La Cluise is a ski resort located in the Haute-Savoie department of the Rhône-Alpes region. This is one of the northernmost resorts of the French Alps. He grew out of a village ski club, which was created by a local teacher at the beginning of the 20th century. Fourteen prize-winners and champions of the Olympic Games and the World Cup in alpine skiing and snowboarding began their sports careers on the slopes of La Cleuse. La Cluza regularly becomes a venue for major international downhill, freestyle and other skiing competitions.
How to get there
La Cluza is located in the valley of the Arabian mountain massif, not far from the city of Annecy, an hour’s drive from Geneva airport.
Nearest airports: Geneva – 50 kilometers, Lyon – 150 kilometers.
The nearest railway station: Annecy – 30 kilometers.
Daily bus flights from Annecy or Lyon, in winter – from Geneva.
Infrastructure
Nearby is a group of resorts halfway between Geneva and Mont Blanc. The center of the Grand Massif – Flen (1,600 m) – is located in the heart of the ski area, where many cable cars converge. It was built in the avant-garde style of the 60s. Concrete boxes, which once symbolized progress, now do not look too picturesque. However, the ski resort is quite comfortable, with a good reputation, and very sporty. The Grand Massif area (ski pass and general skiing area) also includes the village-type ski resorts of Samoen and Morillon (700 m), as well as the small resort village of Le Carro.
The area is known for its well-designed cable car system. Skiing is quite diverse, with the presence of a huge number of black tracks, which have come up with symbolic names: Lucifer, Mephistopheles, Faust.
Additional information about the resort:
Altitude 1106-2600 m
2,000 inhabitants
20,000 seats
130 km of tracks
elevators 56
Season December 15-April 30
Skating area
The ski season in La Cluise lasts from mid-December to the end of April. Most of the descents are on the northern slopes, a lot of snow falls in these places. The total length of ski tracks is about 130 kilometers, plus 112 kilometers of tracks intended for cross-country skiing. In La Cluza there are slopes for vacationers with any level of training, but most of the tracks (70 kilometers) are prepared for athletes with an average level. Accordingly, about 30 kilometers of trails are designated for professionals and a little less for beginners. The tracks for beginners are located on the slopes close to La Cluze.
La Cluza has a total of 128 tracks of varying levels of difficulty – 34 green, 46 blue, 38 red and 10 black. A large number of tracks are laid in a dense coniferous forest, which guarantees comfortable skiing even in snowfall. Skiers will be more relaxed on the slopes closer to the village itself. The longest blue track is Le Meridien. Professionals will appreciate the Col de Balme and l’Aiguille slopes. In the evenings, the Patinoire gondola operates and you can ride on simple lighted tracks. Night descents on the Cret du Merle and Cret du Louveteau tracks are organized on moonlit nights.
Some slopes are equipped for skiing in the evening and at night. The resort also has two snow parks and a halfpipe – snowboarders and freestyle lovers will appreciate this. The resort’s tracks are served by 56 ski lifts.
Skiing places are relatively diverse, most of the tracks present high demands to both skiers and snowboarders. This especially applies to the steep forest slopes descending from the massifs of Point de Verrez (2616 m), Del Aguille (2400 m), Del Etal (2400 m). The tracks here are mainly red and black, the most impressive is La Noirec of the Bogard massif. Where the descent is not full of bumps (which is typical for La Cleuz), riding them is a real pleasure!
It is difficult to even list all the possibilities of descents in the wilderness. Here is a real skiing Mecca for those who love freeride. As an example, you can name the wonderful slopes from Bogard towards the town of Tones.
The audience in La Cluza is mainly young and sporty, so there are always quite a few people who want to go down the black track or through the wilderness.
La Cluza ski resort is located near Mont Blanc and is at an altitude of 1,100 meters, thanks to which the slopes are well covered with snow. A height difference of more than a kilometer promises exciting skiing. By the way, the skiing area itself resembles a giant circle, two “freeride” mountains, and between them – a high ridge of 2,400-2,600 meters with a huge variety of terrain for freeride and, on the contrary, two “family” mountains with gentle tracks. In total, there are more than 130 km of tracks in La Cluise. Lifts in different parts of the ridge rise to 1,957-2,477 meters, which means that you can choose any slopes you like, and descents to the reverse side of the mountain with gigantic drops are possible. There are also wonderful areas of the forest that are suitable for excellent technical freeride, by the way, here in the forest you will find untouched nature – meetings with animals took place regularly.
Hotels in La Cluise
Hotel Logis Alp’Hotel, La Cluza, 3 *
Logis Alp’Hotel is a fashionable hotel with authentic architecture and Savoy design.
20 cozy hotel rooms are equipped with all the necessary equipment. Guests have access to a steam room, hammam, jacuzzi and indoor pool.
The hotel is located in the central part of La Cluza village . Throughout the year, guests will have the opportunity to engage in various active mountain recreation.
Hotel Beauregard, La Cluza, 4 *
Beauregard Hotel offers spacious and sun-drenched rooms with well-equipped bathrooms and satellite TV. All hotel rooms offer a beautiful view of the resort village of La Cluza or the Arabian mountain range.
In the restaurant Le Symphonie, which works on the territory of the hotel, the chef will prepare delicious dishes for guests according to authentic recipes.
Guests will have the opportunity to have a good rest and drink original alcoholic beverages in the bar and a large corner for spending leisure time, which has a piano and a fireplace. In addition, the hotel has snooker and table football.
Visitors to the Beauregard Hotel can visit the hammam, hot tub and swimming pool, which is open continuously. The hotel is located near the center of the resort village, thanks to which guests will have the opportunity to quickly reach the local shops and entertainment facilities. In the summer, you can go hiking in the mountains.
Hotel Best Western Alpen Roc, La Cluza, 3 *
Rooms at the Alpen Roc Hotel have a separate bathroom, satellite TV and wireless internet included in the price.
In the Alpen Roc hotel restaurant, you can taste a rich breakfast buffet and dishes of authentic cuisine. The cafe-restaurant is equipped with large bay windows with a beautiful view of the village. Dinner is served buffet style only during the French school holidays.
The Best Western Alpen Roc offers free parking, a 24-hour check-in desk and a ski and bicycle storage area.
Résidence – Les Grandes Alpes, La Cluza, 4 *
This 4-star complex is just a 3-minute walk from the ski slopes in La Cluise . Ski storage, free garage parking and a free 250 square meter spa are available. m with an indoor pool, sauna and hot tub.
Les Grandes Alpes offers chalet-style apartments with private balconies and mountain views. Amenities also include a fully equipped kitchenette. Guests can order bread and croissants for breakfast.
The complex has a lounge where you can relax by the fireplace, play billiards or watch LCD TV. Free Wi-Fi works throughout the territory.
In winter, the main type of active recreation is skiing, and in summer, the lake of the city of Annecy, 30 km from the complex, is popular. Geneva International Airport is a 55-minute drive away.
La Ferme 2-star hotel
Hotel La Ferme is located in the Alpine ski resort of La Cluise. Each room has its own shower, TV and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have a balcony. All rooms offer a panoramic view of the mountains.
Hotel La Ferm is located on the ski slopes. The cozy restaurant, decorated in a country style, serves traditional cuisine and specialty mountain dishes. A bar is open in the evenings.
Guests at Hotel La Ferme can enjoy skiing and various winter sports. In summer, guests can go hiking or mountain biking. The hotel has a charging station for electric cars.
Vacation with children in La Clouse
Families with children like to come to La Cluza on vacation, as there is a kindergarten and a ski school with a safe area for skiing. Music and crafts classes are held in the children’s club.
Entertainment and recreation
After skiing at La Cluza resort, you can have fun shopping, visiting restaurants, bars and clubs. An alternative pastime of après can be a visit to an ice rink, an aqua center with a swimming pool and a gym, riding a horse-drawn sleigh or a husky. There is a wide range of extreme activities such as paragliding, quad biking, snowmobiling and even hot air ballooning. Excursions to nearby farms are also held.
La Cloise is a charming place located just an hour’s drive from Geneva. A real Savoy village, not cluttered with ultra-modern hotel complexes.
The town is located in a mountain bowl, from which two gorges diverge as “sleeves”. Tracks for a wide variety of skiing are located on their slopes. This place has a long tradition of extreme skiing. Two facts are to blame for that.
First, there is a complete set of conditions for the most crazy freerider: virgin land, rocks, hills, forest virgin land, etc. Secondly, La Cluza is the birthplace of extreme professionals: Olympic mogul champion Edgar Grospiron, world champions Raphael Mono and Alexis Blanc, you can even watch their bodyflex videos.
The local fan club consists of probably the most passionate skiers in Europe. An endless series of ski festivals and carnivals take place in La Clusia throughout the season, so a vacation spent in this capital of freestyle and extreme promises to be far from boring. Paragliding, heliskiing and similar activities are natural additions to extreme skiing.
La Cluza is a very inexpensive resort, although people with pretensions will also like it here. Wealthy people will like local restaurants with traditional Savoyard cuisine. For young people, many of whom rest here – night life in its full variety.
On a bad day or if you just want a different landscape, I recommend going on a short trip down the valley. A town of the same name is located on the shores of Lake Annecy, 30 minutes’ drive from La Cluise. A more charming place for afternoon coffee or a formal dinner is hard to find. Lake Annecy is a miniature copy of Geneva, and the city itself looks remarkably like a small Venice.
Shopping in La Cloise
On Monday mornings, La Cluza hosts a farmer’s market where you can buy souvenirs made by local artisans, as well as local products. One of them is soft reblochon cheese with a crust, washed after pressing in brine. Many cafes and restaurants in the city serve dishes based on Reblochon, including fondue and raclette.
