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HOW TO GET HERE

By plane
The nearest airports to Vars are Turin, Cunéo-Levaldigi, Marseille-Provence, Grenoble-St. Exupéry and St. Crépin.

By train
The nearest station to Vars is Montdauphin Guillestre (15km). You can also get to Vars from Paris/Briançon which has direct trains/night trains with berths, going by TGV via Paris-Valence or Paris-Grenoble and Marseille/Briaçon which also has daily conections.

By car
From Marseille via the A51 motorway until Gap/Tallard, then follow Embrun-Guillestre-Vars.

From Paris via the A6 motorway until Lyon then take the A43 motorway until Grenoble then follow Briançon through the col du Lautaret or Gap through the col Bayard then Embrun-Guillestre-Vars.

From Turin : Go to the border at Montgenevre, then follow Briançon-Guillestre-Vars

WHY WE RECOMMEND IT?



The resort is compact and purpose built, yet still attractive, with numerous traditional chalet-style buildings, in a lovely woodland setting and a genuine French atmosphere. With high altitude skiing, the area boasts a good snow record, as well as lots of sunshine.

Vars ski resort is linked with Risoul, part of La Forêt Blanche, one of the largest ski areas in the Southern French Alps. It has access to 108 individual pistes in addition to the 64 pisted ski runs in Vars. The Vars ski resort itself is above 1500m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With pistes above 2500 metres, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

The resort has a speed skiing course, open every day of the season, allowing users to reach up to 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph). Accessed via the Crévoux chair, the course has been designed by speed skiing professionals. The resort also has a permanent parallel slalom course which is used for 'boarder cross races and offers regular shows and demonstrations from freestylers and 'boarders.

The slopes are generally uncrowded and there are a large variety of gentle slopes, more challenging pistes, as well as an abundance of off-piste possibilities. The ski area offers a lot of good freeriding for snowboarders and also boasts an excellent snowboard park.

Eating out & Nightlife
Vars les Claux is a very French compact resort, comprising two small shopping parades, each with its own selection of shops, bars, restaurants, night club, skating and games hall. Bars are mostly hotel based but can get lively by French standards, especially at weekends when the crowds arrive from Provence.

There are more than 20 bars to choose from. For occasional live music in try the piano bar Le Gruate in the Hotel Les Escondus. Nightclubs open to the early hours include Le Lem, Le Lynx and Le Look.

SKIPASS PRICES:


About the ski resort Vars

The resort is made up of four different villages, with Les Claux by far the largest and home to the most facilities. The most modern of the villages, it blends into the woods at the base. Hit Les Claux for the best bars and après-ski atmosphere.

The smaller villages include Sainte Catherine, a sunny village with typical Vars architecture; traditional old farms with the ground floor made out of stones, upper floor out of wood, and a balcony to dry the clothes. The village has kept its communal wash tub, its traditional larch wooden balconies, its "gruate" (pulleys to store ricks) and its communal oven. Saint Marcellin is the oldest village, and objects and jewels dating back to bronze age have been unearthed close by during excavations.

The gateway to the ski areas, Sainte Marie, is the administrative centre and site of the first tourist developments, and with the Peyniers and the Olympic snow fronts, where some of the Forêt Blanche's most beautiful pistes remain. With good snow, great sun and cheaper prices than some French resorts, Vars is a guaranteed good ski holiday for a lower cost.

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Vars hotels pictures Vars apartments pictures
  Useful facts   Accommodation   Photos and videos    

Vars When would you like to stay at

Hotel Ecureuil
Vars les Claux
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Ski slopes:
Wellness:
Village centre:
Skibus:
Pets:
Internet access:
starstar
Ski slopes:
Wellness:
Village centre:
Skibus:
Pets:
Internet access:
starstarstar
Ski slopes:
Wellness:
Village centre:
Skibus:
Pets:
Internet access:
Vars skimap More pictures...

Airport connections

Nearest Airport: Turin (150km)
Bus from airport
Shuttle from airport

Number of ski slopes: 108
Ski slopes: 180 km
 

 
 

 

Details about ski resort

Night skiing False
Opening date: 13.12.2008
Closing date 20.4.2009
Maximum vertical drop (m): 900
Artificial snow (%): False
Longest slope (km): 0

General information

Min. altitude: 1650m
Max. altitude: 2750m
--- winter ---

Lift facilities

Drag lift True
Chair lift True
Cable car
Gondola

Connected resorts

Connection available with other ski resorts with one ski-pass
Connected resorts Risoul - La Foret Blanche
Max. length (km) reachable with one ski-pass: False

Connected resorts

Half pipe
Fun park
Corner
Wave rides
Snowboard cross
Jumps
Slides
Boxen
Snowboard park description Risoul and Vars offer impressive snowboarding facilities. In addition to the 180kms of pistes, there is an excellent snowboard park in Vars under the TS Crevoux chair lift. This 'Surfland' has many attractions including some interesting kickers, rails and several quarter pipes. Pipe lovers will find two natural half pipes and a full size machine made pipe. In the evenings, there are regular night-time snowboard jump competitions.

Cross country skiing

Classic cross country runs (km) 0
Skate cross country runs (km)

Additional activities

Snow tubing
Curling
Tobogganing
Paragliding
Sleigh trips
Heli skiing
Dog sled
Ice skating
Winter hiking

Public infrastructure

Indoor pool
Indoor tennis
Sauna
Hot spring
Fitness centre
Casino
Massage centre
Camping

Children

Child slope
Child lift
Children's park
Childcare
Child carpet lift

Gastronomy

Restaurants
Bars / Pubs
Discotheques
Ski huts

Rentals

Rent-a-ski, boots, ski poles True
Rent-a-snowboard True
Rent-a-touring ski
Rent-a-telemark ski
Rent-a-sport outfit
Ski depot
Rent-a-car False
--- summer ---

Sporting activities

Tennis
Beach volley
Inline skating
Kayak
Paintball
Animal observation spots
Adrenaline park
Hunting
Squash
Basketball
Cycle paths
Canoe
Gliding
Panorama flights
Archery
Diving
Badminton
Football
Surfing
Hiking
Fishing
808098'08080'8908 [field:sport_winter_skiing]
Nordic walking
Volleyball
Skateboard
Sailing
Horse riding
Mini golf
Cave exploring
Running paths
Golf
Golf holes

Mountain bike

Signposted MTB routes
Downhill route
Free ride route
Bike park

Climbing

Fixed rope route
Climbing park
Climbing centre
Climbing tours

Adventure

Rafting
Paragliding
Bungee jumping
Canyoning
Hydrospeed
Adrenaline park

Course, school, guidance, animation

Tennis
Climbing
Kayak
Public animation
Badminton
Mountaineering
Horse riding
Squash
Surfing
Paragliding
Golf
Sailing
Nordic walking

Nature experience

Zoo
Petting zoo
Stables
Nature trail
National park

Rentals

Bicycle / Mountain bike
Surfing / Sailing
Kayak
Canoe
Walking boots
Mountain sports equipment
Nordic walking poles
Boats
Fishing equipment
Scooter, motorcycle

Public infrastructure

Supermarket
Camping
Chemist
Cinema
Railway station
Bowling
Internet café
Billiards

Public wellness

Solarium
Thermal spa
Bathing river
Fitness centre
Outdoor pool
Bathing lake
Massage centre
Indoor pool
Beauty farm
Sauna centre
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