Airport

About Risoul

A large sunny bowl with particularly stunning scenery, the sweeping tree-lined runs of Risoul sit inside the La Forêt Blanche ski area, just 2 hours 30 from Marseille airport. Known for its great sunshine records, you can't help but feel happy here, surrounded by woodland settings and a genuine French atmosphere. The village sits high in the bowl, surrounded by peaks on three sides, so you can usually ski right into the resort.

Risoul is also just 300 km from Nice, and sits inside the Queyras Regional Park, an area of great beauty. Pistes are usually quiet, with few queues, and generally good snow cover. The resort has earned the Petit Montagnard label, with its leafy lower slopes ideal for families. It's also got a lot to offer intermediates, with a huge variety of blue and red runs. There's particularly good off-piste for good skiers, and some challenging moguls.

Sitting at 1850 m, Risoul is very popular with boarders, with one of France's largest board parks. After you've put in the hard yards on the slope, Risoul provides a happy medium of after ski entertainment. It's lively and informal, with lots to suit families, but also some cool bars and clubs.

For beginners

For intermediates

For the advanced

Ski school

Après Ski

Off the Mountain

Getting there

By air

Airport transfers

By train

By car

For beginners

Beginners are very well catered for - wide nursery slopes are conveniently located in the village centre and there are many easy runs further up the mountain leading back to the village to enjoy after a few lessons.

For intermediates

Intermediates have a fantastic variety of blue and red runs to choose from and breathtaking scenery to enjoy, with larch forests surrounding the pistes and village. The have the most choice here - so if you're a mid level skier at Risoul, take advantage of it!

For the advanced

Advanced skiers have more limited choices, but will find some challenging black runs and moguls on the Vars side, and some great off piste around Risoul. Boarders have the luxury of one of France's largest board parks. The Olympique red just over the Vars side of the Foret Blance is great early in the days, with a challenging passage mid-way. You can stop for a hot chocolate at the Chamois hotel at the bottom of the piste.

Ski school

You can trust that your little ones will be well looked after here, with several great clubs. Le Bebe Club caters for children from 6 months to 3 years, Club Les Marmottes caters for children from 3 to 6 years and Club Les Petits Montagnards takes children from 6 to 12 years. The kids clubs relay with the local ski schools to offer both child care and ski lessons. Adults are also well cared for by several professional ski schools.

Ecole du Ski Français Risoul 1850
05600 RISOUL
Tél. : 04 92 46 19 22 • Fax : 04 92 46 03 22
E-mail : esf-risoul-1850@wanadoo.fr www.ski-ecole.com/risoul
ski-cool-Risoul
front de neige
05600 RISOUL
Tel: 06 80 25 71 28
www.ski-cool-risoul.com

Après Ski

Risoul knows how to party, but not too much to put families off staying here. It finds a good balance, with a lively, informal atmosphere, and a good selection of restaurants, bars and a few clubs. The Yeti is a must if you're young and want to have fun, other popular bars include: La Place, La Licorne, Bar Babao, Snowboard Café, Le Cherine and The Morgan nightclub. The restaurants cater for every taste and budget - from gourmet French cuisine to simple pizzas. L'Assiette Gourmande serves up excellent traditional cuisine, as does Le Cherine. Other popular spots are: La Tradideria, La Dalle en Pente and La Marmitte.

Off the Mountain

If you want to try something a little different, and need a little relaxation at the end of a big day, an Ayurvedic massage, cures or Indian yoga. If you like a little adrenaline, take your first microlight flight, Have your first microlight trip overlooking crests, discovering glens, and taking in breathtaking views over the Serre-Ponçon lake. Other options: Ice skating, snowshoeing, walking trails, bowling, cinema, skidoo, gym, ice hockey matches, paragliding and snow mobiling. Kids will love the Merry Go Around "Le Lutin", and you can also enjoy scouring the 100 shops to buy those back home (or yourself!) a treat.

Getting there

By air

The closest airports are Marseille 2 hours 30, and Grenoble.
Marseille Provence Airport
Phone: 04 42 14 14 14
Grenoble St Geoirs Airport:
Phone: 04 76 65 48 48

Airport transfers

White Shuttles will pick you up from the Marseille-Provence airport and whisk you quickly to the pistes.
Enquiries at Office de tourisme de Risoul:
04 92 46 02 60

By train

The closest train station is the Mont-Dauphin SNCF station. You can get direct trains there from Marseille and Paris. There is a TGV connection from Paris, Valence, Grenoble or Aix TGV.
To transfer to Risoul, there's a shuttle you can jump in from Montdauphin SNCF train station and from the bus stations in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Nice.

By car

From Grenoble:
Take the N85 (Napoleon Road) up to Gap, and then follow Briançon via the RN 94 until Guillestre.
Or try the N 91 (Col du Lautaret) until Briançon then to Guillestre via the RN 94.
From Marseille:
Take the A 51 (motorway) until La Saulce, and then follow Tallard and Briançon via the RN 94 until Guillestre.
Road information CRIR: 08 26 02 20 22
Col du Lautaret: 04 92 24 44 44
Distances:
Paris 719 km (7h17)
Marseille 237 km (2h27)
Lyon 258 km (3h16)
Montpellier 357 km (3h32)