Megève, France
A rustic, traditional alpine village at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Megève is the essence of rustic chic. It has a medieval heart, but it was, in a way, the original purpose-built French ski resort – conceived in the 1920s as a French alternative to Switzerland’s St. Moritz. And although Courchevel took over as France’s most fashionable winter sports resort ages ago, Megève’s sumptuous hotels and chalets still attract plenty of ‘beautiful people’ with fur coats and fat wallets. Happily, you don’t need either to enjoy it.

The Megève ski area boasts 300 kilometers of marked trails, served by 81 integrated lifts, (and no t-bars) offering extensive terrain for skiers of all levels. Since opening in 1913, the resort has played its part in the development of the sport of skiing and regularly hosts World Cup races. Two snow parks and a half-pipe are available for snowboarding.

The resort is served by a modern, high-speed lift system that ensures a quick ride to the top. With an average of 200cm of snow falling every year, the trails are well covered. On the occasion when Mother Nature doesn’t provide enough snow, there are more than 175 snow cannons to make extra.