The lively town of Albertville (pop. 17,335), situated at the junction of the Arly and the Isère, was founded by King Charles-Albert of Savoy in the 19th C., and is laid out on a regular plan. A good base from which to explore the Trois Vallées district, it is also a much frequented winter sports resort, with excellent facilities for skiing in the surrounding area. It staged the Winter Olympics in 1992.
Conflans, the oldest part of Albertville, lies on a spur of hill above the town. It is an attractive relic of the past with its Gothic town gates, massive walls, old houses and Baroque church. From the Col de la Tamié (cableway) there are breathtaking views.
The ski area of Flaine in the Haute Savoie is not for you if you are looking for traditional mountain architecture. The concrete and steel buildings may not be much to look at but the skiing is exceptional, especially if you are an intermediate. Les Grandes Platières is a mountain made for intermediates. There are also good training slopes for beginners and an excellent ski school. Experts can choose from a number of off-piste options.
Address: Flaine Tourist Office, F-74300 Flaine, France
The old village of La Clusaz, located in the Haute Savoie just half an hour from Geneva, is a great family ski area. Narrow, winding streets and great views of the surrounding four massifs with 130km of groomed trails make this a pleasant getaway spot (especially during the week, on weekends local skiers from the Geneva area make the short trip). Olympic freestyle gold medallist Edgar Grospiron is from La Clusaz and, not surprisingly, the resort has great bump skiing and in 1995 hosted the world freestyle championships. But beginners and intermediates will have the most fun.
Address: La Clusaz Tourist Office, Place de l'Eglise, F-74220 La Clusaz, France
La Plagne is France's biggest single ski resort, best known for its altitude and dependable snow as well as its thousands of apartments. With some 10 different purpose-built villages, mainly made up of apartments with a few hotels, the area is serviced by 106 lifts and is mainly for beginners and intermediates. It is an excellent place to learn to ski or improve skills for lower to intermediate skiiers.
Address: La Plagne Tourist Office, Le Chalet BP 36, F-73211 La Plagne, France
A favorite with international skiers, Les Arcs attracts more than half its skiers from outside France. Three purpose-built villages, featuring distinctive wooden architecture and skiing to suit every level in a fairly compact area. Like La Plagne, Les Arcs has more apartments than hotels but it is excellent for families with the three major villages all featuring nurseries.
Address: Les Arcs Office, 94 boulevard Montparnasse, F-75014 Paris, France
Read Less
Read More
La Plagne, France
Read More
Flaine - Ski, Albertville
Flaine - Ski, Albertville
Flaine - Ski, Albertville
Three Valleys, Albertville
