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Tourist Office 
| French SKI RESORTS 
FRANCE
by George Schissler
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The French have a long and glorious past in winter sports. Because their portion of the Alps contains many world-class ski resorts, France has hosted snowy Olympics on three occasions: the first Winter Games 1924 in Chamonix, Grenoble in 1968, and Albertville in 1992.
Skiers taking a vacation in France are pleasantly surprised at what the resorts have to offer, both on and off the snow. The Alps themselves are stunning. Majestic vistas are everywhere, each more captivating than the one before. And for the skier the boundless snowfields hold challenge and pleasure.
The skiing is rated among the best in the world. French ski resorts attract foreign skiers for whom natives are happy to parade their amazing facilities. France is renowned for its purpose-built resorts. Old villages were converted to modern resorts and many new communities sprang up in rolling high meadows.
Two major observations are pertinent, although we don't know whether they are cause or effect: 1) France, whose workers get a minimum of five weeks vacation a year, leads the world in per capita ownership of second homes, many of which are in the mountains, and 2) a high percentage of the population skis (more than 13 percent). That's three times the estimated number of skiers in America. France, one third our size, registers about the same number of skier days.
With so many skiers to move uphill, ski areas have ploughed tons of francs into lift facilities. Some American operations managers think the French are "equipment happy." But skiers delight in the number and types of conveyances; the more the merrier. In the mind-boggling Trois Vallees (Three Valleys), for example, there are more than 200 lifts that can move 200 thousand skiers an hour around the world's largest ski domain.
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Beneficiaries of inter-connected mountains and their vast lift networks are families whose members may have different levels of ability. There are trails and slopes for everyone.
Most of the country's major resorts are located in the Rhone Alps in the Savoie and Haute Savoie regions. This section of The Blue Book lists destinations acclaimed for providing quality ski experiences. Great snow. Excellent slope maintenance. Affordable accommodations. Fine dining and active nightlife. Child care. Shopping.
We include here only 28 of more than 400 ski resorts in France, but they represent an honest taste of skiing in France. It should be said, however, that you can throw a dart at a map of the Rhone Alps and go where it lands. And you won't be disappointed.
If you are thinking of a Gallic ski vacation, talk to your travel agent about destinations and package deals. See whether you want to fly to the French Alps via Lyons or Geneva, Switzerland. Check the websites of resorts (listed in the front of this book). You will get a good look at their offerings. On some you will find colorful maps that let you zoom in on the mountain and find that run your friends have bragged about.
A vacation here is a skier's dream. Make yours come true this season. You'll still be talking about it next summer.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT
TOURIST OFFICE
(Maison de la France)
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New York
444 Madison Avenue,
16th floor
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212-838-7800
Fax: 212-838-7855
URL: www.franceguide.com
Chicago
676 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2819
Tel: 312-751-7800
Fax: 312-337-6339
Los Angeles
9454 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 715
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Tel: 310-271-2693
Fax: 310-276-2835
Miami
1 Biscayne Tower
Miami, FL 33131
Fax: 305-373-5828
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