Skiers relaxing around high-speed chair lift at La Rosiere, French Alps

La Rosière

Espace San Bernado, Savoie, French Alps

Set high above the Tarentaise valley, where it looks across to Les Arcs, La Rosière is easily accessible from good road and rail connections in Bourg Saint-Maurice.

In summer the route continues to the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard (2188m) where Savoie meets the Aosta Valley in Italy, but each winter heavy snowfalls close the route just above La Rosière.

Rear view of two skiers on piste among vast snowy mountain landscape.

The Ski Area

  • Part of the cross-border ski area known as the Espace San Bernardo.
  • New Mont Valaisan sector adds steep reds and free-ride opportunities.

La Rosière’s ski area is for the most part south-facing, and is integrated with that of its Italian counterpart La Thuile to form the extensive area covered by the Espace San Bernardo lift-pass. Closer to home there are accessible novice areas and lots of blue-graded cruising, along with some more challenging reds including the wooded Fontaine Froide, which drops right down to 1176m.

Recently the opening of a new sector on Mont Valaisan has boosted La Rosière’s appeal to more advanced skiers. Topping off at a respectable 2800m, five new red pistes and two six-person high-speed chairlifts now offer steeper, more technical descents, along with further freeride opportunities.

More experienced intermediates who head off to Italy are rewarded with fresh challenges, new surroundings and often better snow quality. There’s also plenty of off-piste, to which cross-border heli-skiing brings near-instant access - at a price...

Resort Information

Altitude : 1190m - 2800m
La Rosière
Pistes Total:
152 km
8 Green
27 Blue
38 Red
18 Black
Ski Resort Lifts : 40
4 Magic Carpets
15 Draglifts
20 Chairlifts
1 Gondolas

Green Credentials...

  • Travel by train to Bourg Saint-Maurice in the heart of the Tarentaise region. There’s a choice of bus services for onward transfers to La Rosière.
  • Free shuttle bus service reduces car journeys around the resort.

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Late afternoon walkers on footpath with snow-covered chalets at La Rosiere.

The Ski Village

  • Purpose-built ski village at 1850m.
  • The resort has been expanding with more facilities and premium accommodation.

The purpose-built ski village of La Rosière 1850 is linked by a pedestrian footpath (an agreeable 10-minute level stroll) to the newer Eucherts development, expanding the possibilities for both accommodation and access to the skiing.

Les Eucherts, the original mountain hamlet, has in recent years been rediscovered by developers and skiers alike. It makes a good base, although so far the 1850 village still has the edge in terms of services and general energy levels, particularly once the lifts close. Architecturally things are pleasing to the eye, and becoming more so as the few outmoded structures are gradually replaced with new hotels and chalets in traditional wood and stone.

Elevating things significantly is the presence of France’s very first Hyatt Centric hotel in Les Eucherts, and La Rosière will soon witness the construction of the French Alps’ latest Club Med village.

Staying There

Value for Money Accommodation Dining Out Nightlife Village Charm

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Skier above ski chalets with mountains in background at La Rosiere.

Why go skiing in La Rosière ?

La Rosière’s premium quality image is well-founded in terms of both accommodation and services, but it clearly has no intention of becoming another Courchevel. It’s a fun place, with no sense of detached exclusivity for those on a real-world budget.

Skiing-wise, it will suit those happy to take it easy, along with fit and confident skiers prepared to ski over to Italy, where further challenges and greater sense of freedom lie.

Finally, like nearby Les Arcs, La Rosière’s proximity to Bourg Saint-Maurice makes it an obvious contender for anyone thinking of taking the high-speed rail option for their travel.

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Skiing There

Beginners / Families Intermediates Advanced / Expert Mountain Scenery

Snowboarding

Fun areas for boarders though only draglifts over to Italian side.
8 Snowparks
1 Snowboarder Cross


Cross-Country Skiing

Free though limited.
6+km Cross-Country and Nordic Ski Trails

Handiski...

  • Half price ski pass (conditions apply).
  • Accessible public toilets.
  • Adapted accommodation available. Contact reservation service for advice on +33 (0)4 79 06 83 92
  • Access to all lifts (except the Sévolière draglift) in La Rosière. Sit skis are not authorised in La Thuile.
  • Specialist ESF instructors cater for all types of handicap from tetraplegic, paraplegic, mentally handicapped and blind skiers (English spoken).
  • Lesson price includes equipment (2 dualskis, 1 tandemski,
    1 uniski) - also available for individual hire.
  • Experience in welcoming groups of mentally handicapped children and adults.

icon-smileyYes please...

  • Quality experience, both on and off the slopes.
  • The resort’s location guarantees excellent snowfall (11m of it during the 2017-2018 season).
  • There are safe learning areas for children and novice skiers, with an easy progression onto the gentle slopes.
  • Five new red runs on Mont Valaisan, plus lots more intermediate terrain (and further free-ride opprtunities) on the Italian side.
  • Exciting range of premium accommodation and restaurants.
  • You can ski over to Italy for lunch.
  • Alternative activities including skiing first tracks, ski touring and snow-shoe walks, dog-sledding experiences and ice-skating.
  • A walkway at the summit of the Fort Express chairlift gives breathtaking panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the nearby peaks in France and Italy.

icon-frowneyYes but...

  • Drag-lift link to Italian sector isn’t ideal for snowboarders and early intermediates.
  • The geographical location exposes the area to frequent high winds.
  • Much of the best terrain is on the Italian side - getting there can take awhile but is well worth the effort.

icon-winkingOur Tips

  • Make the most of fine weather days to explore the excellent skiing above La Thuile.
  • Discover La Rosière beyond the pistes by joining snowshoe expeditions or ski-touring courses.

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Practical Information

Tried and testedLe Refuge

L'Averne
73700 La Rosière

Le Refuge self-catering apartments, Les Eucherts, , La Rosière

Chalet Le Refuge houses 11 luxury apartments. We tried out one of the smaller apartments (sleeping 6-8) which we judged as being among the most comfortable we've stayed in. With 3 double bedrooms (2 ensuite), there’s another bathroom, plus a spacious lounge (with sofa bed) and kitchen dining area with an open fire for cosy evenings in. The kitchen is extremely well equipped with a full size oven and microwave, dishwasher, and full size fridge - you even have a raclette set.

There’s a pool and sauna for residents and an underground car park (extra cost), secure ski lockers and free wifi access in every apartment.

Situated near the Eucherts area, with a choice of nearby shops and restaurants plus good lift access to the slopes. You can ski back almost to the ski lockers if the conditions are right, although it took us a couple of attempts to find the route.
It’s a 10-15 minute walk to the main part of the resort via a pleasant snowy footpath with spectacular views, or you can use the free shuttle bus service.

Enquiries and bookings:
Ski Collection
023 9289 0960
reservations@skicollection.co.uk


Le Lodge Hemera

73700 La Rosière

Lodge Hemera apartment interior, La Rosière, French Alps

Luxury CGH residence in the heart of the village just a few steps from the pistes, bars and shops. The residence faces south with a staggering 180 degree view over the Tarentaise and Les Arcs. Le Lodge Hemera offers 37 luxury apartments spread over two chalets and has all the amenities that CGH clients expect. Visitors have free access to the pool, spa and fitness centre.

Enquiries and bookings:
Ski Collection
023 9289 0960
reservations@skicollection.co.uk


Tried and tested4* Les Cimes Blanches

Les Eucherts – La Rosière
73700 Montvalezan

Les Cimes Blanches self-catering ski apartments, Les Eucherts, La Rosiere, French Alps

Located in the Les Eucherts area of the resort, Les Cimes Blanches self-catering apartments are 5 mins walk from the Eucherts chairlift and ski school meeting points. There are a handful of shops, restaurants and bars here though there’s more choice in the resort centre. A regular free shuttle bus runs between the two areas or there’s a pleasant 10-15 min walk along a scenic footpath.

The residence comprises 9 separate chalets though access to skiing from any of them is very easy. Even late in the season we found it was possible to join the pistes next to the nearby Alparena Hotel & Spa (about 50m walk away) and to ski back to our chalet via the Papillon piste.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment in Chalet Anastasia which has superb views from the lounge area, with kitchen area (adequate for simple meals), balcony and separate bathroom and toilet. The principle bedroom had an ensuite shower and hand-basin though with two couples and a toddler in the apartment an extra loo would have been welcome. Our toddler was provided with a cot which was adequate for her but you’ll need to bring your own bedlinen. We paid extra for a space in the underground car park, convenient for the ski lockers and unloading/loading.

On-site facilities include a private indoor heated swimming pool, hot tub, saunas, steam room and fitness room, plus an Ô des Cimes spa offering massages and beauty treatments.

7 nights self-catered from £187pp* including a return Eurotunnel crossing with a free upgarde to FlexiPlus on most dates. Enquiries and bookings:
Peak Retreats
023 9283 9310
reservations@peakretreats.co.uk

*Above prices based on 6 people sharing a 2-bedroom apartment (sleeps up to 6) for low season 2018/19.


Tried and testedHyatt Centric

Les Eucherts – La Rosière
73700 Montvalezan

Hyatt Centric Hotel La Rosiere - Luxury suite bedroom with panoramic view

With 47 rooms and 22 suites the Hyatt Centric combines authenticity with all the facilities of a 4-star hotel, and more besides.

Summit Spa and Pool, Hyatt Centric Hotel, La Rosiere, French Alps

The hotel also offers two restaurants – La Tavola, an Italian style trattoria, and the stylish H40 bar with central log fire and cosy indoor seating or terrace with stunning panoramic views. Profit from the same views while you relax in the Summit Spa with swimming pool and jacuzzis.

For more information and bookings visit Hyatt Centric at www.hotellarosiere.com, tel:+33 (0)4 79 04 12 34, info.larosiere@hyatt.com


Tried and testedÉcole du Ski Français (ESF)

Front de Neige / L’Averne
73700 La Rosière
+33 (0)4 79 06 81 26

Instruction in a diverse range of snow sports including freeride, handiski, telemark, off-piste and heliski or try something new such as cross-country or snowshoeing. Group or private lessons for all ages.

ESF Piou Piou Club, Les Eucherts, La Rosière, French Alps

We entrusted our 3yr old grand-daughter to the Piou-Piou Club at Les Eucherts where there's a sheltered and safe area for the toddlers to become accustomed to the skis and learn to turn and stop. Prices start at 170€ for 6 daily sessions of around 2½ hours. There's a covered magic-carpet and draglift nearby with gentle protected slopes for beginners to advance. There's also a free lift plus some gentle green-graded pistes at the foot of the slopes in the resort centre.

For more information visit ESF La Rosière or their ESF UK website.


Tried and testedÉvolution 2 Ski & Adventure

73700 La Rosière
+33 (0)4 79 40 19 80

Evolution 2 offers private and group ski and snowboard instruction, off-piste and heliski adventures with a guide and excursions on snowshoes for the slightly less adventurous.
We joined a twilight snowshoe walk where a knowledgeable guide (English speaking) introduced us to the natural beauty of the mountains, and a little local culture and heritage. Suitable for everyone, children from 7yrs upwards.

For more information visit Evolution 2 Ski & Adventure


Tried and testedSPA La Rosière

Centre Commercial Les Terrasses
La Rosière
Tel:+33(0)4 79 41 39 01

SPA La Rosiere - Grotte a sel / salt grotto

The Spa is a great place where you can escape for a while and experience a feeling of serenity and relaxation. From just 15€ for 90 mins you can enjoy entry to the Spa with its hot tubs, salt cave (pictured above), outdoor solarium and tea corner – all with stunning panoramic views over the Tarentaise Valley. For a little extra, you can unwind in the steam room, or choose from a large range of facials, beauty treatments and massages costing from around 50€ upwards.

I sampled the Aromatherapy 50 minute massage with one of the Clé des Champs organic range of essential oils after trying out the other fabulous facilities. Relaxing afterwards with a herbal tea, I reflected that it would be a great place for friends to spend some quiet time together to unwind and relax before facing up to reality again. Alternatively, go as a couple for a massage en duo (price €110 for 50 mins).
Tip: Arrive in plenty of time for your appointment so you don’t reduce your treatment time. Take swimming costume (men must wear trunks not shorts) and towel, flip-flops and gown are provided.

The Spa is open every day during the season from 9am to 8pm or from 10am to 8pm at weekends. For more information visit the La Rosière website.


Tried and testedIce Hockey Matches

Place des Eucherts
Les Eucherts

Every Wednesday evening during the winter season, it’s match day at the ice-rink. Go along and join the locals as they cheer on the Tigres Blancs (White Tigers) ice hockey team as they play against other teams from the area. Entry is just 3€ per person.


Tried and testedL'Antigel

Tétras piste at the foot of the slalom stadium “Joël Chenal”
Tel : +33 (0)6 23 94 92 07

Traditional restaurant at 2000m altitude in a contemporary and stylish chalet conceived and built by two local people. L’Antigel restaurant offers traditional meals made from fresh produce. There’s also an outdoor bar and the Dégel snack bar on the south-facing terrace where you can enjoy a musical ambiance and stunning views over the Tarentaise Valley. Every Thursday evening you can enjoy Savoyard specialities in the restaurant with transport by snowcat from the front de neige. Reservations for this are highly recommended as places are limited.

L’Antigel is open every day throughout the season from 09h00-17h00 (restaurant 11h45-15h00).


Village Igloo

Foot of the Plan du Repos chairlift
Tel: +33(0)7 77 45 99 77

The Village Igloo is 130m² and entirely made from 1800m³ of snow in 5 days at the start of the winter season. You can visit the Igloo for a drink at the bar, an evening meal with a cheesy fondue – you can even spend the night there.

Open every day from 10h00-17h00 or you can reserve online for the evening meal or sleeping overnight.


Tried and testedLo Riondet

(Piste no.7 San Bernardo)
La Thuile
Tel: +39 (0)1 65 88 40 06

Lo Riondet mountain rstaurant, La Thuile

We loved lunch at this really cosy and friendly restaurant situated on the long red graded San Bernardo piste, normally the road descending from the Col du Petit Saint Bernard to La Thuile. We enjoyed simple but perfect pasta meals (vegetarians well catered for) followed by a choice of cakes. The enclosed terrace is comfortable with fur blankets and cushions though try to get a table inside to enjoy a warm fire and the authentic chalet interior.


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Getting there

Autoroute A43 Lyon / Albertville, then N90 to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Follow the signs to La Rosière and the Petit-St-Bernard pass via Sèez on the RD1090.
(The pass is closed in winter.)

By air
Snowjet offers flights to the nearest airport at Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc. Transfers are just 1½ hours from Chambery. Lyon, Geneva, Grenoble and Turin are all within 3 hours.

By train
Trains to teh Alps run from late December to early April and take you direct into Bourg Saint Maurice.

See Altibus, Belle Savoie Express or larosierebybus for details of connections and to book your journey.

Book your TGV fast train from Paris or Eurostar’s ski train direct to the French Alps with OUI.sncf

Transfers
Visit Ski-Lifts for the best range of ski transfer destinations from airports and main rail stations.

Cheap flights to the Alps

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Airport Transfers

Ski-Lifts offer the widest range of airport transfers to ski resorts in France, from economy shared transfers for budget-conscious travellers, right through to luxury limousines. They also offer coach transfers for larger groups.

Insight: La Rosière

Wide view of family skers beside piste with chairlift and mountains at La Rosiere

Insight: La Rosière

We’d first glimpsed La Rosière and its broad, sunlit slopes shimmering in the distance during a visit to Saint-Foy Tarentaise. On that occasion bad weather had thwarted our attempt to ski here, a situation we remedied several seasons later, and gained a healthy respect for the Espace San Bernado ski area. Since then we’ve returned not only in winter but also in summer, when direct road access to Italy is restored until the next winter snowfalls shut things down again.

After installing ourselves in our apartment in Les Eucherts we head back out to stretch our legs after the long drive across France by walking the forest path over to La Rosière 1850. When we get there the late-afternoon buzz is infectious. We grab one of the last available tables in the popular Arpin’s Bar and scan the piste-map over a vin-chaud before returning to Les Eucherts, as an evening chill descends from the mountainsides.

A brilliant sunrise and barely a breath of wind tell us that today we should aim high and head straight over to Italy…

Shops, Les Eucherts, La Rosiere

Les Eucherts village offers a lot of apartment accommodation, a range of services and easy access to the slopes via an express chairlift.


La Rosiere

Returning to the village with a stunning view over the peaks of the Tarentaise.

No time to lose…

If our countless ski visits over the years have taught us anything then it’s that when the weather’s perfect just get out and go for it, because in the mountains you never know what tomorrow might have in store. A brilliant sunrise and barely a breath of wind send a clear message: today we should aim high and head straight over to Italy to ski some of the Espace San Bernardo’s La Thuile sector. The Eucherts high-speed lift drops us onto Roc Noir a red-graded run down to the Plan du Repos high-speed lift.

In previous visits the main attraction had been the haul up to 2330m to ski Belette, a long blue cruise to the base of the Fort 6-seater chairlift serving the 2383m Col de la Traversette, gateway to Italy. Today, though, we ski past the lift, joining Bouleaux, a new red piste, to reach a pair of new lifts.

With help from the existing Fort chairlift, the new Moulins and Mont Valaisan high-speed six-seaters serve five red-graded runs opened for the 2018/9 season in the new Mont Valaisan sector, which tops off at 2800m – over 400m higher than La Rosière’s previous highest groomed terrain at the Fort de la Redoute.

That extra altitude explains, at least in part, the area’s reputation for attracting heavy snowfalls and retaining good cover throughout the entire season. The sector is also a response to the increasing numbers of skiers attracted by new accommodation being added to both villages (not to mention a third about to be constructed by Club Med) and addresses La Rosière’s longstanding lack of challenging groomed terrain for more advanced skiers.

Higher and steeper…

Riding the Moulins lift up to 2461m gives us an overview of the intersection of Lac, Galinette and Combe pistes, plus a glimpse of the latter’s steeper upper section. So far, not many skiers seem to have discovered it. After transferring to the Mont Valaisan lift we sit back and enjoy the scenery and an increasing sense of remote detachment from our starting point. At the top (2800m) we peer over an adjoining ridge into the snowy vastness of neighbouring Italy before setting off to ski Combe, a steep but not overly narrow descent which snakes its way down to the foot of the lift, thowing in a couple of passes between the pylons. There are a couple more beneath those of Moulins before we fork right onto Galinette, another red feeding onto the lower section of Blaireau’s steep drop from the top of the Fort lift.

From here a gentle blue-graded cruise on Lauzes would take us all the way back to Les Eucherts, but we have other ideas. It’s only mid-morning, so we ride the Fort chairlift back up to the Col de la Traversette (shown on the piste map as Fort de la Redoute. From here a chilly onward descent on the steep, red-graded Bouquetin piste brings us to the famous Bellecombe I draglifts, whose sedate and near-silent progress feels somehow appropriate to the wildness of the setting. That means we have plenty of time to look around at the wonders of the 2188m Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, and the broad valley totally subsumed in winter snows. Somewhere beneath it lie the remains of a Roman temple and possibly the route across the Alps taken by Hannibal and his troops.


Bellecombe draglifts, La Rosiere

The Bellecombe draglifts take skiers over the border into Italy.


Col piste, La Thuile

The remote-feeling Col poste in the La Thuile sector.

Into the Aosta Valley…

Once liberated from the lift we’re more than happy to pass on its steeper companion the Bellecombe II (which would drag us up to 2891m) and instead take the red-graded Col piste to our left for a jubilant schuss which finally sees us across the Franco-Italian border to explore Espace Saint Bernardo’s La Thuile sector. The run brings us to the foot of the Piccolo San Bernardo Express high-speed quad chairlift, whose snug Perspex weather-protection hoods would probably also make a lot of sense back in La Rosière. At the top we peer over into a subtly different landscape, much of whose ski terrain is usefully north- or east-facing, helping to preserve good snow conditions.

First impressions are that it’s also relatively gentle, although as we’ll discover, more challenging terrain is out there if you want it. We set off first to explore the terrain below Le Belvedère, most of it graded red or black apart from a useful blue which cuts across the lot to provide intermediates with a direct route to the Fourclaz Express lift.

Once across the Col du Fourclaz there’s a healthy selection of red- and blue-graded runs to enjoy below several peaks: Belvedère (2641m), Gran Testa (2379m) and Chaz Dura (2579m). In practice the terrain is generally more user-friendly than the piste-map suggests thanks to Italian grading, which (a) doesn’t employ green for easier runs, and (b) takes the length of pistes into account.

The latter comes home to us when we can no longer ignore the urge to head off to enjoy a real Italian lunch. The plan takes us back to the base of the Piccolo San Bernardo lift and onto the San Bernardo piste (signed no. 7), which would qualify for gentle blue- rather than red-grading if its impressive length were to be removed from the equation. Just past the mid-point we reach the welcoming Rifugio Lo Riondet, which in winter (when snow covers the road on which we’re actually skiing) feels remote enough to have real adventure value, and serves up perfect meals for appreciative, hungry skiers. We love it – and we’ll definitely be returning sometime.

Onto the steeper stuff…

When we finally wrench ourselves away and snap back onto our skis we continue down the epic piste until things become steeper and we finally enter the tree-line. It’s possible to continue to red-graded terrain by switching to piste 3 for the final drop into La Thuile, but instead we take one of the blacks. Predictably, things soon get really steep but the snow quality is good, our edges bite and for the next couple of minutes we have a ball before rejoining the red piste, where things revert to cruise mode through a forested section.

Down in La Thuile (originally a coal-mining town) temperatures are falling fast and the ski village is about to pass into shade. We therefore take the Les Suches cable-car (more a gondola lift, really) straight back up to 2200m for another black run, this time on No. 5 (shown on the piste map as ‘Muret’). Once again this feeds onto a red-graded lower section for the approach to the village, where we again ride the lift up to Les Suches.

Heading back to France and La Rosière

This time, though, we head back towards the border. A couple of chairlift rides drops us efficiently above the Col de Fourclaz for a gentle blue-graded cruise back towards the Chardonnet chairlift above the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard. A couple of minutes’ impressively steep haul up the north-facing mountainside brings us back to the sunlight and faced with several options for our final runs back to La Rosière. By now the blue-graded Choucas is taking most of the returning skiers, so we take the less-travelled Blaireau for a red-graded drop onto the Lauzes piste.

One gentle blue cruise later, we’re skiing back into Les Eucherts just as the lifts are closing and the sinking sun is turning the peaks of the Tarentaise Valley to pale, pastel pink. It’s the perfect end to our first full day’s skiing in La Rosière, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever the weather cares to throw at us from now on we’ve done the Big One.

We can also say we’re absolutely sold on the quality of the skiing here in La Rosière and around the Espace San Bernardo.MountainPassions heart icon