Yann ALLEGRE

Its long history dates back to the 11th century. Although people were already skiing here in 1934, the small village at the head of the Isère Valley only achieved international recognition around 30 years later. Today, Val d'Isère is an icon in the French Alps. It sits majestically at a height of 1,850 meters, framed by two mountains, La Solaise and Bellevarde, which provide over 300 kilometers of ski slopes of varying degrees of difficulty.

Mathieu Salvaing

This, along with the guarantee of snow between November and May, attracts winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Val d'Isère together with the neighboring resort of Tignes forms a combined ski resort area with an abundance of recreational options to suit every taste. You can even enjoy summer skiing on the slopes of a nearby glacier. The winter sports paradise in the French Alps has a well-earned reputation as one of the best deep-snow areas in the world. And if nature doesn't provide snow when it's needed, Europe's biggest snowmaking system helps out; it can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in less than 30 minutes.

Tranquility and Adrenaline

© Romain Ricard

Skiers and snowboarders are not the only ones to have discovered this charming village. Away from the slopes, you can experience the quieter side of winter – on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, cross-country skiing tour, or perhaps while hiking with snowshoes. If you prefer to go a little faster, hop on a snowmobile, feel the wind on your face as you enjoy a dogsled ride, or experience the adrenaline rush of skydiving.

The village itself forms an exciting contrast to this. The original charm of a mountain village has been largely preserved here. At first glance. Many of the wooden and stone façades conceal luxurious hotels, chalets and some of the best gourmet restaurants in the mountains. The ambience in the Val d'Isère ski resort is correspondingly cosmopolitan and "young". In winter, when the 1,700 locals are joined by guests from the more than 5,200 accommodation establishments, there are also numerous VIPs. Margot Robbie, Hugh Grant, Ed Sheeran and Jamie Oliver have already been spotted on the slopes and sun terraces of Val d'Isère.

© Romain Ricard

The a pres-ski is delightful, of course - but so is every cafe and restaurant. After all, you're in a country famous for its cuisine and a village whose beating heart and communal hub is actually a patisserie – the "Maison Chevallot". Since 1965, the Chevallot family have been crafting delicious pastries, crusty bread, pralines and cakes that are now appreciated far beyond the valley.

Lucile Godet

Other businesses also enjoy a worldwide reputation. Rumor has it that many people visit Val d'Isere because of the excellent food at " Gigi . Indeed, the winter version of the restaurants in Saint-Tropez and Paris attracts at least as many gourmets to the Savoy Alps as Nobu Matsuhisa and his Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine or chef Benoît Dargere and his signature dishes. 

Read more: You shouldn't miss these restaurants in Val d'Isère