Aurélien Antoine

Return of the Grands Montets in Chamonix, the first driverless gondola in the Southern French Alps at Montgenèvre, second-hand chairlifts in the Maurienne, the Chablais and the Grand Massif: winter 2026-2027 marks a new stage in the modernisation of ski areas in the French Alps. On the accommodation side, the offer is being renewed mainly…

Skiing in December means treating yourself to the very first turns of the winter, often on fresh snow and in a magical atmosphere. This month is synonymous with festive magic, with Christmas just around the corner and the excitement of the first piste openings. Some resorts even open as early as late November! But heading…

The Alps are criss-crossed by practical train lines that serve the valleys, and others, more scenic in nature, that open onto dreamlike landscapes and sites. While every local TER line offers grand panoramas, this article explores the most spectacular tourist routes — the ones that climb the mountainsides to deliver a truly unique travel experience,…

Convenient, fast and less polluting, the train invites you to relax and reach many French ski resorts without the hassle of driving in the mountains. Every year, more and more travellers choose this option for their winter holidays. With a well-developed rail network across France and direct high-speed TGV connections (via SNCF or Trenitalia), plenty…

Mont Blanc, the emblematic peak of the Alps, is a real visual landmark that many mountain lovers hope to catch a glimpse of. Majestic and covered in perpetual snow, it rises to 4,809 metres and can be admired from several spots across the Alps, and even beyond. You can see its eternal snows from certain…

Mont Blanc means 4,805 metres and glaciers as far as the eye can see, but you still need to find the right angle to take it all in. Certain villages in the Alps offer exceptional panoramas over the massif and its perpetual snows: whether at dawn from a hamlet terrace or partway through a hike,…

The highest mountain range in Western Europe, the Alps reach their highest point at the summit of Mont Blanc, at 4,805 metres. From Austria to Switzerland, taking in Italy and France, 82 dizzying peaks rise above the massif at over 4,000 metres. Among them are the 10 highest peaks in the Alps listed below, as…

Nature or culture? Contemplative or hyperactive? Chambéry sits at the gateway to the Alps, less than two hours from the great cities of the Rhône-Alpes corridor — and in some sense on permanent holiday. Between two lakes, a short step from Italy, and with ski resorts within easy reach, there is always something to do.…

The French Alps are more than a mountain landscape — they are one of the last great refuges of European biodiversity, shaped over millennia and increasingly protected against the pressures of mass tourism and climate change. Since the 1960s, France has built a multi-layered system of environmental protection across the Alpine massif: three national parks,…

Summer ends, the days shorten and the mountains turn golden. It is a magnificent season of transition — but also the moment when the great Alpine road passes begin to close for the winter, one by one, as snow returns to altitude. For cyclists, motorcyclists, road trippers and anyone planning a late-season mountain journey, knowing…

In the French Alps, most mountain passes close in winter — buried under snow and exposed to avalanche risk, they are expensive to clear and serve little strategic purpose out of season. Only a handful remain open year-round: the col de Larche, col de Vars, col du Lautaret and col de Montgenèvre. From mid-April to…

Italy feels close from the French Alps — separated only by a handful of summits above 3,000 m. Crossing is straightforward enough, but the mountain dictates the terms: tunnels are expensive, passes are seasonal, and the train options are fewer than you might expect. Whether you want the fastest motorised crossing, a scenic road alternative,…

Not a skier? You are in excellent company — and the French Alps in winter have far more to offer than the slopes. An increasing number of resorts have transformed themselves into genuine destinations for non-skiers: thermal spas, glacier cable cars, snowshoe trails, dog sledding, ice climbing, Michelin-starred restaurants and some of the most beautiful…

In most ski resorts, the car is king — useful for unloading luggage at your apartment, unavoidable for getting around. But a number of French ski resorts, mostly built in the 1960s and 70s, made a different choice: they kept the centre for pedestrians and skiers, and pushed cars to the periphery. The result is…

Saint-Véran is widely known as the highest village in France. The reality, however, is more nuanced. Several ski resorts — inhabited year-round and technically constituting communes — sit at higher altitudes, displacing Saint-Véran to second or even third place depending on the criteria used. If you are looking for charm and authenticity, Saint-Véran remains the…

Driving to the French Alps from the UK is one of the great European road trips — and for many families travelling with skis, bikes or a full boot of luggage, it remains the most practical option. The journey involves two stages: crossing the Channel, then driving south through France to the Alps. Here is…