Auvergne, France

Capital City: Clermont-Ferrard
Closest Airport: Clermont-Ferrard
Population: 1,308,878
Resort Area: Ambert - Le Puy en Velay - Puy du Sancy - Murat - St-Flour
Snow Season: End December - end April
Main Language: French
Currency: Euro

The Massif Central tends to get overlooked as a ski destination in France, particularly amongst international holidayers. The resorts there however, are perched as high - if not higher - than many of the big guns in the Alps, and during the winter months that makes for some pretty good downhill action.

Centred around the industrial town of Clermont-Ferrard, the key resorts in the area include Mont-Dore, Le Lorian and SuperBesse. At roughly 1,800 metres, you get a good 600 metre vertical descent and 30-odd pistes at each, with all the usual conveniences, tuition and hire. Perhaps best of all, if you're anywhere in central France like Tours or Poitiers, you don't have to trek across country to get your snow fix.