The wall of portraits at the entrance to the tourist office of La Clusaz throws in.
It tells about half a century of skiing through the titles of a gallery of world champions: Guy Périllat (giant), Edgar Grospiron (moguls), Régine Cavagnoud (Super G), Vincent Vittoz (cross-country skiing) or even Candide Thovex (freeski) to name just a handful ...
More than any other, this Haut-Savoyard village is to be considered as a whole to appreciate all its roughness.
Its geographical location makes it one of the first alpine resorts from Annecy (40 minutes), Lyon (2h) or Paris (5h).
Last episode testifying to the enthusiasm for the ski resort last season: the presence of thousands of holidaymakers in the midst of the Covid episode, reclaiming the ski area without ski lifts.
Because the Aravis resort has two vast plateaus - Les Confins and Beauregard - which are a delight for cross-country skiers, pedestrians and snowshoe enthusiasts.
Read alsoOur 2022 ranking of French ski resorts
That of Beauregard (
see our favorite slopes
) is located at altitude and offers easy skiing on its summit and sporty part on two black slopes that wind through the forest to the ice rink.
On the other side, a ski safari takes place towards the Manigod microstation then L'Étale, a remote and less frequented massif.
The latter is pleasant to ski at the end of the morning because it is sunny and has steep, wide and prepared slopes.
Exploring this side of the estate takes up a good deal of a day, including a lunch break on the beautiful terrace of Chez Fonfon, recommended for its panorama of the Tournette, its welcome and its
“good taste, good price”
cuisine .
Skiing from the peaks of La Balme, the highest point of the area (2477 m).
Bruno Mazodier / Le Figaro Magazine
You can spend a second day of skiing exploring the Aiguille massif and its three slopes: Combe des Juments, facing south, to ski early; bumpy wolf crest and renamed
Edgar's Wall
in honor of the Olympic mogul champion; combe de Fernuy, once off-piste and incredible to ski in fresh snow (
see our favorite pistes
). For lunch, the Relais de l'Aiguille wins all the votes in terms of panorama.
The ultimate massif and not the least since it shelters the top of the ski area (2,477m) is that of La Balme.
Praised by local legends Sébastien Michaud in freeride and Candide Thovex in freeski, La Balme is the sector that opens and closes the season.
The large part of ungroomed but secure slopes delight freeriders every day after a snowfall.
La Vraille in the Combe de Torchère is a long descent into paradise, hidden, steep and hilly, still trafled a few days after the fall by connoisseurs.
Exploring the 125 km of slopes fills three good days… To get bored of them, it takes more than a lifetime.
Read also Immersion in La Clusaz, this delicious village that has become a benchmark Alpine resort
The après-ski in La Clusaz does not have the bombast of the Haute Tarentaise resorts. Even if it is possible to start the evening at the Caves de Pacaly, at the Refuge or in the bars of the beautiful hotels (Coeur du village, St-Alban) and jiggle around at Bachal, the "bamboche" is not the local specialty. , nevertheless… night skiing every Tuesday is a good springboard for invigorating the week. It is perhaps on the catering side that the potential for progress is the most important: no stars but a bistronomy which takes the way to the Cinq (restaurant of the Heart of the Village) or even to the Ourson. But ultimately it does not matter, gourmets can console themselves at the Maison des Bois ** of Marc Veyrat in Manigod or at one of the great chefs installed around Lake Annecy: Jean Sulpice **,Yoann Conte ** or Laurent Petit ***.
Read alsoSkiing: ten family resorts to book this winter
The novelty of winter: a night trail
The Merle slope is now lit at nightfall.
SDP
Inventor of
full-moon
ski evenings , the Aravis resort continues its nocturnal development with the lighting of the Merle slope.
As soon as night falls, this wide blue slope becomes a visible picture of the entire resort where skiers and après-skiers meet in an atmosphere that is sometimes cozy, sometimes festive.
Three addresses participate in this highlighting: Chalet des Praz for its festive après-ski, the Vieux Chalet for its rotisserie and fine wines and the Bercail for its intimate atmosphere around the fireplace.
Our favorite tracks
Cross-country skiers, pedestrians and snowshoe enthusiasts enjoy two vast plateaus - les Confins and Beauregard.
Pierrick Aubert
There are two big freeride spots in La Clusaz, that of Balme, hilly and made famous by Candide Thovex in his sequence shots where he connects tricks on big natural bumps.
The other spot, less playful and more involved, is the combe de Fernuy.
Its orientation and topography make it the area's powder reservoir.
On a completely different note, the largely sunny Beauregard plateau is ideal for learning to ski.
It includes a non-alpine sector (cross-country skiing or hiking) and beautiful addresses such as the Matins clairs where donuts are deserved.
Where to sleep in La Clusaz?
Our selection of hotels
A superior double room at the Serraz.
Aurore Dujet-Montegut
The recent Hôtel Saint-Alban **** is the favorite address in the upper part of the village. Its unobstructed view of the Merle, its “art deco hideaway” style, its cocktail bar and its Nuxe spa make it a cohesive whole. From 130 € per night.
195 Route de la Piscine, 74220 La Clusaz; Phone. : 04 58 10 10 18.
For the tribes, renting a chalet has many advantages.
That of Serraz 4 **** and its constellation of ten rooms and mazots can accommodate 10 adults and 6 children.
Located on the road to the Col des Aravis, 50 m from the slopes, this heterogeneous group finds unity around Karine's table, where you can enjoy generous cuisine combining local products and flavors from the South.
From 390 € per night in a double room.
3862 Rte du Col des Aravis, 74220 La Clusaz;
phone: 04 50 02 48 29.
Read alsoHaute-Savoie: five charming and family hotels to book in resorts
Our good restaurants
The terrace of restaurant 1647 has a view of the Aravis range.
PG
The Beauregard plateau finally has its table perched with the 1647 which sits at the top like a star on a tree. The building is only vis-à-vis the Aravis chain and is accessible to pedestrians by the Beauregard cable car. The decor combines light wood and stone with large openings that let in light. The snack bar, restaurant and bar promote the farm-to-table concept, such as this fondue with Savoyard crémant (€ 30) or farmhouse pork breast with hazelnut butter (€ 22).
Plateau de Beauregard, 74220 La Clusaz; phone: 04 56 19 03 65.
In the heart of the resort, DELI'SCHUSS took off last winter with its delicious street food.
It is back this winter with a room to enjoy a wrap (€ 6.5), bowl (€ 9), pie (€ 3) for small appetites, and a menu (€ 14.50) for lunch or a live evening on Friday.
232 Rte des Grandes Alpes, 74220 La Clusaz;
Phone.
: 04 50 23 19 94.
Read alsoAlps: our top 10 of the best raclette restaurants in resorts
Have to do
Romain and Sarah take the curious behind the scenes of the making of the authentic Génépi liqueur.
C. Hudry
Sarah and Romain, brothers and sisters both children of distillers, bring the famous Aravis Distillery back to life and take the curious behind the scenes of the making of the authentic Génépi liqueur, made in the traditional artisanal tradition since 1876. Romain tells his story. do and lifts the veil on the bottling line while Sarah runs the shop.
Aravis distillery
, 106 chemin du pré de foire 74220 La Clusaz.
Phone.
: 06 26 64 85 28.
Ski passes and good deals
There are two packages:
La Clusaz-Manigod
(125 km of connected slopes) and
Aravis
: La Clusaz-Manigod + Grand-Bornand (210 km of connected slopes by shuttles.)
La Clusaz-Manigod: 125 km of slopes
● Adult day: € 43.50
● 6 days adult: € 217.50
Family pass: 5% reduction for the simultaneous purchase of at least 4 ski passes 6 days or more with at least one child pass under 18 years old.
Aravis: 210 km of slopes
● 2 adult days: 88 €
● 6 adult days: 245 €
Family pass: 8% online reduction (5% at the cash desk) for the simultaneous purchase of 4 ski passes 6 days or more at the full price (including a minimum of a skier under 18)
Good plan
Day passes are priced with a dynamic system that varies according to demand and the period.
Come to La Clusaz
From Paris: direct TGV to Annecy (from 45 €) and Alpbus shuttle (8 €).
From Lyon: direct TER (from € 27.20) and Alpbus shuttle (€ 8).
From Geneva: AEROSKI shuttles (€ 37).
MORE INFORMATION
La Clusaz tourist office: laclusaz.com.
