This French Alpine resort at 1,850 meters has a 17th-century church, frozen waterfall climbing spots, and ski runs including the World Cup's Face de Bellevarde slope.
Val-d'Isère sits at 1,850 meters in southeastern France's Tarentaise Valley, 5 kilometers from the Italian border. In the medieval village center, you'll find the 17th-century Saint-Bernard de Menthon church surrounded by traditional stone houses. You can ski down the Face de Bellevarde where World Cup champions compete each winter, climb frozen waterfalls near Le Fornet, or hike alongside golden eagles and chamois in Vanoise National Park.
Getting to Val-d'Isère
You can reach Val-d'Isère from three airports: Chambéry (144 kilometers, 2.5 hours by car), Geneva (187 kilometers, 3.5 hours), and Lyon. A free shuttle bus runs between Val-d'Isère's main areas and La Daille every 5-10 minutes during peak hours, extending to Le Fornet during ski season.
Skiing Areas and Snow Conditions
Three main sectors make up the ski area: Le Fornet reaches 3,488 meters with its glacier skiing, Solaise has wide intermediate runs perfect for improving your technique, and Bellevarde challenges skiers with the Olympic downhill course. The combination of Atlantic and Mediterranean weather systems brings consistent snowfall through early May. 900 snow cannons cover 40% of the slopes, ensuring good conditions throughout the season.
Village Areas
The main village centers around Saint-Bernard de Menthon church, with stone and wooden buildings dating from the 1600s and 1700s. Five smaller hamlets branch out from here: Le Cret, Le Joseray, Le Chatelard, La Legettaz, and Le Laisinant. In the eastern section, you'll find modern slope-side apartments, while the western area maintains traditional Alpine design with steep-pitched roofs and wooden balconies.
Year-Round Activities
At the Sports Centre, you can swim in the 25-meter pool, scale the 13-meter climbing wall, play squash, or work out in the gym. Winter activities include ice climbing on frozen waterfalls, ice diving in Lake Ouillette, and dog sledding through forest trails. In summer, you can explore 25 marked hiking paths through the valley and Vanoise National Park, or mountain bike down the Face de Bellevarde slope.
Annual Events
Watch World Cup alpine races on the Face de Bellevarde each December. In April, young athletes from 20 countries compete in the La Scara international youth skiing competition. The High Trail Vanoise running races in July include a challenging 70-kilometer route through the national park. February brings the GEM Altigliss Challenge, where 1,000 students from France's top schools compete in winter sports.
