Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
mountain range
A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...
that stand within
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, located in the
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA; ; frp, Ôvèrgne-Rôno-Ârpes; oc, Auvèrnhe Ròse Aups; it, Alvernia-Rodano-Alpi) is a region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Au ...
regions. While some of the ranges of the French Alps are entirely in France, others, such as the
Mont Blanc massif
The Mont Blanc massif (french: Massif du Mont-Blanc; it, Massiccio del Monte Bianco) is a mountain range in the Alps, located mostly in France and Italy, but also straddling Switzerland at its northeastern end. It contains eleven major indepen ...
, are shared with
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
and
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
.
At ,
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and i ...
(Italian: ''Monte Bianco''), on the
France–Italy border
The France–Italy border is 515 km (320 mi) long. It runs from the Alps in the north, a region in which it passes over Mont Blanc, down to the Mediterranean coast in the south. Three national parks are located along the border: Vanoise National ...
Grenoble
lat, Gratianopolis
, commune status = Prefecture and commune
, image = Panorama grenoble.png
, image size =
, caption = From upper left: Panorama of the city, Grenoble’s cable cars, place Saint- ...
,
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...
Évian-les-Bains
Évian-les-Bains (), or simply Évian ( frp, Èvian, , or ), is a commune in the northern part of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Southeastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 9,100.
A high-market holid ...
and
Albertville
Albertville (; Arpitan: ''Arbèrtvile'') is a subprefecture of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France.
It is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In 2018, the commune had ...
La Tania
La Tania is a ski resort in the Courchevel area of Les Trois Vallees at 1400m above sea level. It was developed for the Albertville Olympics of 1992 and is approximately a 25 minutes drive from Moûtiers.
Overview
The ski resort is near num ...
,
Brides-les-Bains
Brides-les-Bains () is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
It was an Olympic Village for the 1992 Winter Olympics, based in Albertville, France.
There is easy accessibility via Euros ...
,
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is a former commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Les Belleville.
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is home t ...
piste
A ''piste'' () is a marked ski run or path down a mountain for snow skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports.
This European term is French
s.
#
Portes du Soleil
Les Portes du Soleil (literally "The Doors of the Sun") is a major skisports destination in the Alps, encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. With more than 650 km of marked pistes (claimed ...
Morzine
Morzine (; frp, Morzena) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France.
A traditional market town in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, Morzine is dominated by chalets spread across a riv ...
,
Les Gets
Les Gets () is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Savoie Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region in south-eastern France.
The village's first single-person chair lift was opened in 1938 wi ...
Montriond
Montriond (; frp, Meûryan) is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Savoie Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region in south-eastern France.
It is just north of the ski resorts of Morzine and ...
, Swiss resorts): 288 slopes, 650 km of slopes not entirely connected.
#
Paradiski
Paradiski is a ski-area in the Tarentaise Valley of France that offers uninterrupted skiing in between the areas of Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne. The area is linked, since December 2003, by the Vanoise Express lift. In total over the ...
Champagny-en-Vanoise
Champagny-en-Vanoise is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
It is also known for the skiing and snow-boarding slopes.
See also
* Friburge
*Communes of the Savoie department
The follo ...
: 239 slopes, 420 km of slopes.
#
Via Lattea
The Via Lattea ( italian for ''Milky Way'') is a winter sports area in the Italian and French Alps, straddling the French-Italian border at Claviere/Montgenèvre. Located some 70 km (44 miles) west of Turin, it comprises the five Piedmon ...
(
Montgenèvre
Montgenèvre (; oc, Montginebre; Italian: ''Monginevro'') is a commune on the Italian border in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 456.
Geography
Mon ...
, Italian resorts): 214 slopes, 400 km of slopes.
# Évasion Mont-Blanc (
Combloux
Combloux () is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France, with a population of over 2,000 residents. A mountain village in the French Alps, it is also popular as a ski resort. Combloux is ...
Espace Killy
Espace may refer to:
*ESPACE, a complexity class in computational complexity theory
*Espace musique, a Canadian radio service
*Espace 2, a Swiss radio station
*Radio Espace, a French radio station
*Espace Group, a French media company
*Group Espace ...
(
Tignes
Tignes () is a commune in the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, known for the highest skiable area and the longest ski season in Europe. It is located in the Savoie region with good t ...
,
Val-d'Isère
Val-d'Isère (, literally ''Valley of Isère'') is a commune of the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department ( Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region) in southeastern France. It lies from the border with Italy. It is on the border of the Vanoise Na ...
): 137 slopes, 300 km of slopes.
# Grand Massif (
Flaine
Flaine is a ski area in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps, and is a part of the linked Grand Massif domain. It is in the territory of the communes of Magland and Arâches-la-Frasse. Flaine is linked to Samoëns, Morillon, Les Carroz ...
Sixt
Sixt SE is an international mobility service provider with about 2,000 locations in more than 100 countries. Sixt SE acts as a parent and holding company of the Sixt Group, which is internationally active in the business areas of vehicle rental, ...
): 134 slopes, 265 km of slopes.
# Les Aravis (
La Clusaz
La Clusaz (; frp, La Klyuza, ) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Overview
It is a ski resort in the Alps near the Swiss border. The commune of La Clusaz is part of the Ha ...
,
Manigod
Manigod (; frp, Manegôd) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Eastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 998.
Geography
The linked area of Manigod consists of several different ski areas: La ...
,
La Croix Fry
La Croix Fry is a small village contained within the domain of Manigod, Haute-Savoie, France. With a population of under 600, it is a popular site for hill walking on the Plateau de Beauregard as well as skiing in the winter.
It is located in be ...
Le Grand-Bornand
Le Grand-Bornand (; frp, Bornan) is a commune in the eastern French department of Haute-Savoie. The commune is a ski resort and takes its name from the river that runs through it. The inhabitants of Le Grand-Bornand are called Bornandins.
Geo ...
): 133 slopes, 220 km of slopes not entirely connected.
# Les Grandes Rousses (L' Alpe d'Huez,
Vaujany
Vaujany () is a commune in the canton of Oisans-Romanche, in the Isère department in southeastern France. The village is picturesque, with excellent views of the Grand Galbert mountain at the head of the valley.
Population
Economy
The hydr ...
Serre Chevalier
Serre Chevalier () is a major ski resort in Southeastern France, near the Italian border, located in the Hautes-Alpes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated to the northeast of Écrins National Park in the French Alps, the re ...
: 111 slopes, 250 km of slopes.
# La Forêt Blanche (
Risoul
Risoul () is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It is located in the French Alps between the towns of Briançon and Gap.
Risoul is home to a ski resort that partners with the neighbouring town, Vars, to form the ...
, Vars): 104 slopes, 180 km of slopes.
# Les Sybelles (
Le Corbier
Le Corbier is a ski resort located in the Les Sybelles region of the French Alps, it is the fourth largest ski area in France with linked by lifts and pistes. The longest run is . It has a mixture of all the coloured slopes (green, blue, red and ...
,
La Toussuire
Les Sybelles () is a French linked ski area, located in the Savoie department in the Alps. It is one of the largest skiable domains in France. The resort was the home base of Jean-Pierre Vidal, winner of the gold medal in slalom at the 2002 Wint ...
Saint-Jean-d'Arves
Saint-Jean-d'Arves (; frp, Sant-Jian-d’Ârva) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
It is a ski resort, part of the larger Les Sybelles ski area.
See also
*Communes of the Savoie ...
Saint-François-Longchamp
Saint-François-Longchamp (; frp, Sent-Francês-sus-Bujon) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. On 1 January 2017, the former communes of Montaimont and Montgellafrey were merged in ...
): 82 slopes, 150 km of slopes
# Espace San Bernardo ( La Rosière, La Thuile - Italy): 73 slopes, 150 km of slopes.
#
Les Deux Alpes
Les 2 Alpes () is a ski resort in the French '' department'' of Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The village sits at and lifts run to . It has the largest skiable glacier in Europe and is France's second oldest ski resort behind Chamonix. It h ...
and
La Grave
La Grave (; oc, La Grava) is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
It is a small ski resort in the French Alps, dominated by La Meije (3982 m). It was the birthplace of Nicolas de Nicolay; adventurer and Geograp ...
: 69 slopes, 220 km of slopes. (+ Freeride Zone)
The other large ski areas are:
* Le Val d'Arly (
Praz-sur-Arly
Praz-sur-Arly (, literally ''Praz on Arly''; frp, Le Prâ) is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is part of the urban area of Sallanches.Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe,
Flumet
Flumet () is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Savoie department
The following is a list of the 273 communes of the Savoie department of France.
The co ...
Crest-Voland
Crest-Voland () is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Savoie department
The following is a list of the 273 communes of the Savoie department of France.
Th ...
): 80 km of slopes
* L'Espace Diamant is a combination of Espace Val d'Arly and Espace Cristal with 185 km of slopes
*
Villard-de-Lans
Villard-de-Lans (; oc, Lo Vilar de Lanç) is a commune in the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The town is also situated in the Vercors Massif. It was the administrative centre of the eponymous ca ...
Pra-Loup
Pra-Loup is a ski resort in France, at Uvernet-Fours in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, from the town of Barcelonnette.
Geography Ski area
The ski station has two separate base areas, 2 km apart:
* Pra-Loup 1600 - primary base area at above ...
Orcières-Merlette
Orcières-Merlette, also known as Orcières Merlette 1850, is a ski resort near to Orcières, Hautes-Alpes, in the French Alps. It has been a summit finish for Tour de France stages on multiple occasions, most notably in 1971, when Luis Ocaà ...
150 km of slopes
Activities
A range of winter and summer activities are available in the French Alps. In the winter, these include skiing and snowboarding as well as alternatives such as snowshoeing, sledging. There is a range of other activities that happen such as gliding which most happens during the summer months. Summer activities include hiking, mountaineering, biking and rock climbing.
Gallery
Image:Mont Blanc oct 2004.JPG,
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and i ...
(4,810 m)
Image:Aiguille du Dru 3.jpg,
Aiguille du Dru
The Aiguille du Dru (also the Dru or the Drus; French, Les Drus) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. It is situated to the east of the village of Les Praz in the Chamonix valley. "Aiguille" means "needle" in French.
The m ...
(3,754 m)
Image:Aiguille Verte ateabutnoe2.jpg,
Aiguille Verte
The Aiguille Verte (; ), which is French for "Green Needle", is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps.
It was first climbed on 29 June 1865 by Edward Whymper, Christian Almer and Franz Biner, a fortnight before the fateful firs ...
Mer de Glace
The Mer de Glace ("Sea of Ice") is a valley glacier located on the northern slopes of the Mont Blanc massif, in the French Alps. It is 7.5 km long and deep but, when all its tributary glaciers are taken into account, it can be regarded as ...
Grandes Jorasses
The Grandes Jorasses (4,208 m; 13,806 ft) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif, on the boundary between Haute-Savoie in France and Aosta Valley in Italy.
The first ascent of the highest peak of the mountain (''Pointe Walker'') was by Ho ...
(4,208 m) in
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...
(c. 1890)
Image:00 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains - TMB - JPG2.jpg, Tramway du Mont-Blanc, at Bellevue Station (1,794 m) in
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains () is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, southeastern France.
The village is best known for tourism and has been a popular holiday destination since the early 1900s.
It has of ...
Image:00 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc - JPG1.jpg,
Jacques Balmat
Jacques Balmat (), called ''Balmat du Mont Blanc'' (1762–1834) was a mountaineer, a Savoyard mountain guide, born in the Chamonix valley in Savoy, at this time part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Description
A chamois hunter and collector o ...
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...
Image:Grand Capucin, 2010 July.JPG,
Grand Capucin
The Grand Capucin (3,838 m) is a rock pinnacle located underneath Mont Blanc du Tacul in the Mont Blanc Massif in Haute-Savoie, France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It ...
(3,838 m) and its 400-meter vertical face
Image:Vanoise.jpg,
Vanoise National Park
Vanoise National Park (french: Parc national de la Vanoise) is a French national park between the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys in the French Alps, containing the Vanoise massif. It was created in 1963 as the first national park in France.
...
Aussois
Aussois () is a commune in the Vanoise massif, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The village is on the border of France's first National Park, the Vanoise National Park.
Although not as well ...
List of highest paved roads in Europe
This is a list of the highest paved roads in Europe. It includes roads that are over long and whose culminating point is at least above sea level. This height approximately corresponds to that of the highest settlements in Europe and to the t ...
*
List of mountain passes
This is a list of mountain passes.
Africa
Egypt
* Halfaya Pass (near Libya)
Lesotho
* Moteng Pass
* Mahlasela pass
* Sani Pass
Morocco
* Tizi n'Tichka
South Africa
* Eastern Cape Passes
* Western Cape Passes
* Northern Cape Passes
* Kwa ...
*
List of national parks in the Alps
This is a list of national parks in the Alps.
*Swiss National Park (1914)
* Gran Paradiso National Park (1922, coupled with the Vanoise)
* Stelvio National Park (1935)
* Val Grande National Park (1992)
* Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park (199 ...
*
List of ski areas and resorts in Europe
This is a list of ski areas and resorts in Europe and Eurasia.
Albania
* Dardhë
* Pukë
Andorra
Armenia
* Tsakhkadzor Ski Resort
* Jermuk
* Ashotsk
* Lernanist
Austria
Carinthia
Lower Austria
Salzburg
Styria
Tyrol
Upper Austri ...
References
Bibliography
* Raoul Blanchard (1938–1956), ''Les Alpes Occidentales''. Paris: Édition Arthaud. (French)
* Roger Frison-Roche (1964), ''Les montagnes de la terre''. Paris: Flammarion. (French)
* Sergio Marazzi (2005), ''Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA''. Pavone Canavese (TO): Priuli & Verlucca editori. (Italian)
* Sergio Marazzi ''La "Suddivisione orografica internazionale unificata del Sistema Alpino" (SOIUSA)'' - article with maps and illustrations, PDF (Italian)
{{Authority control
Mountain ranges of the Alps
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...