Val d’Isère has long been one of the true European meccas of skiing.

Although the professional ski world knew Val d’Isère, the average skier began to hear more about it after native Jean-Claude Killy won his Olympic gold in 1968. The town was also home to three other Olympic champions who won a total of nine gold medals.

Here is a Val d'Isère resort map.

Here is an interactive Val d'Isère resort map.

The town lies at 6,070 feet (at its lowest point) and the ski area rises to 11,340 feet, with working verticals of more than 3,250 feet in all sectors of the resort. Skiers looking for the best on- and off-trail runs in the world need look no further.

Unlike many French purpose-built resorts, Val d’Isère is actually a village dating back from the 11th century. Unfortunately, when it was initially being developed, architects opted for functionally square, flat-topped hotels. Recently, though, new buildings have been constructed in the Savoyard Alpine chalet style and many of the unprepossessing buildings have been dressed up with facades to create more of a mountain atmosphere.

The ski area is linked with Tignes, creating “l’Espace Killy,” with 186 miles of marked runs for every level of skier, tried-and-true off-piste itineraries for serious experts and 90 lifts, including an underground lift with an uphill capacity of more than 3,000 skiers per hour.

For information, contact Office du Tourisme, BP 228,
73155 Val d’Isère, France
Country code: 0033
Telephone: 479 06 06 60
Fax: 479 06 04 56
Email: info@valdisere.com
Internet: www.valdisere.com

For hotel accommodations, contact Val Hôtel, BP 73,
73150 Val d’Isère, France
Country code: 0033
Telephone: 479 06 18 90
Fax: 479 06 11 88
Email: valhotel@valdisere.com
Internet: www.valdisere.com

Note: All prices are in Euros unless otherwise noted.

For more information on skiing and staying in the country of France, click the map.