French Ski Areas Announce Summer Opening (15-May-11)

All of the ski areas in France are currently closed...

All of the ski areas in France are currently closed, the only major Alpine ski nation to have no skiing available over the next four weeks.

However three glacier ski areas will open in the country next month and in 2011 the opening dates have changed a little so that one opens a little earlier, and one stays open a little later, than in previous years.

First to open, for a five week summer ski season, will be Val d’Isere. The lifts on the Pissaillas glacier will be open from 7.30am to 12.30pm daily from June 11th to July 17th, 2011 depending on snow conditions. This is the only time of year when you can buy a six day lift pass here for 124 Euros.

Les 2 Alpes, which claims to operate the largest summer ski area in Europe, and Tignes both open a week later on 18th June but stay open much longer, through to 28th August and 4th September respectively. In the case of Tignes it will only be closed then for a few weeks before opening for winter 2011-12 in late September.