French Ski Vacations - Where To Head For

As the 2009 ski season draws to a close, skiersThree Valleys.' Les Trois Vallees is the world's largest
realise the next time they can enjoy their activity islinked ski area. Like Les Arcs, Courchevel is comprised
still months away, and many are planning their 2010of four ski towns, and their names reflect the
ski holidays already - and many will be heading foraltitude at which they reside. Courchevel 1300, or Le
France.Praz, was the original town, followed by Courchevel
Skiing the French Alps is one of the biggest highlights1550, Courchevel 1650, which is also called Moriond,
of a ski enthusiast's life. The French Alps offers skiand Courchevel 1850.
areas unlike many other parts of the world. Les Arcs,The small town of La Tania, built initially to serve as
Courchevel and Chamonix are some of the most wellaccommodations for the 1992 Winter Olympics, is
known ski areas in France. Each ski area in the Frenchalso located in the Courchevel Valley. Le Praz
Alps appeals to a variety of skiers for several(Courchevel 1300) hosted the Olympic Ski Jump in
different reasons.the 1992 Winter Olympics. The ski jump in
Les ArcsCourchevel 1850 was recently removed for the
The French ski area of Les Arcs has been attractingsafety of skiers who visit the resort.
mountain sport enthusiasts since 1968. Its location inChamonix
the Alps boasts some of the world's best skiing. ItThe Chamonix French ski area is home to
has also been hailed for its modernist architecture.world-famous Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc towers above
Designed in harmony with its surroundings, developersneighboring mountains and is the highest European
used local materials and preserved many existingmountain west of Russia at an impressive 4808 m
buildings. The resort has a colorful history that lendshigh. Due to the height of some of the mountains
character and lures adventurers from around thethat make up Chamonix, the area hosts some of the
world. Former Olympian Alpine skier Emile Allais helpedmore extreme winter sports, such as ice climbing,
rocket the resort to public acclamation.extreme skiing and paragliding. Its reputation for
Les Arcs is actually a series of ski villages nestled atextreme winter sports has earned Mont Blanc the
different altitudes on the mountain and popular fornickname 'the death-sport capital of the world.'
French ski holidays - the first of these is Arc 1600, soHosting the 1924 Winter Olympics helped bring
named because it rests at 1600 meters high. Likeinternational attention to Chamonix as a valid winter
many large developments, its designers andsports area. A few little-known fun facts about
developers had big dreams for Les Arcs. The openingChamonix include: it's snow race track in Sony's racing
of the first village was followed in 1974 by Arc 1800.game Gran Turismo 4; an episode of the TV show
Arc 2000 was born in 1979, followed by Arc 1950 inAlias was filmed in the Chamonix Valley; and the
2003. Each 'Arc' is followed by the numbers indicatingskiing scenes in 'The World is Not Enough' were
its unique altitude. Together the four resorts thatfilmed in Chamonix. The cast and crew stayed in the
comprise Les Arcs boast 106 runs and 54 lifts.surrounding area while filming the movie. Frankenstein
Fortunately for the winter sportsman it's relativelyalso fled to Mont Blanc to hide from men in the
easy to try them all. Shuttle buses and a cablebeloved Mary Shelley novel.
connect the villages to one another. Gondolas andBut Frankenstein or no Frankenstein, plenty of skiers
chair lifts ferry skiers where buses can't.will be heading for Mont Blanc and other ski areas in
CourchevelFrance once next winter's snow has started falling.
The Courchevel French ski area is located in theSkiing in France information for 2010 information can
Savoie region of the French Alps. Courchevel is partbe found at yourandorra.
of the area known as Les Trois Vallees, or 'The