French Ski Areas Ready For Winter
French ski resorts have a host of new features in store for the 2024-2025 winter season. From technological innovations to new infrastructures, the ski areas are reinventing themselves to ensure an amazing experience for all skiers, whatever their level. Discover the changes and improvements that await you on the slopes this winter.
INNOVATIONS
Peyragudes is taking further steps towards drastically reducing its carbon footprint by running all its piste grooming vehicles and snow-clearing machines with HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) biofuel instead of the GNR (off-road fuel) used until now. Made from sustainable vegetable oils or reprocessed waste (grease, cooking oil, etc.), HVO, derived from renewable raw materials, greatly reduces the impact on the environment. Emissions of polluting particles such as nitrogen oxides and fine particles are reduced by 30%. By switching
all piste grooming vehicles and snow-clearing machines to HVO, Peyragudes will reduce the carbon impact of each day’s skiing by 62%.
The Pyrenees resort joins the Compagnie des Alpes ski areas, which, after a successful trial run in Les Arcs and La Plagne, extended the use of biofuel to their entire fleet of piste grooming vechicles (synthetic HVO fuel) for 2022-2023. SEMVAL which is the operating company for the Valmeinier ski area, is also converting its fleet this winter.
Following a recent transformation, Cime Caron, the highest point in the Val Thorens ski area, will be home to building for winter 2024-2025: Caron 3200. With the help of government architects and specialist landscape architects, the building has been desgined to ensure it blends harmoniously into its surroundings. The complex will house a restaurant, wine bar, rooftop terrace and a multi-service area.
THEMED RUNS
In Les Arcs, the Cabanes themed runs immerse you in a world populated by giant animals that are normally not visible to the naked eye. After passing through a giant magnifying glass as a symbolic gateway, skiers of all ages can ski past a selection of species that are representative of the mountain’s different natural environments. By exploring the lives of insects, lepidopterans and arachnids, they will discover the richness of mountain biodiversity beyond the large, emblematic animals usually seen.
In Méribel, the tunnel built beneath the Roc de Fer competition run has now been transformed into a new state-of-the-art work of street art by Franck Blériot. The artist, who has produced 250 pieces of work in France and abroad, has created a unique cover for the front and inside of the tunnel.
The summit of the Roc de Fer, located at one end of the Méribel ski area, will be divided into 3 zones by next winter. This will comprise of a suspended swing with a photo viewpoint, an area to obersve the summits using a holographic sighting system, and an area to relax on the hammock.
SKI LIFT
In Les 2 Alpes, the legendary Jandri Express ski lift, which dates back to 1985, will be replaced this winter by the Jandri (3S) to meet the current needs or requirements (either work) or the resort. In particular, in terms of capacity, reliability in all weather weather conditions, comfort and speed.
Loyal visitors to Alpe d’Huez who use the DMC Grandes Rousses every day have been eagerly l’Iseran to the high-altitude sectors, modernising the link that dates back to 1972 (drag lift) and 1986 (chairlift).
In Courchevel, the Saulire cable car is getting ready to reopen after being closed for two winter seasons. More than 70 years after the creation of its first cable car, the Société des
3 Vallées, in collaboration with POMA, has delivered a lift characteristic of the resort with this third edition of the cable car. Two key themes have been defined, including offering a unique customer experience (with an all-glass cabin, for example), and incorporating the latest technological innovations.
This winter, the Les Arcs / Peisey-Vallandry ski area will see the relaunch of the emblematic link between the Arc 1800 resort and the summits. The metamorphosis of Transarc, which began in December 2023, is now complete.
The reinvented, high-performance cabins will be more spacious, faster and with a lower consumption of electricity, in line with current ecological standards. A mineral gallery will welcome visitors at the mid-station.
In La Rosière, the 40th anniversary of the France/Italy ski link will be celebrated with the refurbishment of the Chardonnets link (going from a 4-seater to a 6-seater chairlift).
Commissioned in 1982, the Duche chairlift, which takes skiers from the wild Annes valley back to the resort of Le Grand Bornand will be replaced this winter by a new lift: a different route reduces the impact on the environment by avoiding wetlands and sensitive natural habitats, improves safety by moving away from the chalets dotting the slopes, is better integrated from an architectural point of view and is more energy- efficient.
Also, worth noting is the new 6-seater Marais chairlift in Tignes, and the new Sétaz gondola lift at in Valloire, which will replace the previous lift. In Corrençon, the ski area has been improved with a new ropetow lift and remodelling work, particularly on the snow front.
Created in January 2010 and focusing purely on mountain tourism, it offers a place to meet and discuss, as well as a shared communication and promotion tool for professionals and organisations in this field. France Montagnes is based at Alpespace business centre in Porte-de-Savoie, France.
DESTINATION MONTAGNES
After 22 years, the Destination Montagnes international trade show (formerly known as Grand Ski) will showcase the French mountains heading back to Isere. Organised by tourism development agency Atout France, it will be held at Grenoble Alpes for the coming 3 years, from 2025 to 2027.
The numbers are dizzyingly high, with 450 tour operators from around the world gathering at WTC Grenoble Convention Centre and at Alpexpo in the capital of the French Alps, where some 10,000 business meetings will take place over two days. The winning proposal was led by two territorial marketing agencies, Isère Attractivité and Grenoble Alpes, with the support of Alpexpo and WTC Grenoble Convention Centre. The two agencies defended a France Montagnes carries out campaigns for all of the French mountain destinations with the aim of raising their profile, while bolstering their image and visitor numbers and gaining new national and international market share.
This upcoming event reiterates the excellence of the Isère and Grenoble brand identity, illustrating the expertise and investment of all the professionals involved in this sector (120,000 employed in mountain tourism, 17,000 of which are in the Isère department), and involvement by all the mountain stakeholders in Isère. The mountain ecosystem is changing and new ways of discovering the destination are coming to the fore. The Isère Attractivité marketing agency and its partners support these changes by working together to encourage alternative non-skiing activities to satisfy increasing demand.
THE MOUNTAINS OF FRANCE!FRANCE MONTAGNES’S INTERNATIONAL BRAND
In 2022, France Montagnes launched ‘The Mountains of France!’ – a new brand to promote the French mountains internationally.
Embodied by a simple, geometric mountain logo bearing the colours of the French flag, the brand is easy to understand and is recognisable by all. Its name allows us to showcase the diversity of the French mountains, which are home to an incredible seven massifs, available to enjoy all year round.
THE 7 MOUNTAIN RANGES
THE NORTHERN ALPS
A paradise for skiing and the largest linked ski areas
THE SOUTHERN ALPS
Exceptional sunshine and abundant snow
THE PYRENEES
One of the leading resorts for well-being thanks to thermal water strong positioning based on a sustainable, accessible, and inclusive “4-season mountain destination”.
THE VOSGES
The famous balloons of the Vosges located between lakes and forests
THE JURA MOUNTAINS
One of the largest nordic areas in Europe
THE MASSIF CENTRAL
Ski on a volcano and discover world heritage classified sites
CORSICA
Ski on an island of character
