A Little Known Ski Gem - La Rosiere
I appreciate all these aspects of skiing and have visited resorts in Austria, France and Canada. Personally, the resort of La Rosiere is a bit of a hidden gem especially if you are thinking of skiing for the first time. La Rosière is also the only Savoyard resort to be part of an international ski area, with links to La Thuile in Italy. The resort offers something for everyone; easy ski runs to the more sporting ones, untracked powder fields and heli-skiing.
La Rosiere is a little different from its famous neighbours such as Tignes, Les Arcs, Val d’Isere. It is smaller, quieter and has the great advantage of being sunnier. The slopes are south facing giving it the reputation of being one of the sunniest resorts in France, while its altitude brings a good snow record.
On one holiday with my family, my brother and his family they decided to ski over into La Thuile. I did not join them as, on this occasion, I was quite happy enjoying the stunning views across the Isere Valley to Les Arcs. Upon their return, reclining in a deck chair, admittedly with the necessary glass of Gluhwein (it was apres-ski hour after all), they told us about their trip across to Italy including the ‘interesting’ black runs through the trees down into the village of La Thuile.
My children learnt to ski here in La Rosiere and had a go at snowboarding too – but turns out they preferred traditional skiing. The ski instructors are excellent and Eude managed this task so well, my children were passing me on the slopes and leading me on to new adventures after just a couple of days.
The resort is a traditional Tarentaise village built in a chalet style; it has a few shops, bars, restaurants and friendly locals. It is linked to the neighbouring village of Eucherts where you can have fun bowling in the evening too, if you haven’t had too much exercise during the day!
Would you like to walk through Narnia? You can here - at least this is what the locals affectionally call the 15-minute stroll through the snow-capped trees between La Rosiere and Eucherts. The winding path has secluded viewpoints across the valley to Les Arcs which can be magical in the moonlight and you will feel like you are in a C.S. Lewis novel!
Latest news on this resort is that plans have been unveiled to increase the size of the ski area next winter (estimated to open December 2018) with two new speedy chairlifts establishing a network of additional red pistes to the area. This will bring advanced-level slopes to the ski area, giving the resort a higher altitude and provide easier access to a huge off-piste area.
Even if you don’t ski there’s always plenty to enjoy!