France Montagnes was proud to launch its summer season on 28 March 2023 alongside 11 partners: Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Peisey-Vallandry, La Plagne, Brides-Les-Bains, Courchevel, Les Ménuires, Vaujany, Addet Alpes Du Sud, Val d’Allos and Peyragudes.
The event introduced sports, outdoors, travel and lifestyle journalists to the latest news from the Mountains of France, new seasonal developments in resorts and plenty of new summer activities, including some of the below.
Immersive accommodation
In Les Menuires, stay in a spectacular construction that follows the mountain’s relief and which will be open for its first summer this year. Or, experience 48 hours of fishing with a night at the Refuge de L’Etendard in Vaujany, close to the lake and known to hikers as a stopover on the glacial route up the Pic de L’Etendard.
Meditative walks and hiking trails
Hiking’s for everyone – you don’t need to be an expert to walk these easily accessible paths, while taking in the spectacular summits around you.
The Balcons du Vénéon and the Vallée Blanche paths are two new panoramic trails accessible on foot or by ski lift, both boasting stunning views across the Oisans area and its rivers. Loved by locals, the Petit Bonheur trail extends over 50km from Modane to Bonneval-sur-Arc and is a fantastic way to get from one village to another. Experience Courchevel’s new meditative path which offers exercises along the route to encourage walkers to live in the present moment.
Between Entre-Deux Guiers and Les Echelles, discover La Via Chartreuse’s new section which takes in the mountain scenery of the Chartreuse with its limestone cliffs and wooded hillsides. Six new walks are introduced in the Pays du Mont-Blanc, including a music-themed walk in Combloux punctuated with giant instruments to admire and play along the way.
Reach new heights
Journey up La Masse, in Les Menuires, a stunning eight-minute spectacle and 1,000-metre vertical climb that takes you to an altitude of 2,803 metres. Four additional glass-floored cabins have been installed to complete the experience. A new 60-metre Himalayan footbridge is opening above the Ambin gorges in Val Cenis, allowing access to a viewing platform and a new ‘fairly difficult’ Via Ferrata.
Lie head first on an air board (inflatable toboggan) and glide at full speed along a 35° slope for the purest adrenaline rush ever – thrills guaranteed in Gérardmer, Les Vosges.
Two new ziplines have also caught our attention: the largest pylon zipline in the world in Chamrousse and one flying over volcanic slopes on a 1,100-metre descent in Le Lioran.
Brides- Les-Bains offers a fantastic playground for all cycling fans, with its gondola lift connection to Méribel and its close proximity to iconic routes. Discover Val d’Allos’ many different types of marked routes and its unmissable annual event the Val d’Allos Tribe 10000 taking place in June.
Ground yourself in nature
The Mountains of France’s biodiversity is unique and must be protected – this year’s new acitivities fully reflect this.
Learn about mountain medicinal plants with the botanical path in Val d’Arly, an easy family route with information boards detailing the properties and benefits of each one. Make a hiker’s first aid kit with Alicia Blanc, who will take you on Le Grand-Bornand’s secret trails and tell you about the little-known healing properties of certain plants. In Les Contamines-Montjoie, join a mountain yoga weekend in the highest nature reserve in France, hear about edible and medicinal plants, watch wildlife while hiking and enjoy yoga and meditation sessions at sunrise and sunset.
Bond with goats in Morzine by discovering their way of life, learn how to herd them and tackle little obstacles with them. Or take part in Le Grand-Bornand’s mountain guides office challenge: hikers must try to herd goats and lead them to a barn for milking time before enjoying a well-deserved snack with the farmers.
Culture and events
Snowy peaks, turquoise lakes, grand forests, colourful flowers… the Mountains of France naturally sell themselves in summer. But there are also plenty of events and museums to keep you entertained.
In La Clusaz, Le Hameau des Alpes welcomes you to immerse yourself into the history of skiing and visit its museum, old sawmill, traditional oven and two barns. Take in a sensory visit to Notre-Dame-des-Vernettes Chapel in Peisey-Vallandry or pay a visit to Le Dévoluy’s “Mère-Eglise” Chapel, which is host to the oldest music festival in the Hautes-Alpes – “Musique en Dévoluy”.
Families can push their limits by tackling the Valmeinier Obstacle Race (9 July), with two planned obstacle races.
Discover a new dog trail event, also called cani-trail, in La Plagne (8-9 July). Climbing takes pride of place in Serre Chevalier with the World Climbing Championship (10-15 July).
This summer, attend free open-air concerts at beautiful venues from 16 to 28 July at Les Arcs Music Academy Festival.
Discover Alpine traditions! In Crest-Voland Cohennoz, taste famous bread and buns baked in the village’s traditional ovens over two days during the Traditional Baking Festival (5-6 August). Witness traditional folklore, taste local produce and wander around the Festival de l’Alpage’s craft market, which celebrates mountain pastures in Praz de Lys Sommand (12 August). See carriages of all types, mounted horses and authentic scenes recreating past local life with actors and scenography at the Fete de l’Attelage in Flumet.
Peyragudes will host the UCI DHI MTB World Cup from 1 to 3 September. Discover the newly-created international DH track showcases the natural terrain, combining earth, rocky sections and roots.
Download the France Montagnes Summer 2023 Press Kit
franceuncovered.com 