Vars-Risoul La Forêt Blanche
Vars and Risoul share the joint ski area of La Forêt Blanche, a vast forest of larch up to 2200 m in altitude with 185 kilometres of marked slopes. It is one of the largest and most beautiful ski resorts in the Southern Alps.
Vars is well-known worldwide for its legendary Chabrières speed skiing slope, which is the fastest in the world (the record being 252.630 km/h with a maximum incline of 98%). The Vars Park is one of the most remarkable snow parks in Europe with seven zones and two boarder cross runs. Vars also has 4 villages: Saint-Marcellin, Sainte Marie, Sainte Catherine and les Claux, which is at the heart of the resort.
Risoul, as the saying goes, is one of the cosiest of the large resorts. The white slopes aside, Risoul is a gentle, friendly place with slate roofs, wooden cladding and mountain stone in keeping with the Tourist Information Office or the Espace Rencontre 1850 (Meeting area), which are two of the main facilities of the resort.
The Labellemontagne group recently took over exploitation of the resort and is focussing on major sports events. Following the Tour de France in 2014, the Giro will be present in the spring of 2016.
Altitude : 1 650 / 2 750 m
Number of kilometres of downhill skiing slopes: 185 km
Opening 14th December.