Val Cenis

The Maurienne region has some 20 or so comparatively unknown ski areas tucked away in its valley, including quite a few of those somewhat rare examples of traditional, rustic French villages. Val Cenis is actually two communities: Lanslebourg and Lanslevillard (the more attractive of the two,) offering skiing high on the Col du Mont Cenis, close to the Italian border. The area, with a good selection of runs, has a top station at 2,800m. There is a surprising amount of easy, enjoyable off-piste too, some through lightly wooded meadows, as well as two snow parks. The lift pass also covers the nearby area of Termignon-la-Vanoise, a ten-minute drive away.