Tignes

The season here lasts longer than in most other French resorts, and you can ski on the Grande Motte glacier all year round. Tignes is famous for its excellent freestyle skiing conditions and for the annual world championships in the discipline. Tignes accounts for as much as 150 km of pistes, half of the entire L'Espace Killy ski area. The vast majority will suit intermediate skiers. Beginners and those still learning the basics also have plenty of choice. It is widely held that of the two main resorts in L'Espace Killy, Tignes has the easier, gentler slopes that are friendlier to novices. Experienced skiers tend to prefer Val d'Isère. Even so, Tignes has a few difficult black pistes and some red runs that demand good technique (especially in the Vallon de la Sache, near Les Ves and on the slopes of the Grande Motte glacier). The ski area is served by 19 T-bars, 24 chairlifts and 3 cable cars (one of them with large cabins). Here you will find the longest run in the whole of L'Espace Killy: the 5.5 km Génépy piste with a vertical drop of 913 m. Tignes is very popular with snowboarders. There is excellent freeride terrain (above all Vallon de la Sache, Tour du Pramencou, Lognan and Lavachet to La Grande Balme), as well as a huge snow park on the glacier with zones for beginners and advanced riders. Cross-country skiers can use 44 km of trails across L'Espace Killy, of which about 20 km are around Tignes. In summer a trail is laid out on the Grande Motte glacier. Other activities include paragliding, snowshoeing, prepared walking trails, snowmobile rides, dog sledding, ski-joëring and ice diving in Lac du Chevril. Another big draw is the Espace Forme (Tignespace) sports and leisure centre, covering 3,000 m² (tennis, yoga, climbing wall, gym, fitness), and the “le Lagon” aquapark opened in 2006 (5,000 m², pools, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, fitness room, gym). The ice grotto on the Grande Motte glacier at 3,000 m is worth a visit. After skiing there are plenty of restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs.