Ski Holidays in Claviere
It is a charming, traditional village made up of only a handful of hotels, restaurants and bars. Interestingly, Claviere happens to be one of the oldest ski resorts in Italy; an impressive feat for its unassuming appearance and nature. Perched in the gentle shadow of the grand Chaberton Massif at 3,131m, Claviere has not only survived over the years and emerged as the oldest resorts in the area, but it also managed to preserve its authentic Italian charm through its harmonious blend of old, traditional buildings and modern structures that have sprung up over the years.
Claviere is a family-friendly resort with a calm and relaxed reputation. A well-connected ski resort, Claviere offers fantastic skiing opportunities thanks to its snow-sure pistes and almost unrivalled snow conditions across the Via Lattea. Its easy links and access to Montgenèvre give both resorts more than enough local ski slopes to offer any holidaymaker for over a week. Additionally, their position on the Cottina Alps high pass results in both resorts benefiting from good snowfall which also leads to the Claviere-Montgenèvre area opening a week or two earlier and closing a lot later than usual.
Claviere is a family-friendly resort with a calm and relaxed reputation. A well-connected ski resort, Claviere offers fantastic skiing opportunities thanks to its snow-sure pistes and almost unrivalled snow conditions across the Via Lattea. Its easy links and access to Montgenèvre give both resorts more than enough local ski slopes to offer any holidaymaker for over a week. Additionally, their position on the Cottina Alps high pass results in both resorts benefiting from good snowfall which also leads to the Claviere-Montgenèvre area opening a week or two earlier and closing a lot later than usual.
The Milky Way has up to 400 kilometres of pistes across Italy and France, with some of the best slopes located on the Monti della Luna ski area, Clavieres local ski area. With Claviere sitting so close to the French border, the resorts benefit from the influence of both cultures. It also makes it possible to spend the afternoon in France but make it back over the border in time for a delicious authentic Italian supper. An excellent ski lift system connects both resorts and while Montgenevre seems to be the larger and more popular ski resort between them, Claviere is very well regarded for its excellent slopes and really good snow conditions.
It is essentially the best place to be if you were after a quiet ski holiday getaway as a couple or with the family. It is also often seen as a much more cost-effective option than the other resorts in the Milky Way ski area that may charge higher prices in general. It is no surprise that it is a favourite destination for many UK school groups and holiday-makers on their first ski trip
The resort sits at 1,760 metres altitude with pistes reaching up to 2840 metres. The local ski area of Monti della Luna has about 33 kilometres of pistes mostly suited to beginners and intermediate skiers.
The local ski pass grants access to the Claviere area which is made up of the Monti della Luna ski area and the slopes coming down Col Saurel and the mountain community of Sagnalonga. The Milky Way pass grants access to the wider area and all the ski resorts within the Via Lattea on the Italian side and Montgenèvre across the border.
The nursery areas close to the centre of the village is a great start for beginners ( awesome for children as well). Catch the La Coche lift chair and head up for more challenging blues after mastering your ploughs and turns.
Intermediate skiers have a lot of options here with a host of reds to explore on the Monti della Luna. There are more challenging, intermediate runs across the Via Lattea and particularly in nearby Sauze d’Oulx.
There aren't too many slopes for advanced skiers and experts at Claviere but with easy access to the rest of the Milky Way, there is still an abundance of options ( Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx for example). However, before you set off across the ski area, check out the fast black piste that starts at the top of the Col Boeuf chair lift.
Snowboarding is a huge favourite in the Milky Way with some of the resorts like Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx being top destinations for snowboarders. Claviere offers a lot more to snowboarders than just its proximity to Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx.
Claviere has an abundance of long, wide-open pistes perfect for free-riders who will also find an extensive mixture of tree-lined terrain, pisted runs and powder bowls in off-piste zones. The resort does not have any terrain parks but freestylers may be able to find a few natural pipes.
Claviere is very well known for its snow reliability. With the majority of the pistes above 1,500 metres altitude, the snow conditions are generally great. The slopes on the Claviere - Montgenèvre are known to open a week or two earlier and close a few weeks later than most of the other resorts in the Via Lattea.
As imagined, the apres-ski in Claviere is chilled and mostly limited to restaurants and hotel bars. The village itself is really small and only has a handful of places. For a livelier apres-ski evening, head 2 kilometres down the road and across the border into Montgenevre for more variety. That being said, there are still a few places to have an evening drink and a chat with friends.
Baite’s (Mountain Huts)
Kick start your Claviere apres-ski on the slopes at one of many mountain huts or restaurants locally referred to as Baite. They serve a good selection of meals, snacks and drinks to wash down your food with. You can try everything from standard meals to local Piemonte delicacies such as wild mushroom risottos or some delicious deer stew. Stay back for a few drinks and lively conversation before heading back down to the village. Some of the Baites worth checking out are Chalet Mon Soleil and La Coche. For additional thrills, a number of the baite offer evening snowmobile rides and a torch-lit descent down the mountain after dinner.
Gran Bouc
A staple in the village, the Gran Bouc restaurant is one of Clavieres oldest establishments, stretching back to 1959. It is a traditional Italian restaurant and a recipient of a Michelin award in 2017. It serves fantastic culinary delights from an extensive menu, however, its bar also serves as an apres-ski attraction. It occasionally hosts live music nights and is a popular hangout spot for the few locals and holidaymakers.
La Scacchiera (The Chessboard)
A rustic, lounge bar full of character is located in the Passero Pellegrino hotel located in the heart of the resort. It has a large open fireplace and some of its furniture dates back to the early 1900s. It has a cosy interior with a whisky, oak room theme but is probably more well known for its wide range of fancy cocktails and spirits. It's the perfect place to enjoy a chilled evening drink after a day out on the slopes. Enjoy everything here from a calming aperitif to a delicious hot chocolate.
Claviere, despite its small size, has an adequate amount of facilities to cater to the needs of its holidaymakers over the winter season. It has a handful of shops, bars, a few restaurants and a local market every Friday. Check out our lowdown of facilities and activities available at Claviere.
Children and families are adequately catered for in Claviere. Read on for more information on activities and entertainment for the family.
