l'Espace Lumière ,
Hautes-Alpes, France.
Ski resorts: Pra Loup and
Val d’Allos 1800 La Foux
Altitude: 1500m - 2600m
Downhill ski terrain: 180km
15 Green | 26 Blue | 34 Red | 5 Black
1 Rider Space
50 Lifts:
2 Cable Cars | 32 Draglifts
13 Chairlifts | 3 Gondolas
Cross-country terrain:
Ski de fond | Pedestrian &
snow-shoe trails
Families should visit the Pra Loup Tourist Office on arrival for special information packs and a choice of activities and offers.
Beginners/Families
Intermediates- Advanced/Expert
Ratings reflect the area’s off-piste potential and the Famille Plus label.
- Value
- Accommodation
- Dining Out
Nightlife
- • Linked-domain experience amid some dramatic scenery.
- • Terrain for most ability levels.
- • Expanding range of affordable accommodation.
- • Solid value, with some challenges for improvers.
- • Short transfers from Turin flights or TGV rail connection in Oulx.
- • Long distances for those driving from the UK.
- • Still too many difficult drag-lifts.
- • Epic liaison between the two valleys for competent skiers only.
- • If you plan to ski over to the next valley wait for settled conditions, ideally with low temperatures to ensure snow around Les Agneliers stays firm for the return.
Village centre, La Foux d’Allos.
Pra Loup 1600 is undergoing
a major facelift.
- Seen, tried and tested.
Residence Le Hameau
de Pra Roustan
04400 Pra Loup
This complex of apartments and individual chalets is situated in Pra Loup 1500 with extensive views of the valley and surrounding peaks. All the accommodation is well-equipped and we found it to be quiet, very spacious and nicely furnished. The free shuttle service provides transport to the nearest lift (new gondola in 2009/2010) at Les Molanes and on up to Pra Loup 1600 and the main ski area. Parking near the Front de Neige is limited and use of the shuttle is advisable. However, if you want to go out in the evenings then at the moment, there is little within walking distance apart from the on-site facilities, which include a heated swimming pool and spa.
Enquiries and bookings:
Ski Collection
0844 576 0175 (UK)
or +44 (0)2392 890 960
reservations@skicollection.co.uk
Hotel Restaurant Le Prieuré
Les Molanes
04400 Pra Loup
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 84 11 43
This 18th Century priory is now a cosy hotel and restaurant just a few steps from the chairlift in Les Molanes, Pra Loup 1500. Before dining, enjoy an aperitif in the comforable lounge. The restaurant serves a varied menu with regional dishes, meat and fish options. The food is beautifully presented and served with a selection of fresh vegetables. Expect to pay around 15€ for a main course, after which 6€ will allow you to help yourself at the dessert buffet.
A very nice meal in charming surroundings.
Le Verdon
Centre Station
04260 La Foux d'Allos
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 83 83 77
At the foot of the pistes, this restaurant has an enormous sunny terrace and a busy dining room. With plenty of seating, welcoming hosts and generous amounts of food, Le Verdon has a great atmosphere.
Order any of the range of local specialities or pizzas (9€ - 11€) and you will be sure of a great value meal in relaxing company.
Costebelle
04400 Pra Loup
Tel: +33 (0)92 81 33 67
On mountain bar restaurant where you are greeted like an old friend by the owners, three brothers and their staff. Exceptional service and excellent food from a menu with a wide choice including daily specials and one or two vegetarian dishes (main dish around 15€). A roaring fire, a congenial atmosphere and a complimentary glass of Genépi - what more could you ask?
Edouard’s Pub & Restaurant
Centre Commercial
04400 Pra Loup
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 84 07 43
Reserve your table to be sure of dining at this popular restaurant in the centre of Pra Loup. The warm and cosy interior and friendly, courteous staff contribute to the great atmosphere. We enjoyed Grilled Trout with Lemon Butter followed by a Crème Brulèe with Grand Marnier and a Chocolat Moelleux. Most other diners opted for an impressive range of regional dishes, all splendidly presented, all delicious. Expect to pay between 13€ and 22€ for a main course.
La Poivre d’âne
49 rue Manuel
04400 Barcelonnette
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 81 48 67
Situated on the main street, the Poivre d'âne has several small dining rooms and in summer, you can eat in the garden too. We sat near a lovely open fire and after a long day skiing the Espace Lumière, were ready for our delicious meal. We started with the home-made soup followed by Bar Sauvage (23€) and Saumon l’Oseille (18€) both served with potato and onion rosti, and seasonal vegetables.
Barcelonnette (15 minute drive from Pra Loup) is a fascinating town and well worth visiting during your stay.
Pausing to take in the incredible scenery between Pra Loup and the Val d’Allos.
In the Southern French Alps, at the gateway to Provence and the Haut-Verdon above the valleys of the Ubaye (Pra Loup) and Verdon (La Foux d’Allos). For most of the year the two are linked by road over the 2247m Col d’Allos, but in winter skiers have this route and its wild, dramatic mountain scenery all to themselves. Nearest towns are Gap, to the NW and Barcelonnette and Briançon to the N, with Pra Loup being the more readily accessible by road (the reverse being the case for travellers from Marseille and Toulon). Being this far south means plenty of fine weather, despite which snowfalls tend to be reliable — particularly during the 2008/9 season.
Dropping through the tree-line below the Tête de Vescal (2515m), Val d’Allos.
Ski here and chances are you’ll return a better and more confident skier. True, there are easier places to get around, but then this is one for the purists, who will fall in love with the wild, rugged grandeur of the unspoilt landscapes (and the real sense of remoteness and independence once you know where to look). Not that you can’t take it easier on gentler, more sheltered terrain closer to the villages, and plenty of people do just that.
For the rest, though, it’s steep and surprisingly deep, as you’ll discover when you decide to ski the liaison between the two areas. Think 'ski touring' and enjoy the scenery...
The new Chaup six-seater lift serves Blue-graded cruising terrain above La Foux.
Not one but several, with differing styles and locations. Although yet to be discovered by the majority of UK skiers, both Pra Loup and La Foux are hugely popular with French skiers, many of whom bought apartments long ago and return frequently. So if the architecture isn’t always the most unified and traditional, there’s plenty of life here. Both purpose-built high-altitude areas have also been investing in improvements which are already obvious to visitors: Pra Loup 1600 is undergoing a major facelift, and nearby Pra Roustan is effectively a whole new ski village. Meanwhile, over in La Foux there are new slopeside apartments and some worthwhile lift system upgrades.
Conveniently situated in the heart of Pra Loup 1600, the pedestrian shopping arcade has been recently refurbished and contains a variety of shops, restaurants and bars plus some essential services such as cashpoint and post office. The crêche and a clean and pleasant childrens play area are within the same area, just a short distance from the foot of the slopes. For those staying in Pra Loup 1500, the regular shuttle service is essential to access the main village as parking is limited. It is only 10-15 minutes drive into the nearby town of Barcelonnette which is also served by the shuttle service.
La Foux d'Allos is a small village but still has everything you need with a small supermarket and boulangerie plus ski hire and clothing, bars and restaurants.
Brand new skiers in the safe hands of Pra Loup 1600’s ESF ski instructors.
Despite having become acquainted with the Ubaye Valley many years ago, it’s only now that we finally get to ski the local mountains. In late March the peak season is well behind us, but the snow remains reassuringly deep, with more forecast in the days to come. We therefore waste no time in getting our bearings and skiing the sights while visibility holds, setting off from Pra Loup 1600 in bright sunlight. Our early start finds temperatures hovering well below freezing, making for a chilly haul on the Clappe and Garcine drag-lifts which are normally avoidable when there are more skiers and the gondola is operating. As it is things are quiet, and we have plenty of time to admire the scenery as we climb well above the tree-line, before taking a Blue-graded cruise over to the Bergeries chair-lift.
The ride back up drops us at Le Péguieou (2479m), where we take a Blue-becoming-Red schusse to the Lac drag-lift which finally hauls us to Le Lac (2500m), the departure point for the liaison with the Val d’Allos. This had better be worth it.
Above, L-R: Grande Seolane (2909m) from the L1 drag-lift above Pra Loup 1600; the view from Observatoire (2600m), Val d’Allos; the Aiguille gondola lift, La Foux d’Allos.
There's no question that it is, the views alone rewarding the effort involved in getting here. Grateful for our now respectable fitness levels, we pause to take in our sensational surroundings, before swooping down the Red-graded Quartiers piste to join another Red down to Les Agneliers (1708m). It’s a key point along the route, so the Agneliers chair-lift is capable of carrying skiers in both directions. For now, though, we take its neighbour Ubaguets back up to 2190m, for a Red-graded drop to the Crous 1 chairlift up to the vewpoint of Tête de Vescal (2515m).
Perfect peace, on the Blue-graded Forest piste, above La Foux d’Allos.
From here it’s a gentle Blue-graded cruise down into Val d'Allos 1800 La Foux, where we plan to stop for lunch. But not just yet. Mindful of the approaching weather front, we decide to explore the local ski terrain and take the new six-seater high-speed Chaup chairlift up the opposite side of the valley. It’s an impressive ride, and drops us on a wide, Blue-graded return piste which we peel off to take the Aiguille gondola right up to Observatoire (2600m). After the smooth efficiency of the previous ride the old lift has a certain antique charm, but the views falling away beneath our feet from the top station and across the valley are amazing. We forego the Black and take the swirling Red-graded Goussault descent, eager to take a well-earned lunch-break.
The start of another long cruise below Observatoire (2600m).
When we emerge from the excellent Verdon restaurant sated and refuelled, we begin to retrace our route back to Pra Loup, starting with a gentle scenic ride on the Vescal chairlift. By the time we’ve dropped down to Les Agneliers conditions have begun to deteriorate, with snow softening beneath our skis and ominous clouds forming overhead. It’s a long journey, but at least in this direction there are no drag-lifts. By the time we reach Le Lac it’s downhill all the way, with a choice of Red or Blue piste — we take the Red and stop en-route for a chocolat-chaud at the Costebelle, before pressing on down to our starting point. It’s been quite a day, and quite a journey. Faced with what we’ve achieved, it’s hard not to reach for words like ‘epic’... but then that’s exactly how it all felt.
© MountainPassions.com
By car
From
the north, via Lyon, Grenoble, Gap and Barcelonnette. From the south, via Aix-en-Provence, A51 to Tallard then direction Barcelonnette.
By air
The nearest airport is Marseille, where you can transfer by the Navette Blanche for around 35€ per adult. This winter service operates from the airport and from the TGV station at Aix. See the Navettes Blanches website for details.
For 2008/9 Ryanair introduced winter-only flights into Cuneo - a great option which we hope will be operating next season.
By train
Travel by TGV to Aix-en_Provence where you can hire a car or benefit from the Navettes Blanches service which operates from the Gare TGV at Aix.
There is also an overnight train from Paris Austerlitz to Gap where there is a bus connection to Pra Loup. Departing Paris at 22h05, you will arrive in the resort at 09h10.
Regular services from London to Paris to pick up your connection.
Take the train...
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