Var-Rizul is the pearl of the Maritime Alps. A place with a wonderful Mediterranean climate. The sun shines here up to 300 days a year, and so much snow falls that skiing on the slopes of the resort is possible until the end of April.

In the 90s of the last century, Vars became part of the large combined ski area of ​​Foret Blanche, which translates as “White Forest”. It is the fifth largest skiing region in France. There are a total of 200 kilometers of trails of varying difficulty in Fort Blanche, and their total height difference is about 1,000 meters.

Var-Rizul is adjacent to the peaks of Massif des Ecrins and du Queyras. Not only the snow slopes are the natural wealth of the resort – there is a huge national park nearby, with massive glaciers, beautiful valleys, deep gorges, majestic peaks, as well as wolves, roe deer and marmots

Vars consists of four small villages: St. Marcellina (the oldest part of Vars), St. Marie, St. Catherine and Le Clos. The latter is located at the bottom of the Crêtes de l’Eyssina mountain.

The resort does not belong to the category of elite, but enjoys the reputation of a comfortable and qualified ski center with developed infrastructure and excellent climate. Ski schools and experienced instructors are at the service of beginners. Thousands of tourists come to Vars every year.

How to get there

Varc is located in the center of the Upper Alps department at an altitude of 1,850 meters. The nearest international airports are Turin (160 km), Grenoble (170 km), Marseille (250 km).

The nearest railway station is Mont Daphine / Gillestre (12 km).

Tracks and lifts

The Varu ski area lies between 1,650 and 2,750 meters in height, going down to the villages with several fairly gentle descents, but the upper sections of the track here are somewhat more difficult than in Rizul (an almost two-kilometer “red” descent, for example, goes from the peak of Peynier (2,273 m) to Sainte-Marie itself), but a long “green” track runs practically from the Le Clos line to Sainte-Marie (1650 m). At an altitude of 2,400 meters, there is an excellent snow park with an area of ​​8 hectares, and through the peak of La Mayt (2,580 m) you can get to the slopes of Rizul.

 

Varu’s wide pistes are ideal for speed downhill, which is why the World Cup stages of this discipline are often held here, and the Y, Entonnoir, Virgule, Petit Col, Cache and Banane slopes with slopes of 30-50 degrees are popular with freeriders. Unlike many other French resorts, to get to these interesting areas, you do not need to use a helicopter – access is by cable car, although it is still extremely difficult to get to the top of the Col de Vars (2109 m) without a “pinwheel”. In the valley and around the small picturesque lake Napoleon (Las Napoleon) there are about 40 km of flat skiing with a height difference of about 450 meters, and next to the main “green” slopes you can find about 2 km of special slopes for tobogganing and tobogganing.

Var-Rizul is known for its unique “snow guarantee”. Even at the beginning of winter and in April, the main routes are covered with snow.

Skiing area Var:

The total length of the tracks is 100 km

Cross-country skiing – 25 km

The longest route is 2.5 km

A landmark of the resort is the speed record track with a length of about a kilometer.

Skiing area of ​​Faure Blanche (Rizul and Var)

Skiing zone – 1650-2750 m

The height difference is 1100 m

Routes – 118 (20 green, 43 blue, 35 red, 10 black)

The total length of the tracks is 185 km

Tracks with artificial snow – 29 km

Lifts – 47

Cross-country skiing – 45 km

Hiking routes – 45 km

Snowboard park with one of the best slopestyle lines in Europe. The figures are built at an altitude of 2400 meters. Obstacle lines of varying degrees of complexity are in operation: for beginners, experienced riders and professionals. There are springboards with tables of 20 and 25 meters. The park is equipped with a video recording system and is served by two lifts.

In total, the ski area of ​​La Foret-Blanche has a little less than two hundred kilometers of excellent snow tracks of various levels of difficulty. The total height difference is one thousand meters. Professionals have the opportunity to practice mastering virgin terrain, and experienced skiers can try a number of tiring but interesting terrain routes with steep descents. For beginners, most of the tracks are located at an altitude of 1,600-1,800 meters, near the lower stations of the lifts. Also, ski schools staffed by experienced instructors are at the service of beginners, with the help of which, in just one week, you can master the basics of mountain skiing and learn more or less how to navigate in the wisdom of skiing. For snowboarders, there is a fan park with a half-pipe and a bordercross. In addition, among other winter entertainment at the resort, freestyle, carving, and freeriding prevail. For those who like to ride on snow-blades and sledges, special tracks have been laid. A lot of attention is also paid to fans of cross-country skiing, who have several dozen kilometers of cross-country skiing at their disposal. Hiking trails are actively used by connoisseurs of natural landscapes and clean mountain air, which can be enjoyed endlessly while walking through the snowy expanses of Rizul-Varu.

A one-day Foret Blanche ski pass for an adult will cost 31 euros, for children aged 5 to 11 years and pensioners (65-74 years) – 26 euros, for 6 days – 153.5 and 131.5 euros, seasonal – 608 and 495 euros, respectively. There is a large system of discounts and special offers.

Where to stay

The slopes of the resort are suitable for skiers of all categories, from beginners to professionals. At the same time, both families with small children and young people go here to relax. For both, there is a range of entertainment here, and the ways of spending time are so diverse that sometimes tourists do not even have two weeks to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know each of them. The choice of hotels is also quite wide. Inexpensive hotels and chalets, luxury cottages and chic villas, any of these accommodation options are always at guests’ service. The high quality of service and transport connections, modern cable cars equipped with high-tech lifts and other attributes of a high-quality ski resort make rest in Ryzul-Vars as comfortable and safe as possible.

Apartment Le Chalet Des Rennes 4 star hotel

Appartement Le Chalet Des Rennes is located in Var. It features a private pool, balcony and pool view. Featuring free private parking, the hotel is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking, skiing and cycling.

The apartment has a DVD player, a kitchenette with a dishwasher, a microwave and a fridge, a living room with a seating area and a dining area, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a bath. A flat-screen TV with satellite channels is available.

The hotel offers 4-star accommodation with an indoor pool and terrace. Le Chalet Des Rennes offers ski hire, ski-to-door access and ski storage. Guests can go fishing in the surroundings.

Popular points of interest near the hotel include TS Fontbonne, TS Sibières and TSD Escondus.

Chalet de luxe sur Vars

Located 400 meters from Vars Ski School, Chalet de luxe sur Vars offers accommodation in Vars. The hotel features mountain views and is 400 meters from TS Chabrières. Free private parking is available on site.

The kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, oven and microwave, as well as a coffee machine and kettle. Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and DVD player, as well as an iPod docking station. Chalet de luxe sur Vars features free WiFi throughout the property.

You can play tennis at the hotel, and ski equipment hire is available. TS Sibières is 1 km from Chalet de luxe sur Vars, while TSD Escondous is 1.2 km from the property. You can engage in various activities, such as skiing, horse riding and cycling.

Chalet-Hôtel Alpage & SPA 3-star hotel

The Alpage Hotel & SPA is located in the village of Sainte-Marie, just 150 meters from the ski slopes. It offers a spa center, a cozy bar with a fireplace and a mezzanine.

The spa center includes a sauna, hammam, hot tub and solarium. Facial and body treatments, as well as massages, are also available upon request.

Each room of this chalet-hotel is equipped with satellite TV, a telephone and a hairdryer. They also have a private bathroom.

In the Alpage restaurant, guests can enjoy regional cuisine and Alpine dishes. Homemade pastries and cakes are also offered.

Free private parking is available on site, and free Wi-Fi access is available in public areas.

Chalets Légendes d’automne 4 star hotel

Chalets Légendes d’automne is located in Var. The hotel offers self-catering chalets with views of the surrounding mountains and free Wi-Fi in all rooms.

This 3-bedroom chalet will provide you with a seating and dining area, a flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a balcony. There is a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave. The bathroom also has a shower.

At Chalets Légendes d’automne you will find a hot tub. Other facilities offered at the hotel include ski storage, ski equipment hire and a ski pass vendor. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including skiing.

Free private parking is available on site. You can visit the surroundings, check out the Sainte-Marie ski lift (1.4 km) and the Peynier 1 cable car (900 meters).

Après-ski and nightlife

Cafes, restaurants, discos, cinemas.

La Cabane is a good and cozy restaurant. The service is friendly, the food is delicious and reasonably priced.

Restaurant Le Torrent – great freshly prepared food at reasonable prices. Good choice for vegetarians, including omelettes at lunchtime. For desserts, order tiramisu with caramel and salted butter.

Restaurant Les Escondus is a classic mountain restaurant serving huge portions of raclette. The service is great, the food is good. The bar is separated from the dining room, which is always full of people.

The proximity to the Mediterranean Sea allows you to combine vacations in the mountains with trips to the Cote d’Azur. In the commune of Gillestre (15 km) there is a hot thermal spring of Plan-de-Facy, the medicinal properties of which were known since ancient times and were used for diseases of the skin, joints, liver and kidneys.

Active recreation

Cross-country skiing trails (45 kilometers), ice rink, hiking (45 kilometers of trails), sledding, snow rafting, swimming pool.

The highlight of the resort is a trip on sled dogs. Due to this, Var is called “Canada of the French Alps”.

In addition to the mountain slopes of La Foret Blanche, the resort has many other interesting ways of spending leisure time. As an interesting excursion, tourists are invited to visit the town of Rizul with a tour of local attractions. Its historical center stands out especially brightly against the general background. The main architectural object here is an ancient church built in the 16th century, which is decorated with a bell tower with an octagonal spire and artistic frescoes in the interior. Near the church are the medieval chapels of Godissar and Saint Sebastian, built around the same years. Just a five-minute drive from Rizul, among the picturesque mountain ranges, there is a thermal spring of Plan de Faci. It includes four pools with healing water known for its beneficial properties many centuries ago. this water which has a whole set of natural chemical components, is considered an ideal method of treating problems related to the kidneys, liver and diseases of various joints. Visiting the spring is absolutely free, and the excursion here is not only educational, but also health-improving in nature.

For nature lovers, a trip to Erken National Park is of particular interest. Massive glaciers spread out on its territory, with valleys and gorges, as well as about a hundred majestic peaks more than three thousand meters high. Roe deer, marmots, wolves and other animals live here. From the heights there are fabulous views of the surrounding landscapes. On the other side of Rizul-Vara, the Kerra reserve spread out, with an area of ​​650 square kilometers. There are eight villages here, surrounded on all sides by mountains and creating the impression of a piece of land cut off from the world, lost in the snow kingdom. Approximately half an hour’s drive from the resort area, the historical monument of this region was located – the medieval city of Briançon, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a kind of fortress city,

Tourists who prefer not to go outside the hotel can have an interesting and exciting time on its territory. Most hotels have swimming pools, gyms, sports grounds and massage parlors at their disposal. In the resort area there are restaurants with traditional French cuisine, discotheques, for dance lovers, a cinema and shops with souvenir shops, where you can not only buy souvenirs and replenish sports equipment, but also dress up well. Those who wish can rent a car and visit such cities as Grenoble, Chambery or the Italian Turin.

Turin

Conclusion

Rizul-Var can be called a traditional French ski resort, which does not belong to the category of elite, but enjoys the reputation of a comfortable and qualified ski center with developed infrastructure and excellent climate. Every year, thousands of tourists come to the resort, a large part of whom return here again, which speaks of the high quality and positive reputation of Rizul-Vara.