Wintercamping in France

Sun, snow and a different piste every day: France is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts and offers many campsites in the French Alps. Those who enjoy cross-country skiing, snowboarding or freestyle skiing in the mountains during the day will look forward to the cosy and comfortable rooms in their own mobile home in the evening. The beautiful peaks in the midst of magnificent landscapes make for an eventful holiday in the French countryside.

Ski holidays in France are multifaceted: from old farming villages to modern chalet settlements and large ski resorts. Those looking for gigantic piste areas right up to the glacier zone will find what they are looking for in Savoie, in the Isère department and in the sunny Maritime Alps.

Winter camping in the Maritime Alps & Isère

Le Grand Bornand, an established settlement with old farmhouses and mountain pastures, is located in the Massif des Aravis, just an hour from Geneva. The 90 kilometres of pistes around the central summit of the Lachat (2100 m) offer plenty of opportunities: wide practice pistes and carving routes, snow park, freeride area. Cross-country skiers are drawn to the routes of the Biathlon World Cup in the Vallée du Boûchet. La Fôret Blanche, the white forest, lies deep in the south of the Maritime Alps. The ski area around Vars and Risoul, for example, attracts skiers with pistes lined with larch forests and an above-average number of sunny days. Thanks to the altitude, however, the snow quality remains unaffected.

Winter camping in the Savoie

Since the areas of La Plagne and Les Arcs were linked by the Vanoise Express in 2004, Paradiski has become one of the largest and most varied interconnected ski areas in the world, with extra-wide slopes and accommodation right next to the pistes.

Winter camping Mont Blanc & Lake Geneva

Not only the view of Mont Blanc is impressive at the Portes Du Soleil, but also the range of pistes in the French-Swiss ski area south of Lake Geneva. The ski area is one of the largest in the world and promises the ultimate in skiing pleasure, with unforgettable skiing experiences against the unique backdrop of Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc. The challenging descents are among the absolute highlights in the Alps. Despite all the urban hustle and bustle, you can still feel the charm of the mountaineering village in Chamonix.

Destinations

From the east to the south-east to the beginnings of the azure Cote d'Azur with its Mediterranean charm, holidaymakers can also enjoy camping in France during the colder months of the year. Inviting for hikers and relaxed walkers, the landscapes of the Grand Est fascinate with their snow-covered forests and wide meadows along the tranquil course of the river. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with the French Alps as part of the largest mountain range in Central Europe, in turn offers the best ski resorts in the country. From the central massif of the Auvergne mountains, mountains of over 1,000 metres slowly stretch across the landscape before culminating in the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, at an impressive 4,809 metres. It is not only the world-famous ski resorts near Chamonix, Albertville and Annecy that challenge skiers and snowboarders on the kilometres of slopes.

If you want to enjoy more than just the beautiful views, this winter campsite in France is the place to go: Camping Municipal Val dAmbin offers peace and relaxation on partly terraced meadows. Open all year round, the campsite in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region close to the Italian border has a ski lift, cross-country ski trails and a shuttle bus service for sporty guests. Those who also appreciate the warmth of the sun-drenched Cote dAzur region in winter will find what they are looking for at Yelloh! Village L'Étoile des Neiges campsite is the ideal pitch for the whole family. The nearest ski centre, Saint-Jean, is not far away. If it gets too cold outside, you can warm up in the sauna, indoor pool or whirlpool.

Activities and excursions

In addition to skiing and tobogganing, winter camping in France offers plenty of variety with easy hikes or city tours.

Espace Killy

The Espace Killy ski region is located in the Tarentaise Valley near Savoie in the French Alps. The extensive sports area, which spans the Val d'Isere, Tignes and Val-Claret valleys, is named after the professional skier Jean-Claude Killy. 2,300 kilometres of slopes - including 25 black runs - and 44 kilometres of cross-country terrain make it one of the most popular ski paradises for experienced alpinists.

Hiking in the Vosges

A hiking trip in the east of France to the low mountain range between Lorraine and Alsace, the Vosges, is wonderfully unspoilt for nature lovers. The Little Vosges mountain range in the Parc Régional des Vosges du Nord looks like a wild landscape of ruins, especially in winter, thanks to the vertical cliffs of reddish sandstone and the steep slopes. Paths lead through snow-covered, extensive mixed forests and long valleys no higher than the Grand Wintersberg at an altitude of 580 metres. The Vosges-Belche Nature Park between Lorraine and Upper Alsace is particularly striking with its high pastures and round hilltops known as ballons. Visitors can discover three of these ballons up to an altitude of 1,424 metres on many hiking routes.

Lyon

In the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon is one of Europe's most interesting cultural metropolises. Idyllically situated between the Rhône Rhone and Saône on the Fourvière and Croix Rousse hills, the old city centre fascinates with its historic Renaissance buildings, large squares and picturesque courtyards. If you stroll through the snow-covered alleyways to the magnificent sights at night in winter, you will see the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière and numerous other buildings brightly lit up.

Events

Even in winter, France offers events centred around music, sport and art.

December

• Fête des Lumières: The festival promises even more sparkle and lights for the cultural city of Lyon in December, when concerts and street theatre provide entertainment in a wintry atmosphere.

March

• Rock the Pistes: With more than 50 concerts, the music festival in the Portes du Soleil ski resort on the border between France and Switzerland brings entertainment to the mountain. With five events a day and exuberant après-ski, entertainment is guaranteed for a fortnight.
• Tomorrowland Winter Festival in Alpe d'Huez: Skiing and loud beat sounds go hand in hand at this beautifully decorated winter wonderland. With outlandish costumes and fireworks, the festival, which originated in Belgium, is now also a hit in France.