Fribourg, Switzerland

Capital City: Fribourg
Closest Airport: Geneva - Zurich - Basel
Population: 258,252
Resort Area: Gruyeres - Vevey - Jaun - Fribourg - Bulle
Snow Season: Mid-December - end March
Main Language: German - French
Currency: Swiss Franc

The Fribourg Alps are perched at the eastern end of Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman, si vous preferez), close to the French border. Topping out at around 2,000 metres, these are no match for Switzerland's big hitters (which have double the height) and the handful of downhill resorts here are better suited to beginners or cross-country skiers than powder hounds or hard-riders.

That said, resorts like Les Paccots are convenient for many of the beautiful towns that line the edge of the lake (such as Vevey or Montreux) and if you're looking for a gentle afternoon jaunt into the hills or for somewhere to take your first slide, you could do a lot worse.