5 good reasons to come skiing in Flaine
A large ski area
One of the very good reasons to go to Flaine is its ski area: the Grand Massif. Linking the resorts of Flaine - Les Carroz - Morillon - Samoëns - Sixt, it is the 5th largest ski area linked "skis to your feet" in France! Indeed, from the slopes of Flaine, you can reach the neighbouring resorts quite easily thanks to numerous ski lifts. Imagined by the mythical French ski champion Émile Allais, the slopes of Flaine are thus part of the Grand Massif.
On a day - for example - you can ski to the village of Morillon (700 metres), reach the top of Flaine (2480 metres) and then cross the famous Cascades piste! To be more precise, the Grand Massif is 148 ski slopes including 20 green runs, 64 blue runs, 50 red runs and 17 black runs. Really impossible to get bored!
In Flaine more precisely, the slopes are located at an altitude of between 1,600 and 2,500 metres with a ski area that covers 140 kilometres of slopes. Whether you are a beginner or an expert - don't worry - the area offers every possible shade of playground: from black to green. What's more, the connections are really easy, you can't get lost!
For the experts, you should know that the resort has excellent snow cover throughout the season. It is one of the best snow cover in the Northern Alps and in France. For the most stressed people, more than 100 snow cannons come to complete the snow coverage on the fragile parts of the resort. Finally, you should know that the snow at the end of the day is generally of good quality as 80% of the slopes are north-facing.
A ski resort at your feet and at 360°
We're not going to lie to ourselves, having to carry our skis at the end of the day over 500 metres is not easy, especially when the thighs have been warming up all day. Well, you should know that in Flaine, most of the apartments and hotels are located at the foot of the slopes! It's quite convenient especially if you are with your family with your children.
Icing on the cake, the centre of Flaine is reserved for pedestrians, no cars on the horizon: it's absolute calm.
As for the panorama, I can only recommend that you go to the summit of Les Grandes Platières with its breathtaking view of Mont Blanc, the Avaris massif, Belledone and the Jura. At the summit, take the blue Serpentine piste for a breathtaking panorama or the red Faust piste for the more experienced. Non-skiers can take the gondola to the summit. At the end of the season - when the slopes close late - stay until sunset to enjoy the sunset.
A classified station
At the antipodes of the chalet style found in most French ski resorts, Flaine stands out for its Bauhaus architecture. Born from the will of a French couple - Eric & Sylvie Boissonnas - Flaine was built by the American Marcel Breuer at the height of the "Trente Glorieuses".
World-famous for his achievements, including the Palais de l'Unesco in Paris and the Whitney Museum in New York, Marcel Breuer creates seven thousand beds in extenso at the foot of the slopes, in the form of apartments and hotels.
Divided into 2 areas, Flaine Forum and Flaine Forêt, the 2 places are well connected by two funiculars. Listed station, the historic Flaine has received the label "20th century heritage". Also an open-air museum, you will find within the station, the "Boqueteau des 7 arbres" by Dubuffet, the "Trois Hexagones" by Vasarely and the "Tête de Femme" by Picasso.
The station is also very committed to the environment and was the first French station to be awarded the Green Globe label.
Quality hotels and restaurants
For a stay in the mountains skiing at your feet, I recommend you to stay at the Totem - one of the most beautiful hotels in Flaine - which was inaugurated at the beginning of 1969.
Warm hotel where it is good to live, its design respects that of the resort where concrete reigns supreme. Completely restored, the Totem is really hot with a huge restaurant-lounge in a minimalist style. The style is cozy and very vintage, with street art in the common areas, old arcade game terminals and many neon lights.
The view from the rooms is also sumptuous and opens onto the slopes and summits.
On the 1st floor, you can go and relax at the Pure Altitude Spa with its 2 saunas, its outdoor terrace equipped with a Jacuzzi with a view, while on the ground floor, the hotel has a ski shop where you can rent or buy equipment.
On the restaurant side, the breakfast is delicious and the evening buffet is really neat.
And as everything has been well thought out, you have the possibility to reach the Grandes Platières gondola lift skiing at your feet.
There is no shortage of good restaurants in the station. At the foot of the slopes, you can go to Le Michet, an authentic old sheepfold over 100 years old where you can enjoy refined and inventive cuisine. On the resort, head to the 1967 to enjoy a good mulled wine, a cocktail, a local beer or a good hot dish.
And thrills
And for those who would like to vary the pleasures, you should know that Flaine has one of the largest ice circuits in France. Located at an altitude of 1600 meters, the sun shines by its absence, which ensures the circuit a good quality of ice. 1500 meters long and 15 meters wide, the driving school offers several formulas such as the baptism at the technical course.
From turning on snow to icy roads, you can learn how to best master winter driving in a Subaru or Renault.
Amongst famous current drivers, Fernando Alonso came here to perfect his knowledge of the sport, while Romain Grosjean experienced his first sensations at the wheel of a car!
Article realized in collaboration with the Tourist Office of Flaine
