Is this the prettiest resort in the Alps?
Samoëns is a medieval delight and a joy from top to bottom, says Felix Milns of The Times – 16th October 2010
“It is a medieval village with a classical square. An historical monument and a place where ancient stonemasons used to perfect their art. Samoëns would be one of the most beautiful villages in any light; being a ski resort makes it doubly so.
And it is not just any ski resort. It is part of the Grand Massif, with 165 miles of piste the fifth largest ski area in France.
The region is better known to the British for purpose-built Flaine, although Samoëns is a far more appealing base. It is something of an undiscovered freeride paradise – and the resort now wants to push itself as something more than a pretty-pretty place.
Last season it hosted the French National Speed Riding Championship, a cross between paragliding and skiing. It was an awesome spectacle as the racers came flying down the step north face of the Tete des Saix at 75mph, airborne but close to the ground. Samoëns is now one of Europe’s pioneering resorts for this exciting new sport, with a speed riding school. . . .
. . We enjoyed a beer in a bar by the fountain in the square, but Samoëns‘nightlife is more about great restaurants than wild bars. It also has a year-round holiday village s has plenty of family-friendly non-skiing activities. On the hill the resort is just as delightful, with glorious views and runs to other traditional villages such as Morillion. There is challenging terrain for all levels, plus the largest beginner areas in the Haute-Savoie. We were there mid-April but had excellent conditions (and 50 new snow guns, at €2 million, are the largest investments in French skiing this winter).
There is high-altitude skiing in the Flaine bowl, but some of the most interesting runs are in the trees over to Les Carroz. And whether you are on the top or down below, this is one of the most appealing resorts in the Alps”.
Come and experience the beauty of Samoëns and the Grand Massif ski domain for yourselves and take in the breath-taking views from the balcony of our luxury ski chalet, Chalet APASSION.
