With varied landscapes, high mountains and big skiing areas, France is a famous destination for tourism all year around and particularly for ski enthusiasts in winter. Every resort proposes entertainment and events throughout the season such as ski competitions, music festivals, and freestyle events. We have chosen some famous French resorts for you to discover:

Avoriaz is in the heart of Les Portes du Soleil: a large skiing area shared between France and Switzerland. Each year, Avoriaz offers plenty of activities and events that will be the highlight of your ski holidays. Last January saw the resort holding the Snow Energy Festival: a big carnival on skis, with DJ sessions. But that’s not all, in April, the first edition of the Go Wild Outdoor Music Festival was held in Avoriaz: a whole week of free concerts on the slopes, with concerts announced by SMS every day. Keziah Jones did a great performance, as usual, but we wonder who will be there next year?

But France is also all about families and Les Gets ski resort is one good example. Considered as one of the best family-friendly resort, Les Gets offers a whole area just for kids and completely free. The area called Mappys will amaze your kids with Native Americans. Unusual but true!

For sport junkies head to Les Deux Alpes and Tignes! On the first hand, Les Deux Alpes proposes a range of various sports to practice such as: sleigh riding, snowmobiling, paragliding, and climbing, among others. Our favourite one is definitely the bumper cars on ice! On the other hand, Tignes is the highest resort in Europe. Thanks to this, it is even possible to ski in summer. But that is not all, during the ski season, Tignes held the Winter X-Games Europe for the second time, with all the best freestylers performing right in front of you. The event will be back next year in March, so now you can’t say you don’t know!

France is the right destination for ski holidays and these resorts are just a small example of what you will experience there.

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Some of the places that you cannot afford to miss include the mountains and the city of Lyon, apart from the striking Mont Blanc. There are also many rivers, famous vineyards and natural parks in the region that are worth visiting.

The first thing people come here to do is skiing and snowboarding. A large number of people head towards the Val d’Isere slopes for skiing and snowboarding especially during the winters.

There are several ski resorts in the area and even if you are not carrying your ski equipments with you, they can be hired from the resorts or stores or even be bought there. Some of the most popular ski areas in Rhone Alpes include Vallee Blanche in Chamonix, Les Arcs in Bourg Saint Maurice, La Tania in Courchevel, Les Allues in Meribel and St Martin de Belleville in Les Menuires

The second thing to do in Rhone Alpes is to enjoy its glorious nightlife. There are several bars, operas, clubs, pubs and cafe bars for the visitors to enjoy. The Place des Terreaux in Lyon is a public square that gets lit up in the night by beautiful 19th century fountains and is always founded crowded after sunset. Opera National de Lyon is an internationally renowned opera in Lyon.

A large number of visitors come here to enjoy the world class opera performed here. Le Hot Club is a premier Jazz club in Lyon which features live performances many times in a week. Le Twenty in Grenoble is one of the trendiest cosmopolitan cafe bars featuring specialties like several cocktails mixed in Chartreuse.

The third thing to do in Rhone Alpes is to enjoy the live performances conduced here from time to time. Theatres Romains de Fourviere in Lyon is a renowned theatre, remnant from the dominant era of Roman Empire. The ruins of the two amphitheatres are more than 2000 years old. Amphitheater of the Three Gauls in Lyon is more than 2000 years old monument of the Roman organization. The Roman Theater in Vienne is a Roman theatre seating around 13000 people. It also serves as an architectural building and an ancient ruin.

The fourth thing you must not forget to do in Rhone Alpes is to explore its history and culture. Standing on the Fourviere Hill, the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere was constructed in late 19th century with grave exterior and ornate interior. The Cathedral Saint Jean Baptiste is a 12th century cathedral made in Gothic style with impressive windows of stained glass. Hotel de Ville is the city hall of Lyon with blue domed pavilions and a tall clock tower.

The fifth thing you should not miss in Rhone Alpes is enjoying its wine. The best known wine producing regions of France are situated near Lyon which are Beaujolais in the north and Cotes du Rhone in the south.

The diversity of the Rhone Alpes region of France make it very popular for self catering holidays all year round. Renting a holiday home would give the tourist the time and freedom to explore and partake of all that is on offer in this region of France.

About the Author:
Andrew Gibson is M.D of Direct Holiday Bookings. France rentals are popular with families staying in self catering holiday homes in the Rhone Alpes. They also have a great selection of apartments for self catering rental in Rhone Alpes as holiday rentals.

Photograph: La Tannerie. Ski Chalet for rental in the Rhone Alpes.

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For example, book a long ski weekends or midweek breaks at a farmhouse in authentically French St Gervais Mont Blanc, new for 2008-09.

La Vieille Ferme is an authentic 1860 Savoyard farmhouse, now restored and modernised by French-English couple Marie and Jeremy Ransom. It overlooks the traditional French spa village of St. Gervais, with a stunning view of Mont Blanc and the Chaine des Fizz.

Says Jeremy, “St Gervais Mont Blanc is part of ‘Evasion Mont Blanc’, with 450 kms of pistes, but is far from being a mass-tourism resort. Out of high season, you can feel that the pistes are groomed just for you! People who have discovered this area don’t want to ski anywhere else.”

In January, late February, March and April the Ransoms are taking advantage of their proximity to Geneva airport, with its regular budget flights, to run long skiing weekends and mid week short breaks. Ski breaks are from £70 to £79 per person per night, with a single room supplement of 35 %, and include airport transfers, daily lift transfers and half-board accommodation. Available through www.frenchconnections.co.uk, property ID 3638.

Another picture book chalet improved for 2008-9 is available at the lesser known French resort of La Clusaz, a pretty Savoyard village that oozes charm, tradition and a sense of community.

It has grown organically into a ski resort popular with the French but less well known by the British. There is a superb variety of skiing, especially for beginners, so this is a great family destination.

In La Clusaz, Chalet Sophia is a spacious, light-filled, picture book chalet that sleeps 14 on a self-catering basis, and even features a jacuzzi where visitors can relax after a day on the slopes. Prices are from £1,295 to £2,995 a week for the whole property. available through French Connections at www.frenchconnections.co.uk, property ID 3660.

The traditional French alpine village of Cordon remains largely unspoilt and still has many working farms combined with spectacular mountain scenery dominated by Mont Blanc. It is situated at 915m (3000ft) above sea level and, in addition to good skiing, its charms include a historic Baroque church and a Michelin starred restaurant. The local ski school is very well respected and especially good for beginners and the village hosts skiing events, dog sleigh racing and hot air ballooning conventions, along with spectacular firework displays on some public holidays.

Chalet les Cerises in Cordon has stunning views of Mont Blanc and its friendly owners offer spacious, comfortable accommodation on a flexible B& B basis. There are two apartments, each sleeping five people, and evening meals are available cooked with fresh local produce. Chalet le Cerises can be booked through French Connections at www.frenchconnections.co.uk, property ID 618.

Dicover these properties and more at http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/en/activity/property/302-skiing.

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