Located in the heart of perhaps the world's most densely ski resort populated area, the Haute-Tarentaise, La Rosiere sits on a sunny, south facing balcony at a snowsure 1850m above sea level. Purpose-built in the traditional Savoyard style, resort and ski slopes offer spectacular views to Les Arcs and St Foy, with Val d'Isere, Tignes and La Plagne all a short distance away (and included in an area lift ticket).
The resort is one of only two in France with a ski-lift connection over the border to Italy. It shares the Espace San Bernardo with the Aosta Valley resort of La Thuile, together the two areas offer 150km (nearly 100 miles) of linked piste. The original village has now been joined by a new development, five minutes away, called Les Eucherts. A free shuttle bus links this to the original village.
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Skiing for Beginners+
There are three lifts operating free of charge for beginners so there's no need to buy a lift ticket for the first day or two as you learn to turn. There are excellent beginner runs right next to the resort and, thanks to its altitude and the backup of more than 300 snow guns, it's a relatively snowsure location to learn. You can rapidly progress on to the long easy green and blues that descend the mountain and are served by easy to use chairlifts.
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Intermediate Skiing+
Intermediates will enjoy La Rosiere's skiing the most with the exciting option of skiing across to La Thuile in Italy. Although the ski runs can be managed by early intermediates it is quite a long haul along a lengthy plateau that separates the two valleys and it can occasionally be closed by strong winds or avalanche danger. There are more than 50 easy and intermediate standard runs across the area both above and below the treeline.
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Advanced+
Advanced skiers have 13 black runs to choose from and the option to head off piste with a guide. Heliskiing is heavily promoted at La Rosiere, as it is a banned activity in France, but the resorts proximity to Italy makes it possible to make quick trips over the border to access some spectacular descents in the Aosta Valley.
Popular runs include the 1100m vertical down from 3066m high Miravidi or 3099m high Mont Ouille, or a huge 2100m vertical descent from the Ruitor peak at 3486m.
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Snowboarding at La Rosiere+
La Rosiere is popular with boarders and has three areas especially tailored to them. There is a boardercross run on du Fort which is very popular, as is the terrain park la Polette which is 300m long and descends 50m. It includes nine tables, a hip, two rails and a funbox.
Finally Le spot des Zittieux is an unpatrolled area especially for freeriding fun on naturally gnarly terrain.
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Other Activities And Facilities at La Rosiere+
The resort opened a new complex in December 2007 in Les Eucherts which, along with additional shops, features an indoor ice rink and bowling alley. Other facilities in resort include a cinema with two screens, spa and beauty centre, sauna, hammam and Jacuzzi.
On the snow you can try tobogganing or a guided snowshoe hike and there are 10km of prepared winter hiking trails. Dog sledding is also available and you could take a tandem paragliding descent. Snow kiting is another option, where you are towed around a mainly horizontal circuit by a large kite.
The resort has several dozen shops, a post office, laundrette, a cash till, chemist and medical centre.
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Apres Ski And Dining Out+
La Rosiere has two dozen restaurants and bars including the popular Chez le Gaulois wine bar and a pub. Whilst it is rarely busy in the evenings, many of the bars have a healthy buzz. The resort's entertainments team also organise events most nights in peak season including torchlit descents, concerts and gourmet food events. The regular Rosierescope leaflet advises on what's available at any one time.
Dining options range from a pizza or kebabs delivery service Au Ptit Creux through Creperie le Petrin to Savoyard specialists such as Le Genepi and LAncolie. Las Flam offers Alsacien specials and Le Petit Danois has live music, a pool table and serves both pizza and Scandinavian specialties.
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Ski Holidays in La Rosiere suitable for Families+
Children aged from 18 months to 12 years can attend the Club des Galopins nursery which is open daily except for the usual change-over-day Saturday. This offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor play, with English speaking carers, and can be combined with ski school lessons for older children. It may be possible to arrange pick-up and drop-off from/to your accommodation.
The ski schools offer special ski classes for children aged three or four and then regular lessons through the French national ski ability grading system for older children. There is also a special ski run for children to enjoy.