Vars-Risouls 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 there is so much snow that skiing on the slopes of the resort is possible until the end of April.

In the 90s of the last century, Vars entered the large united ski area of Forêt Blanche, which means “White Forest”. This is the fifth largest skiing region in France. In total, Forêt Blanche has 200 kilometers of slopes of varying difficulty, and the total difference in their altitude is about 1000 meters.

Var-Risoul is adjacent to the peaks of the Massif des Ecrins and du Queyras. Not only the snowy slopes are the natural wealth of the resort – very close is a huge national park, with massive glaciers, beautiful valleys, deep gorges, majestic peaks, as well as wolves, chamois and marmots

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

The resort is not an elite resort, but it has a reputation as a comfortable and qualified ski resort, with a developed infrastructure and an excellent climate. Ski schools and experienced instructors are available for beginners. Thousands of tourists come to Vars every year.

How to get there

Vars is located in the center of the Hautes-Alpes department at an altitude of 1850 meters. The nearest international airports are Turin (160 km), Grenoble (170 km), Marseille (250 km).

The nearest train station is Mont Dauphine / Gilles-et-Lac (12 km).

Trails and lifts

The Var ski area lies between altitudes of 1650 and 2750 meters, descending to the villages on several fairly gentle slopes, however, the upper sections of the trail are somewhat more difficult here than in Rizoul (an almost two-kilometer “red” descent, for example, goes from the top of Peynier (2273 m) to Sainte-Marie), but the long “green” trail runs practically from the Le Clos line to Sainte-Marie (1650 m). At an altitude of 2400 meters there is an excellent snow park with an area of 8 hectares, and through the peak of La Mayt (2580 m) you can get to the slopes of Rizul.

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

Var-Rizoul is known for its unique “snow guarantee”. Even in early winter and in April, the main slopes are covered with snow.

Skiing area Var:

Total length of trails – 100 km

Cross-country skiing – 25 km

Longest trail – 2.5 km

A notable attraction of the resort is the speed record track, about a kilometer long.

Foret Blanche Ski Area (Risoul and Var)

Skiing area – 1650-2750 m

Altitude difference – 1100 m

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

Total length of trails – 185 km

Trails with artificial snow – 29 km

Lifts – 47

Cross-country skiing – 45 km

Hiking trails – 45 km

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

In total, the La Forêt Blanche ski area has just under two hundred kilometers of wonderful snow trails of varying difficulty levels. The total height difference is a thousand meters. Professionals have the opportunity to practice mastering virgin terrain, and experienced skiers can try a number of exhausting but interesting terrain routes with steep descents. For beginners, most of the trails are located at an altitude of 1600-1800 meters, near the lower ski lifts. Also, beginners have access to ski schools staffed by experienced instructors, with whose help, in just one week, you can master the basics of alpine skiing and learn to navigate more or less in alpine skiing. For snowboarders, a fun park with a half-pipe and border cross is equipped. In addition, freestyle, carving, freeride prevail among other winter entertainment at the resort. For fans of snow blades and sleds, special trails have been laid. A lot of attention is also paid to cross-country skiers, who have several dozen kilometers of flat ski trails at their disposal. Hiking trails are actively used by lovers of natural landscapes and clean mountain air, which can be enjoyed endlessly while walking through the snowy expanses of Rizul-Var.

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

Where to stay

The resort’s slopes are suitable for skiers of all categories, from beginners to professionals. At the same time, both families with small children and young people come 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, elite cottages and luxurious villas, any of these accommodation options is always at the guests’ disposal. High quality of service and transport connections, modern cable cars equipped with high-tech lifts and other attributes of a quality ski resort, make a vacation in Rizul-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, a balcony and pool views. Featuring free private parking, the property is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking, skiing and cycling.

Featuring a DVD player, the apartment features 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 equipment hire, ski-to-door access and ski storage space. Guests can enjoy fishing nearby.

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

Chalet de luxe sur Vars

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

The kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. The rooms have 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 Escondus is 1.2 km away. You can engage in various activities, such as skiing, horse riding and cycling.

Chalet-Hôtel Alpage & SPA 3-star hotel

Located in the village of Sainte-Marie, just 150 metres from the ski slopes, Alpage Chalet Hotel & SPA offers a spa centre, a cosy bar with a fireplace and a mezzanine.

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

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

Guests can enjoy regional cuisine and Alpine specialities in the Alpage restaurant. Homemade pastries and cakes are also available.

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

Chalets Légendes d’automne 4 star hotel

Chalets Légendes d’automne is located in Var. It offers self-catering chalets with views of the surrounding mountains and free WiFi 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 full kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave. The bathroom also comes with a shower.

At Chalets Légendes d’automne you will find a hot tub. Other facilities offered at the property 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. If you would like to discover the area, check out Sainte-Marie Ski Lift (1.4 km) and Peynier 1 Cable Car (900 metres).

Après-ski and nightlife

Cafés, restaurants, discos, cinemas.

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

Restaurant Le Torrent – Great fresh food at reasonable prices. Good choice for vegetarians, including omelettes at lunch. For dessert, order the tiramisu with caramel and salted butter.

Restaurant Les Escondus – A classic mountain restaurant serving huge portions of raclette. The service is excellent, 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 a holiday in the mountains with trips to the Cote d’Azur. In the commune of Gilles-les-Bains (15 km) there is a hot thermal spring of Plan-de-Faci, the healing properties of which were known since ancient times and were used for skin diseases, joints, liver and kidney diseases.

Active leisure

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. Thanks to this, Var is called the “Canada of the French Alps”.

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

For nature lovers, a trip to the Erken National Park is of particular interest. Its territory is covered with massive glaciers, with valleys and gorges, as well as about a hundred majestic peaks with a height of more than three thousand meters. Here live roe deer, marmots, wolves and other animals. From the heights, fabulous views of the surrounding landscapes open. On the other side of Rizul-Var lies the Kerra reserve, 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 a snowy kingdom. About half an hour’s drive from the resort area is the historical landmark of this region – the medieval city of Briançon, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a kind of fortress city, built in the Middle Ages as a defensive fortification and from the outside, which is quite an impressive sight.

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

Турін

Висновок

Різуль-Вар можна назвати традиційним французьким гірськолижним курортом, який не відноситься до розряду елітних, але користується репутацією комфортабельного і кваліфікованого гірськолижного центру, з розвиненою інфраструктурою і чудовим кліматом. Щорічно на курорт приїжджають тисячі туристів, значна частина яких, повертається сюди знову, що говорить про високу якість і позитивної репутації Різуль-Вара.