Alps in France on the map. Map of ski resorts in France

– these names are known not only to avid skiers or snowboarders, but also to people far from sports. In this article we will tell you about best resorts France, where in winter it’s nice not only to relax, but also to ride with the breeze.

Chamonix, overlooking Mont Blanc

The town of Chamonix is ​​located in a beautiful location overlooking the highest peak in Western Europe- Mont Blanc mountain. Height above sea level – 1035 meters. Chamonix is ​​a Mecca for climbers in summer and skiers in winter.

In addition, nearby is nature reserve Mer de Glace (Icy Sea) is one of the most visited in the world.

Near Chamonix you will find a lot of not only skiing activities. You can go to the town of Annecy, climb Mont Blanc by train, take walks through the caves and a lot more.

Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallées) - the largest ski resort

Three Valleys (or Les Trois Valais) is a huge resort that combines several bases in the Vanoise mountain range. This includes:

  • Courchevel (Courchevel - hotels at this link),
  • Méribel (Méribel - hotels),
  • Les Menuires (hotels),
  • Val Thorens - ),
  • La Tania (La Tania - hotels),
  • Brides - hotels
  • and Orelle (Orelle - hotel offers).

Avoriaz – calmness

Situated at 1800m above sea level, Avoriaz is a modern resort in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. Between the forest and the mountains, the village, completely closed to cars, fits perfectly into the alpine nature. After you've hit the ski slopes of the Portes du Soleil (total length - 650 km), you can visit Aquariaz - a hot spring center with a temperature of 29°C.

Although you won't see any cars in Avoriaz, there are other modes of transport available. The resort's proximity to nature is its main advantage.

Official website of the Avoriaz resort: www.avoriaz.com

Les 2 Alpes - the largest snow park

In the Oisans Mountains, on the border between the Southern and Northern Alps, lies the dynamic resort of Les 2 Alpes. This is the largest chain of ski slopes in Europe. The resort is located at 3600 m above sea level. So there's almost snow here all year round, so skiers can be found here both in winter and summer.

The station also continues to develop its snow park: a large children's playground, a snow tube, a wall, a slide area for beginners and large pads (a huge 15 m mattress) are installed at the bottom of the slopes.

Chamrousse – a real Olympic village

On the southern edge of the Belledonne mountain range is the resort of Chamrousse, built in the forest. It offers exceptional views of the Grenoble valley. The station was used during the 1968 Winter Olympics. Many future Olympic champions performed or trained here.

Official website of the resort Charmus: www.chamrousse.com

Saint-Dalmas le Selvage – cross-country skiing

Saint-Dalmat-les-Selvages is the highest village in the Alpes-Maritimes (1347 m - 2916 m). The place is an ideal resort for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. In the heart of nature with unspoiled landscapes such as the Braïssa isthmus (2599 m), Mount Aunos (2514 m), the Charles cross (2529 m), the Moutière isthmus (2454 m), the Gialorgues glacial waterfall, you must find your happiness.

A great place for snowboarding too.

Official website of the resort of Saint-Dalmat-les-Selvages: hiver.saintdalmasleselvage.com

Le Sauze – family resort

Ski resort located in the Ubaye valley. Soz became famous as a family resort. In addition to the joy of skiing, don't miss a tour of Igloo Inuksuk Village, a real village with six igloos and Inuit traditions!

Official website of the resort Les Sauze: www.sauze.com

Megève – the most exclusive resort

Megève has retained its charm as an authentic mountain village. Surrounded by three mountain ranges with gentle slopes and green forests, stands a fourteenth-century medieval village with luxury shops, cobbled streets, a unique atmosphere and, of course, wonderful pistes.

This fashionable resort, where chalets, hotels and restaurants tirelessly fight for their prestige.

Official website of the Megeve resort: www.megeve.com

Serre-Chevalier – the sunniest resort

This is one of the largest ski resorts in the Alps with 250 km of ski slopes. Located at altitudes from 1200 to 2800 m above sea level. At the foot of the highest peaks lies a sun-drenched National Park Ecrins.

Serre Chevalier is one of the sunniest places in the Alps, with sunshine 300 days a year!

Official website of Serre Chevalier: www.serre-chevalier.com

Enjoy your holiday in the French Alps!

Snow-capped peaks and picturesque valleys, wild rivers and indescribably beautiful lakes, mountain streams and waterfalls sparkling in the sun, rich colors of plants and amazing animal world- all these are the Alps, the largest mountain system in Western Europe. The mountains form an arc stretching over a thousand kilometers - from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Adriatic Sea in the east.

Mountains start from French Cote d'Azur, then arch to the north along the border with Italy. Then they form a kind of barrier protecting Italy from the north, and go east through southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The Alps are conventionally divided into Western, Central and Eastern.

The Western Alps lie west of the Great Saint Bernard Pass, the Central Alps are located between the Great Saint Bernard Pass and Lake Constance. The Eastern Alps extend east of Lake Constance.

Interesting fact: it was on the Saint Bernard Pass, which in Roman times connected Northern Italy with the rest of Europe, that a breed of dog was developed that was trained to search for people caught in avalanches. Cute, seemingly phlegmatic St. Bernards have saved and continue to save hundreds of lives.

The summit of Mont Blanc in the Western Alps is considered the highest point in Europe (4810 m). When the French climber Henriette d'Angeville climbed Mont Blanc in 1838, exhausted on the last meters of the climb, she asked her companions: “If I die, carry me to the top.” And when she got there, she ordered to lift herself up to boast about it , which was taller than any person in Europe.

The highest peak in the Eastern Alps is Bernina Peak. Mount Matterhorn is considered very difficult to climb. It has the shape of a pyramid with steep slopes. The characteristic profile of the Matterhorn is immortalized on almost all varieties of Swiss chocolate.

The Dolomites, located in Italy, are included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. They fascinate with their unusual beauty. Many believe that the most breathtaking landscapes can be seen here: snow-covered plateaus against the backdrop of brown-pink rocks.

Excursion into history

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was the first to describe the Alps as a place of amazing attractiveness and beauty. Thus, the French writer dispelled the common idea of ​​the mountains as a hellish wasteland inhabited by demons. With a light touch from Rousseau, Albrecht von Haller sang the magical purity of the amazing Alpine region.

At the end of the 18th century, the first wave of romantics (Goethe, Turner, Schiller) drew inspiration from the Alps, admiring the mountain landscapes. But, only after the famous transition of Suvorov and the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the influx of tourists to the Alpine countries began. True, at first it was mainly a bohemian public (poets, artists, musicians), who appreciated the local beauties, which filled them with sublime feelings. Later, the famous Arthur Conan Doyle, amazed by the grandeur and beauty of the Reichenbach Falls, sent Holmes to fight Professor Moriarty in these places.

The Alps are the tourist center of Europe

The tourism industry began to develop from the beginning of the 19th century. Foreigners visit the Alps, admire the picturesque landscapes, and relax at spa resorts. At the beginning of the 20th century, large hotels, funiculars, and a rack railway were built, which takes tourists to high mountain resorts. During this period, winter sports competitions began to be held in the Alps: in 1882, the first figure skating championship started in St. Moritz. Alpine skiing became popular; in 1908, the first ski lift was built in Grindelwald.

By the way, Winston Churchill, then still a fairly slender twenty-year-old youth, climbed to the top of the Wetterhorn near Grindelwald back in 1894.

Enchanting landscapes, as well as enormous opportunities for mountaineering and winter sports, attract many tourists to the Alps. These mountains are often called " central area Europe". Now the Alps are the most important recreational region in Europe, uniting eight countries. The region's population is 14 million people. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Many resorts, for example, Oberstdorf in Bavaria, Saalbach in Austria, Davos in Switzerland, Chamonix in France, receive about a million tourists a year. In total, more than 120 million people vacation in Alpine resorts every year. Moreover, not only ski areas are popular, but also summer rest with hiking and cycling, sightseeing and admiring the unique alpine nature.

Tourism is an integral part of the Alpine economy, but local residents They continue to engage in traditional crafts, unchanged since the Middle Ages: carpentry, wood carving, cheese making. Pastoral landscapes, intoxicating healing air, crystal clear rivers, fresh rural food, thermal springs- rest here is pleasant.

Transport connection

And not only pleasant, but also convenient. Movement is organized and thought out to the smallest detail. Highways, alpine railways, many kilometers of tunnels, of which there are a great many in the Alps. They connect cities and countries, pass under passes, shortening the route. The Frejus and Mont Blanc tunnels connect Italy and France, the largest Gotthard tunnel in the Alps is built under the Saint Gotthard pass, and the Simplon railway tunnel connects Switzerland with Italy. In the coming years, the 57-kilometer-long Gotthard Base Tunnel will be completed.

Some high mountain villages (Avoriaz in France, Zermatt in Switzerland) can only be reached by cable car or funicular. Other Alpine resorts are car-free zones, which ensures a delicate natural balance in this mountainous area.

French Alps, with their snowy mountain peaks, green valleys and crystal clear lakes, are part of the European mountain range. First of all, they are attractive for active recreation: alpine skiing and mountaineering. In summer, mountain biking (cross-country), rafting, and paragliding are very popular. The region is also famous for the stunning beauty of its alpine lakes. Lake Geneva(Leman Lac), Annecy Lac and Lac du Bourget are suitable for year-round recreation and numerous water sports.

Mont Blanc - the highest peak of the Alps

The highest point in Western Europe is in the French Alps. Mont Blanc attracts climbers from all over the world. The famous peak, which is considered one of the symbols of France, was first climbed in 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel Packard. It is interesting that the future US President Theodore Roosevelt, during his honeymoon in 1886 he led an expedition to climb Mont Blanc.

Now it’s easier for skiers and even climbers: many ski lifts have been built. For example, the top of the Aiguille du Midi from Chamonix can be reached by one of the highest in the world cable cars. The ascent is breathtaking: here is the greatest difference in elevation, and the top station is at an altitude of 3777 meters.

Major resorts of the French Alps

The French Alps are home to famous resort towns that attract tourists from all over the world. Annecy (Annecy), located on the shores of the lake of the same name, is the capital of the Haute-Savoie region. The city is called the "Venice of Savoy". Numerous canals, decorated with pots of flowers in summer, beautifully decorate the resort. Annecy was built around a medieval center and a 14th-century castle.

The city is considered the paragliding capital of the Alps. On any fine day you can watch paragliders soaring high above the lake. Amazing sight!

Perhaps the most famous resort town in the French Alps is Chamonix. In this mountain oasis you can ski down steep slopes, see the Mer de Glace (Sea of ​​Ice) - one of the largest glaciers in continental Europe, and admire the picturesque surroundings on numerous mountain trails. And, of course, Chamonix is ​​famous for the fact that the first Winter Olympic Games were held here in 1924.

Saint-Gervais is a popular resort near Chamonix. It can be called an ideal recreation center, because it is not only a ski resort, but also a place with natural hot springs and stunning scenery. Actually, the town arose around the hydropathic clinic. By the way, the Rothschild family allocated money for its development.

Now Saint-Gervais is a famous spa resort. Near the town above a deep gorge you can walk along famous bridge"devil".

Grenoble – The largest city French Alps, site of the 1968 Winter Olympics, research and science Center, and Stendhal was born here. This greatest French novelist wrote: “Life is too short, and the time we spend yawning and doing nothing will never be returned to us.” Maybe that’s why Stendhal’s fellow countrymen live such a rich and interesting life: cafes are crowded, students have heated discussions, scientists argue. The city is surprisingly lively and cheerful.

Map of ski resorts in France with attractions

Alps on the map of France

Detailed map of the French Alps

French Alps Map

French Alps on the world map are located in the southeast of the country. This range is part of the Western Alps. Geographic map The French Alps will show that total length elevations reach 330 km. Geographically, the chain is divided into southern and northern. A detailed map of the French Alps will show that in the north there are mountain-glacial hills. The highest point in the region is the Mont Blanc peak, reaching over 4.8 km. South part the chain, as a map of the French Alps will demonstrate, belongs to the Mediterranean type of landscape. Proximity to the sea also determines the corresponding climate.

Map of the French Alps with attractions contains both unique natural areas, as well as architectural monuments located in resort towns. Of course, the main industry in the region is ski tourism. A map of the French Alps in Russian from Arrivo will help you navigate the resorts and slopes.

Which are located in the Alps department, they represent a whole extensive network of superbly equipped areas for skiing. It is often possible to travel from one resort to another.

Here are the most high mountains and slopes in Europe(the summit of Mont Blanc is 4807 meters) and the most a large number of lifts, so there are always short queues.

These tracks have hosted professional athletes, world championships and Olympics in various disciplines winter sports. Now they can accept you and provide you with excellent leisure , leisure and entertainment.

Ski resorts in France period from December to May. The resorts are known for stable and favorable skiing weather.

Besides, Some resorts offer the possibility of summer skiing.

Resort rating

Three Valleys

Let’s not be afraid to be a little banal and start our review of resorts with the most brilliantly shining diamonds in the winter snow of the French Alps - the three valleys, resorts that hosted the Olympics and are considered the best in France.

In fact, Three Valleys - a multi-level resort system. Here they distinguish:

  • Lower level, where resorts with slopes up to 1700 meters are located: La Tania, Courchevel and Meribella;
  • average level, with altitudes between 1700-1850 meters, where there are more high part Courchevel, Mottaret and Les Menuires;
  • high level, where the altitude is 2300 meters and the resort of Val Thorens is located.

This is where the Olympics were hosted in 1992. The resort in the heart of the Three Valleys is extremely popular. It has a sophisticated and unique atmosphere, magnificent trails and nature.

Can be reached by bus, which go by transfers or by car along the highways. Nearest bus stations:

  • Moûtiers train stop is fifty minutes away by bus;
  • Chambery is an hour away (about 70 kilometers);
  • the city of Lyon is 200 kilometers away;
  • Geneva is 120 kilometers away.

The resort consists of two zones:

  • Meribel Center– classic French style;
  • Meribel-Mottaray– more modern architecture.

Among the entertainments it should be noted major center La Chaudanne with a variety of swimming pools, spas and the like. For just a hundred euros you can fly over the Courchevel Valley on a paraglider.

In addition, there is the opportunity to ride on hot-air balloon and dog sledding.

In the ski area, the elevation difference is 1450-2952 meters, there are slopes of different levels, the longest is five kilometers. Half-pipes for snowboarding, 60 lifts.

Courchevel

Perhaps many have heard the name of this resort, which known not for the height of the slopes, but for its prestige. The skiing here is of high quality, but the heights are not the greatest and the slopes are not the most outstanding.

People come here for a high degree of comfort and excellent service.

Hotels, restaurants, quantity variety of entertainment– the resort is a leader in these parameters. Many people come here not to ride, but to hang out.

Can be reached from Geneva(a little over a hundred kilometers) or the city of Lyon, which is about two hundred kilometers away.

Despite its fashionable orientation, the resort provides the opportunity not only to ride along gently sloping and smooth green and blue trails, but also to take advantage of high peaks Solir and Wiesell.

Wherein there are excellent conditions for training beginners, in particular at Courchevel 1650.

Called the roof of the three valleys, has the highest point of the Cime de Caron resort. From this peak you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of Mont Blanc. Thanks to the network of ski lifts, it is possible to travel around the Three Valleys completely from here.

The resort is distinguished by multi-storey buildings and the absence of chalets, familiar to alpine resorts. During the skiing period, there is always snow on the slopes, since they are not only at an altitude of more than two kilometers, but are also provided with snow cannons.

Get there the closest, as for previous resorts, is from Geneva, Lyon or Chambery.

Given the connection with the other resorts of the Three Valleys, we will not describe the entertainment. Let's finish the brief review Three Valleys hotels:

  • Des neiges;
  • Oxalys;
  • Annapurna;
  • La Sivoliere;
  • Le Sabot de Venus;
  • Merilys Residence;
  • Alpen Ruitor Mottaret;
  • Le Kilimanjaro;
  • Le Mottaret;
  • Les Balcons de Val Thorens;
  • Agence de La Saulire.

Tignes

A resort on the slopes of which the downhill World Cup stages are held every November. Skiing is possible throughout the whole year, as the height of the peaks reaches about 3700 meters.

Located three and a half hours drive from Geneva. Includes many restaurants, bars, cinemas and other entertainment venues, many winter activities, paragliding and hang gliding.

In terms of entertainment, the resort is fully stocked. In terms of pistes, it provides an opportunity to have an interesting holiday not only for beginners, but also for experienced skiers. Hotels:

  • Hotel Village Montana;
  • Hotel le Refuge;
  • Hotel Les Campanules;
  • Club Med Tignes Val Claret.

Chamonix, France, somewhere at the foot of Mont Blanc

The resort is located in the valley of the same name has a great natural beauty and amazing landscape. It is included in the world heritage landscapes.

Known for White Valley– the highest (3842) ski point with twenty kilometers of off-piste skiing. Activities include: paragliding, canyoning, rock climbing, winter rafting, mountain biking, ice mountaineering.

Get there closest to Geneva, which is just under 90 kilometers away. Vacationers can stay in hotels:

  • Hotel Le Faucigny;
  • Hotel l'Heliopic;
  • Le Morgane;
  • Hotel Mont-Blanc;
  • Grand Hotel des Alpes.

Avoriaz

The original resort in the north, which features magnificent Art Nouveau architecture, no cars, magnificent apartments with access to the slope, a cozy atmosphere, horse-drawn carriages that drive through the streets.

Get there the resort can be reached from Geneva (80 kilometers) or from Thonon Les Bains station. Entertainment includes a full resort package:

  • from discos and Jacuzzis, to saunas and gyms;
  • there is an opportunity to ride a snow car;
  • dog sledding;
  • snowboard trails;
  • there are cinemas and much more.

The height of the resort is 1800 meters, slope differences: from 1100 to 2277 meters. There are cross-country ski trails. Hotels:

  • Hotel des Dromonts;
  • Club Med Avoriaz;
  • Pierre & Vacances Residence Saskia Falaise;
  • PV-Holidays Residence Maeva Multivacances;
  • Residence Sirius.

Skiing on the slopes of the French Alps– elite and prestigious entertainment. Many resorts here are imbued with the history of modern sports, and no less have sophistication and their own original style in everything.

France is far from the last place on the world map. This largest in Europe. Due to the considerable size of the country, its landscape is quite diverse. The French Alps are one of its most remarkable parts. How were these mountains formed? In which country are the Alps located? What attractions and resorts are there in the French Alps? Let's find out about it.

Geography of France

The French Republic is one of the five permanent members of the UN, a member of the G7, and one of the founders of the European Union. It is a single-national, highly urbanized state. France is home to 66.7 million people, the majority of whom are French. About 80% of the population lives in the republic - the city of Paris.

The countries nearby are Spain, Andorra, Italy, Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Germany. She washes herself Atlantic Ocean And Mediterranean Sea. From the point of view of political geography, France is located in Western Europe. More precisely, most of it is located there, because the country is located not only on the continent. It owns more than twenty island territories near Africa, North and South America.

Together with its overseas territories, France is the second largest country in Europe on the world map. It occupies a fifth of the European Union. Its total area is 674,685 square kilometers, and the sea borders of the republic stretch for 5,500 kilometers.

Relief of France

The relief of the state is heterogeneous; there are plains, mountains, and also ancient plateaus. The plains mainly cover the area from the northern to the southwestern part. The North French and Aquitaine lowlands stand out most clearly. The lowland in the southeastern part is located between the Massif Central and the French Alps.

The plateau on the territory of the country is nothing more than the remains of the more ancient Hercynian mountains. They are represented by the small Armorian and Central French massifs, the Vosges and the Ardennes. The Armorian Massif and the Vosges are heavily indented by river valleys, and the Massif Central is dotted with long-extinct volcanoes.

In the southwest, France is separated from Spain by a mountain range. The Pyrenees stretch along the entire border there. The countries are connected only in a few narrow passages between the mountains. In the southeast of the country are the Jura and Alps mountains with the highest point in France - Mont Blanc. These massifs share the country with Italy and Switzerland.

French Alps

The Alps are not only located in France. They cover the territory of Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Monaco, Slovenia, Germany and Liechtenstein. This is one of the most studied mountain ranges in the world. The length of the mountains is up to 1200 kilometers, and the width is 260 kilometers.

The Alps are the longest and highest mountain system, which is entirely located in Europe. The most big mountain in height - Mont Blanc. In addition to it, in the Alps there are about a hundred peaks exceeding four thousand meters. The mountains stretch in an arc and are divided into Western, Eastern, Northern, Southern, Central.

The French Alps belong to the Western Alps. They stretch for 330 kilometers. The height of Mont Blanc, the highest point, is 4808 meters. The Alps of France are also divided into several parts: northern and southern.

Both parts differ in climate and landscapes. The north is dominated by glaciers and higher peaks. The Southern Alps are influenced by the sea as they are located very close to the coast, covering the Maritime and Provençal regions.

Alpine climate

Starting near the sea, the Southern French Alps have a subtropical climate. Their heights are small compared to other areas of this mountain system. Deviating to the north, they enter the temperate climate zone. Of course, their mode largely depends not only on their location, but also on their height. There are five zones in the Alps:

  • lowland - up to 1000 meters,
  • temperate zone - from 1000 meters,
  • subalpine belt - from 1500 meters,
  • alpine meadow - from 2000 meters,
  • nival - above 3000 meters.

The weather in the French Alps is changeable. The hottest time is before lunch, then it gradually gets colder. There is quite a lot of precipitation in the mountains (up to 1000 mm/g). The snow lasts for a long time, until the end of June.

In the northern parts of the Alps the climate is colder but humid, but in the southern part it is, on the contrary, dry and warm. In winter, fog often occurs, and the weather can suddenly change to cold.

Above 3000 meters, ice and snow do not melt for years. It's cold here and almost nothing grows. Below begins or mountain tundra with less cold temperatures, shrubs and low grasses. In the subalpine zone, the temperature does not rise above 25 degrees, frosts occur even in summer.

In the two lower zones the climate is most favorable for both animals and humans. It is possible to farm and live here. These belts contain a wide variety of plants and animals.

Local winds

The Alps are characterized by the appearance of so-called local winds (bora, foehn, etc.). They differ somewhat from the standard for this area, but are regular. The foehn is considered one of the alpine local winds. It arises at the tops of the mountains and descends into the valleys.

The hair dryer blows strong gusts of dry hot air. Every hundred meters the wind gets hotter. It can last from a day to five days.

The appearance of fen in the mountains generally helps agriculture. The wind creates a mild microclimate necessary for a number of heat-loving plants. However, it can be harmful and even fatal. By heating the air in the spring, a hair dryer promotes rapid melting of snow, which causes avalanches.

Plants and animals

In the French Alps there are completely different natural complexes, which of course depend on the height. High altitudes are desert, treeless areas. Only some plants “climb” to the peaks, for example, the glacial buttercup, which is found even at an altitude of 4000 meters.

Alpine meadows - steep slopes and rocky hills covered with grasses and flowers. The plants of this belt are not tall, but very bright. Typical representatives are alpine edelweiss, strawberry, alpine dream grass, gum, poppy, red lily, forget-me-not, orchid, aster, etc. Livestock graze here and live marmots, mountain goats, chamois, jackdaws, choughs, swifts and golden eagles .

The trees begin in the subalpine zone. These are mainly larch, pine and spruce trees, with oak and beech forests found below. Birds like to settle on the border of the forest and rocks: lemon and snow finch, rock and spotted thrush, tits.

In addition, salamanders, hares, tiger-footed owls, red deer, tundra partridges, and dunnocks are found in the Alps. Mouflons boldly walk along the rocky slopes and red-winged wall climbers - small birds with a long beak and red stripes on their wings - run.

Alpine tourism

The Alps have a lot in store for travelers: dense forests, rocky peaks, unique landscapes and wildlife. And France, in turn, made it all accessible and convenient.

There are many routes in the mountains with specially equipped parking areas. Along the way, you can always find shelters or lonely huts where tourists stop for the night. Detailed itinerary plans for avid hikers are easy to find at local tourist centers.

However, not all routes are designed for long hikes. There are a large number of trails made for easy day walks. They are easy to do if you live in one of the mountainous regions, for example Aravi, Vercors, Chablis.

The most popular times in the Alps are winter (December to April) and mid-summer (July). During these periods, the bases are filled with vacationers. However, it is not always possible to bypass such hype. The rest of the time, the weather can be quite unpredictable, and due to snow, some passes are often closed until the second half of June.

Resorts

Resorts in the French Alps offer hiking in the summer and snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing and skiing in the winter. Mountaineering, surfing and yachting in local lakes are developing in the region.

In the resort town of Chamonix you can admire the beauty of Mont Blanc every day. At an altitude of 3840 meters is the White Valley - highest point resort and home to one of the most extreme descents in France. Paragliding, canyoning (descending down river canyons without swimming equipment), rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding are possible here.

The largest region for skiing and snowboarding is the Three Valleys. It has more than six hundred kilometers of high-mountain trails and hundreds of ski lifts. The region includes several worldwide famous resorts: Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens. There are not only tourist trails, but also Olympic trails, glacier arenas open air, hockey rinks and much more interesting things.

Unique Alps

The French Alps are unique nature and breathtaking scenery. They are part of the Western Alps and stretch straight from the Mediterranean coast of the country in a northeast direction.

Within their boundaries there are dozens national parks and security zones. The most famous of them are Vercors, Chartreuse, Queyras, Beauges, etc. The region is located popular resorts and picturesque mountain settlements. The highest town, Briançon, is located near the Queyra Park.

The French Alps are a place where active holidays are possible with extreme species sports and relaxing pastime. There are green flower meadows, swampy forests and bare rocks covered with glaciers, and cold high-altitude lakes with clear blue water. It is simply impossible to remain indifferent to these places.