Skiing in Montgenevre
Only 2 kilometres away from the Italian border, Montgenèvre forms both part of the local Mont de la Lune ski area in France and the expansive Italian Milky Way ski area. It is France’s very first officially recognised ski resort, commissioned in 1907 and was a top ski holiday destination up until the 1930s and ’40s. The mid to late 2000s has since seen Montgenèvre make a renaissance to its old charming persona and has quietly grown with each passing ski season.
Montgenèvre provides an idyllic setting for winter sports enthusiasts, offering diverse terrain, modern facilities, and lively après-ski activities, ensuring an unforgettable alpine experience for all who visit. The resort comes alive with its vibrant après-ski scene. Visitors can unwind and socialize at numerous bars and lounges scattered throughout the resort village. Whether enjoying après-ski drinks by the fireplace or dancing to live music, there's no shortage of entertainment options to conclude a day of skiing.
Montgenèvre provides an idyllic setting for winter sports enthusiasts, offering diverse terrain, modern facilities, and lively après-ski activities, ensuring an unforgettable alpine experience for all who visit. The resort comes alive with its vibrant après-ski scene. Visitors can unwind and socialize at numerous bars and lounges scattered throughout the resort village. Whether enjoying après-ski drinks by the fireplace or dancing to live music, there's no shortage of entertainment options to conclude a day of skiing.
Montgenèvre cuts an unassuming figure with its traditional, modest reputation but what you actually get at this resort is a lot more bang for your buck. Sitting high on the French-Italian border and only an hour transfer from Turin airport, Montgenèvre has some of the most snow-sure pistes in the French and Italian Alps. Forming part of the Italian Milky Way ski area ( also popularly known as the Via Lattea), a ski pass at Montgenèvre gives you access to up to 400 kilometres of pistes including the Italian resorts of Sestriere ( 2006 Turin Winter Olympics hosts), Sansicario, Claviere, Sauze d’Oulx and Pragelato. If you are craving an authentic Italian pizza for lunch while at Montegenvre, you can whizz over the border, have your delicious meal and be back just in time for a soupe à l'oignon back at the resort. Not only is Montgenèvre blessed with an expansive ski area, but the pistes also range between an impressive 1860 metres and 2580 metres altitude, guaranteeing great snow conditions over the majority of the ski season.
Montgenèvre village resort height is 1850 metres with the pistes climbing up as high as 2589 metres. Forming part of the Milky Way as well as the skiing takes place on both sides of the mountain with Le Chalvet on the sunnier side and Les Gondrams on the north-facing side of the mountain.
The ski area occupies both sides of Montgenèvre; Le Gondrans is the north-facing side of the valley which is also the gateway to the Milky Way and Le Chalvet on the French side and frequented more often by locals. The majority of the runs at Montgenèvre are located above the tree line. The terrain has long cruisy blues and reds perfect for beginners and confident intermediates. Advanced skiers can find some challenging tree-lined black runs just above Claviere in the Milky Way. There is also a wealth of piste opportunities to explore.
Beginners have fantastic nursery slopes with a dedicated “beginners zone” in Montgenèvre. There is a gentle green run down to the village from Les Grondrans which is perfect for building confidence as it is specifically designed to allow beginners to apply some of the turns they have been taught by instructors.
Intermediates will find a lot of joy in the Milky Way and its wide selection of cruisy reds. AIn addition, the prospect of skiing over the birder is sure to excite a few intermediates looking to push themselves. The Milky Way pass also gives access to other French resorts like the Alps d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes.
Advanced skiers can find a good amount of challenging runs in both Montgenèvre and the Milky Way starting with the Rocher de L’Aigle run which is largely regarded as the most difficult runs in the area; starting from the Rocher de L’Aigle and down to the Claviere village. Expert skiers should also hire a local guide to show them the fantastic off-piste opportunities available in some of the areas like Les Bois des Brousset or Le Tremplin.
All Accommodation in Montgenèvre
Montgenèvre is freeride heaven. It has excellent freeriding terrain and there is even a freeride zone specifically designed for just for freeriders. Montgenèvre also has a great snow park fully equipped for all ski ability level snowboarders. It has 2 fun runs, a border cross an international standard half pipe specifically designed by experts from within the French national snowboard association. If you are hitting the slopes you can find great carving trails on Les Anges and Le Querelay. These are both very easy but if you are an expert snowboarder and are after a challenge, try your skills on the black runs leading back to the Claviere.
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Le Graal Café
Le Graal Café ( translates as the Grail Bar in English) is a great family-friendly cafe/pub for an apres-ski evening. Perfectly located in the village centre at the foot of the slopes on the Place des Escartons, Le Graal Cafe is essentially a cafe, pub, and bar all rolled up into one. Open every day from 7:30 am to midnight, breakfast is served from 8 am to 10:30 am every day, lunch between noon and 3 pm and when evening rolls in the cafe is transformed into a lively bar with an English pub atmosphere. It’s one of Montgenèvre’s busiest bars featuring live music and live sports and a very friendly atmosphere. There are baby chairs and children’s menus if you are visiting during the day. The food menu also features pub favourites like burgers, stakes and tasty salads. You can also enjoy the wonderful views of the mountainside from a cosy heated outside terrace. The party kicks off later in the evening with DJ sets as well as live music kicks in at night with local crowd favourites, 2 Fat Men gracing the stage every Monday and Wednesday.
Le Tourmente
A small and trendy bar, La Tourmente combines a cosy, rustic vibe with a chic, cosmopolitan look at first glance. Considered one of Montgenèvre’s hidden gems, Le Tourmente has a buzzing undertone which is helped by its atmospheric illuminating lights and upbeat music. The ideal place for great cocktails, wine, tapas and a vibrant evening. For the party faithful who find themselves in a quiet family-friendly ski resort like Montgenèvre, Le Tourmente will come as a breath of fresh air. Tapas is served between 6 pm and 9 pm, and the bar stays open till midnight. Expect friendly staff, happy hours and a lively atmosphere.
Montgenèvre has fantastic facilities. There is also a good selection of services available to holidaymakers such as ski hire shops, ski schools and multiple points to pick up a ski pass.
Montgenèvre is a Plus Familie certified resort which means that it is recognised for its child-friendly facilities. There are activities at Montgenèvre that are specifically designed for children entertainment and general welfare. We have listed a few of these here.
All Accommodation in Montgenèvre
