Summer is about to end and for some, it's already time to think about the upcoming winter holidays. As we keep saying, booking in advance is the best way to secure a place in an accommodation, but also to take advantage of interesting rates. France and its mountain ranges are eager to welcome their first holidaymakers who have come to enjoy the pleasures of mountain walks and winter sports. In the Alps, Auvergne, Jura or Vosges, many comfortable establishments are waiting for families to enjoy their dream location and their facilities. What's more, with Azureva, it is possible to stay in a holiday village or residence on a full or half board basis, to book your equipment in advance, to take advantage of holiday clubs for children, to enjoy a multitude of leisure activities at preferential rates and to plan a stay under the sign of thalassotherapy and well-being. It's up to everyone to choose from a generous offer, and to wait patiently for winter to set in to offer themselves another well-deserved break. Here are 10 destinations to visit during your upcoming winter holidays.
1- Arêches-Beaufort, Savoie
Arêches-Beaufort is a typical Savoyard village located at an altitude of 1080 m in the heart of the preserved Beaufortain massif. In a residence with a sauna and good local food, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and downhill skiing thanks to the proximity of the slopes and the generous snow cover. Some of the slopes, but also the beautiful Lake Roselend, offer the sensational Mont Blanc as a backdrop. And because a stay in Arêches-Beaufort in Savoie is an opportunity to immerse yourself in local know-how and traditions, a visit to the Beaufort dairy cooperative and a visit to the ecomuseum in Hauteluce should be added to the programme
2- Murol, Puy-de-Dôme
What if the next winter holidays were an opportunity to travel back in time and enjoy an immersion in the medieval era? This is the experience offered at the theme village of Murol, which is located at an altitude of 830 m in the heart of the prestigious Sancy massif. Because yes, for some, skiing is more enjoyable when it takes place on the harmonious slopes of the Auvergne volcanoes, a unique experience! While the children spend time around the activities proposed by the club's animators, the parents can quietly go to the slopes of Super-Besse to improve their skills in downhill skiing or other new sports. Or they may prefer to go to a spa to enjoy the benefits of the thermal waters and recharge their batteries.
3- La Mongie, Hautes-Pyrénées
What could be better than the largest ski area in the Pyrenees, the Grand Tourmalet-Pic du Midi, to ensure perfect snow conditions and to test your balance during good downhill and freeride sessions? It is at an altitude of 2,500 m that the 68 slopes await adventurers during the day to enjoy the joys of skiing. And because La Mongie is part of a large area, the opportunity is too good not to go and discover the beautiful heritage of the town of Campan, or take advantage of the treatments offered by the thermal centres of Barèges. And then, between two sessions of snowshoeing and Nordic skiing, it is the observatory of the Pic du Midi which allows you not only to benefit from an incredible panorama on the Pyrenees, but also to contemplate the stars at nightfall
4- La Clusaz, Haute-Savoie
Les Confins or Les Aravis? There is a choice during a holiday in La Clusaz to take advantage of the 125 km of downhill ski runs. In the area, cross-country skiing and walking are also very popular, with miles of marked and groomed trails. After visiting the heritage in the town of La Clusaz, children enjoy good sledging sessions, ice bumpers as well as dog sled rides. Before lounging and relieving aching legs in the evening on the balcony of the residence, don't forget to make a few detours to the neighbouring towns of Annecy, Chamonix or Geneva, which are a delight for shopaholics
5- Bussang, Vosges
Bussang is the highest commune in the Moselle valley. It is surrounded by mountains covered with forests of fir and beech. It is a pleasant place to join with the family to learn to ski in complete serenity. The gentle slopes of the Vosges are also a great playground for Nordic skiing enthusiasts. At the residence, you can vary the pleasures by joining the aquatic centre and its multiple play equipment. While the parents try squash, the children enjoy the time spent with the club leaders! Finally, why not take advantage of this stay in Bussang to go for a peaceful stroll in the superb medieval and colourful villages of Alsace? A nice program in perspective
6- Piau-Engaly, Hautes-Pyrénées
Joining a residence surrounded by peaks that reach 3,000 m in altitude, here is what should delight more than one for a successful mountain holiday. In Piau-Engaly, there is no need to worry about the quality of the snow in winter, as the resort is the highest in the Pyrenees. The least we can say here is that the activities are diverse and varied, and you can even have fun during unusual moments. Indeed, all kinds of slide lovers will find an ideal playground, but to vary the pleasures, it is also possible to dive under the ice, or to do ice climbing! To recover from all these emotions and to relax, a balneo centre awaits sportsmen and women with a whirlpool bath, hammam, massages, etc.
7- Les Karellis, Savoie
A stay in a holiday village in Les Karellis in the Maurienne valley offers the advantage of having the lifts at the foot of the accommodation to reach the ski area, part of which is over 2,000m and offers breathtaking panoramas. There is plenty to do for both experienced skiers and beginners with a snowpark and trails perfect for snowshoeing expeditions. There is also the possibility to ride the snowy roads on a segway or to fly over the area on a paragliding session. More into heritage and culture? Then Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is the place to go for its cathedral and its museums
8- Métabief, Doubs
The Jura is also a favourite territory for mountain holiday lovers. When you reach the holiday village of Montabief, you can enjoy a new, warm setting where you can relax in the SPA area. Outside, the ski area of Métabief spreads out around the Mont d'Or massif, where you can practice skiing in all its diversity. Non-skiers can also enjoy dog sledding or biathlon. The Château de Joux and the Besançon citadel are also nearby for those who want to admire the beautiful stones
9- Les Menuires, Savoie
Welcome to the Tarentaise valley to settle down in a residence at the foot of the slopes, at an altitude of 1 800 m. Everything is easy to go skiing, but also to go to the shops or to the restaurant. The 3 valleys include 600 km of slopes open to all skiers, whether they prefer downhill skiing or snowboarding and new glides. But there are also 130 km of cross-country ski trails, a snowpark and a boardercross that will delight the youngest skiers, and a rail sled run. And who doesn't want to try mountain biking on snow to test their balance? For a change of atmosphere, you should also know that around the resort of Les Menuires there are a large number of superb baroque churches
10- Unusual winter: holidays on the coast in Hossegor
Looking for an unusual winter? Then why not join a residence in Hossegor in the Landes? Yes, some people prefer the sea to the mountains in winter. The coastline is not lacking in charm during the winter season, especially when you are comfortably installed and close to several places of interest. Equipped with a wetsuit, it is still possible to learn to surf for those who want to. And for the others, the Landes is full of perfect hiking trails, such as those leading to the marine lake and its crystal clear waters. The discovery of the gastronomy is another activity in itself, with duck breasts and other confits to delight the taste buds.
More information on the Azureva website. At the moment, thewinter early booking offer is online and will be reduced to -20%, from 28/09 to 18/10 included.
