The French skiing regions rank amongst the largest, highest and most spacious worldwide. The first to mention is the skiing area Trois Vallées with over 600 kilometres of piste and 200 ski-lifts. It consists of the complete connection of the three valleys von Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens/Les Menuires. With its 2.300 metres Val Thorens is the ski resort with the highest location in Europe.
Further combined skiing regions are La Plagne and Les Arcs (420 km of slope, 169 Lifts) as well as Tignes and Val dIsère (350 km of slope, 97 Lifts). The largest glacier ski-regions are to be found in Tignes (2.100-3.350 m) and Les 2 Alpes (1.300-3.560m).
Additionally France is home of the highest mountain in the Alps. The Mont Blanc (4.792 m). At the foot of the mountain lies one of the winter sport hot spots Chamonix, the first scene of Winter Olympics in 1924.
From here the second highest cable car of Europe goes up to the Aiguille du Midi (3842 m),
This is the starting point for one of the longest and most spectacular deep snow ski runs in the world, the glacier run (20 km) through the Vallée Blanche down to Chamonix.
Other winter Olympics took place 1968 in Grenoble (Alpine contests in Cahmrousse) and 1992 in Albertville (Contests amongst others in Tignes).
[previous article]
France reached its position in Europe and in the whole world
mainly through its individual culture which is reflected especially in the language.
French actually organise the protection of their language in media politics
by instructing quotas for music and movies.
In the European Union, the UNESCO and the WTO
France is fighting for its definition of cultural diversity („diversité culturelle“):
”Culture is not a good that can be traded without barriers”.
The care and preservation of the material cultural heritage is a national matter.
This understanding is being supported in the public with governmental measures,
which help form a nation wide cultural awareness.
In a cultural calendar certain days have been marked to celebrate things
like the national heritage, music or cinema, which are very popular in the population.
Noble cultural events reflect the self-conception of France as a cultural nation
with Paris as its cultural capital.
After spending a gorgeous day in one of France’s skiing regions,
which have already hosted three winter Olympics
(Chamonix 1924, Grenoble 1968 and Albertville 1992),
you can let the day unwind enjoying the traditional French cuisine and a glass of red wine.