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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1860m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[3]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[3]

A resort in renaisance, Montgenevre grew up along the border road from Italy, and unlike many French ski resorts, has a history that pre-dates skiing. But, unlike many old towns that have become ski resorts, Montgenevre is very high, and thus one of the more snowsure resorts in the Alps – as high or higher than many purpose-built centres. Normally this enables it to open weekends from the start of November, and then daily from the beginning to December through to the end of April each winter.

Montgenevre’s location on the Italian border makes it one of only two French resorts from which you can ski in to Italy (the other is La Rosiere, lift-linked to La Thuile). From Montgenevre however you can go much further, and visit many of the venue resorts for the 2006 Winter Olympics. The Milky Way ski area that they all share is one of the world’s largest with more than 400km (250 miles) of piste made up of six lift-linked ski areas.

Montgenevre’s renaisance is thanks to a huge investment in infrastructure improvements which has taken the cross-border road out of the now largely pedestrianised village centre, making it much more relaxed and skier-friendly. The continuing improvements have coincided with centenary celebrations in 2007 when the resort , one of the longest established in France, looked back on 100 years of ski history.

Beginners

The nursery slopes are located right next to the resort in the village’s winter hub, the ‘snow front.’ Thanks to the altitude, and an increasing investment in an expanding snowmaking system, this area usually holds its snow all winter long. By the end of your second or third day you should be able to ski down the excellent 2.5km long Les Gondrans green (very easy) accessed by the Chalmettes gondola.

Intermediates

In the early days of the Milky Way ski area 20 years ago it was a full day, part coach-assisted, to ski from one end to the other. There is still a feeling of adventure as you ski over the border in to Italy and on and on over the miles of piste from one resort to the next. However investment in high speed lifts as well as on bridges over and tunnels under roads means the whole experience today is smoother and faster. You may start the day on the southern slopes of Le Chalvet and then head over to the Mont de la Lune sector where there are new detachable chairs at Sagna Longa, Bercia and Gimont. It’s up to you how far you venture out along the Milky Way, past Claviere, Cesana, Sansicario and ultimately Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx, but on the return trip the new Tremplin chair offers a fast link back from Claviere.

Advanced

As you would expect with one of the world’s biggest ski areas, the simple law of averages means there’s going to be lots to entertain more advanced skiers. To offer some specifics, the Rocher Rouge off piste area, for example, is always popular after the powder has fallen, and the tree skiing of les Monts de la Lune is another draw. Descents of up to 1500m are possible from La Chalvet to the Claree Valley and the locals claim the powder falls in greater abundance and lasts longer here thanks to the local micro-climate.

The ski school offers ski treks and ski mountaineering. Popular descents accessed by an uphill hike include descents of Mont Janus which pitches at up to 45 degrees or ‘Les Enfers’ (Hell’s Run) from Le Chalvet to Les Alberts.

Snowboarding

Montgenevre has a new terrain park and is also home to both a permanent half pipe (built in to the ground so less snow is required to open and maintain it at the start and end of the season) and a boarder cross course in the Gondrans sector. Godrans is in fact the main freeride area of the resort with ungroomed slopes providing a powder rush in saftey. Novice boarders can learn their tricks in the Discovery snowpark in the Le Chalvet sector.

Other Activities and Facilities

Montgenevre regarded 2007 as the start of its ‘new century’ after 100 years of skiing, and the resort unveiled a lot of changes in that year. With the main road that ran through the village now by-passing it, the ‘snow front’ – where the resort meets the ski slopes – no longer has traffic running through it. A new ‘Maison du Village’ opened containing cinema and children’s clubs, whilst some of the few dozen buildings surviving from the nineteenth century have been renovated.

Outdoor choices include 15km of snowshoe trails, ice skating, ice climbing, airboarding (inflatable high-speed sledges) and cross-country skiing in to Italy.

Unusual options include the chance to tour the snowmaking machinery and go out and experience piste preparation on a trail grooming tractor. There’s also the chance to try The Whoopy, a self-inflating ‘wing’ that weighs only 10kg and allows you to half ski, half-fly down the slopes with it strapped to your back.

Après Ski and Dining Out

There are more than 20 bars and restaurants in Montgenevre and the recent structural changes to the resort have added a new vitality to many of these. The Italian influence is strong with pizzerias rubbing shoulders with creperies. Le Capitane is a particularly popular venue with Sicilian owners famous for both their seafood dishes and a range of more than 40 different pizzas.

Families

Facilities for children have improved dramatically over the past few years with a new children’s club, Les Sourires, opening in the Maison du Village and the Piou Piou Club on the upper floors of the huge stone, glass and wood Espace Partenaire. Les Sourires accepts children aged six months to six years and can combine non-ski fun here with a half day with the ski school in the snow garden. Open daily from 9am to 5pm it also operates an evening session each week so that parents can have a night out. Besides organised childcare a free conveyor lift takes the effort out of getting uphill with sledges to enjoy the toboggan run opposite the tourist office. This has two sections, one for young children aged up to six and one for faster, older users.

Piste Map for Montgenevre

Accommodation in Montgenevre

• Chalet Etoile des Neiges - 4 star, catered
• Chalet La Petite Clautre - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Le Genepy - 3 star, catered
• Chalet L\'ourson - 2 star, half board
• Chalet Vannoir - 4 star, half board
• Clubhotel Les Rois Mages - 2 star, half board
• Etoile des Neiges - 4 star, catered
• Ham D`airelles - 4 star, self catering
• Le Hameau Airelles - 0 star, self catering
• Le Hameau des Airelles - 4 star, self catering
• Vannoir - 4 star, self catering

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