Tignes
The snow-sure glacier resort of Tignes in the magnificent Savoie Alps is widely recognised as one of Europe’s, if not one of the world’s most comprehensive ski destinations. With only a half-hour ski or 15-minute drive to the neighbouring world famous resort of Val d’Isère, a holiday here really gives you two resorts in one.
A serious skiers resort
Tignes is actually made up of 5 villages; Val Claret, Tignes le Lac, Le Lavachet, Tignes Les Boisses and Tignes-les-Brévières. The first three are close together at 2100 m and Les Boisses and Les Brevieres are further down the valley, above and below the dam respectively. Les Brévières is an old village whereas all the others were created as part of the Dam construction or development of the ski resort.
Tignes has a reputation for being the ‘sportiest resort in France’ partly due to the range of activities on offer here both summer and winter but also because the resort regularly hosts major sporting events such as the X Games and is the venue for international level training camps – the French football team have trained here since 1997.
It is widely accepted that Tignes offers more diverse slopes than its chic neighbour and lies 200m higher, at an altitude of 2,100m. The majority of experienced skiers who stay in Val d’Isere often find themselves drawn towards the varied terrain and truly outstanding off-piste on offer in Tignes. Together the two resorts make up the Espace Killy ski area, named after Jean-Claude Killy the icon of French skiing and the lift pass cover both resorts.
The Espace Killy is one of France’s largest ski area, and is certainly one of the most snow sure resorts in the Alps, meaning the resort and modern lift system open in late November until early May making it the perfect choice for an early ski break. Although perhaps lacking in traditional Alpine charm, there is a beauty in the stark mountains where pistes are mostly above the tree level.
Whatever your level of skiing, you will have a ball in Tignes as there are slopes to please everyone, miles and miles of piste and off-piste runs and a snow record that is envied the world over – what a great choice for your holiday.
