders, it's also the perfect place...

When Arc 1800 comes alive with the first snowfall and the snow fronts fill with colourful combinations, some places tell the story of the resort even better than others. Start with the Belambra Hôtel du Golf, the first hotel to open here in 1972, at the very beginning of the Les Arcs adventure. More than fifty years later, the hotel has lost none of its central role. Right in the heart of Arc 1800, at the foot of the ski lifts, it remains a veritable winter hive. Early morning skiers, families, international groups, corporate seminars... all converge on this great liner...