It is like the plot of a bad Agatha Christie novel with ski resorts dying left and right. In the quiet Alpine village of Allos, suspense is mounting—not in a corny novel, but in real life. The fate of the Seignus ski resort in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is once again on the edge of a cliff. Following last winter’s closure of the Grand Puy resort, the town of Allos now finds itself in the spotlight. From June 4 to June 28, 5,500 local taxpayers will be asked to vote on one of three paths that could define the future of Seignus.
Mayor Michel Lantelme announced the consultation during a press conference this Wednesday, revealing options that range from painful tax hikes to a complete pivot away from alpine skiing.
The choices are as stark as they are symbolic:
The decision comes after a year of ambitious plans and structural shakeups. On January 1, 2024, Seignus was officially removed from the Espace Lumière intercommunal syndicate as part of a broader regional reorganization. In its place, the Syndicat Mixte du Seignus d’Allos (SMSA) was created on May 1, 2024, to spearhead a fresh development strategy aimed at revitalizing the resort.
Plans were bold. Studies were launched for a new ski lift on the upper slopes, improvements around Combet and the Serre, and the dismantling of outdated infrastructure like the Guinands lift. Meanwhile, a portion of the domain was to be reoriented toward ski touring, and new green and blue trails were to be added to the summer bike park. The 2024–2025 winter season was set to include a new pricing model, expanded rando-ski circuits, and even an "Explore Game" experience for families.
But dreams met reality. Last season was the third in a row with poor snow conditions. There was little natural snow below 2100 meters and above average temperatures dominated. Despite the reorganization and fresh leadership—Éliane Barreille and Magali Surle-Girieud now lead the new syndicate and resort board—financial challenges remain severe. In 2025, the town of Allos had to inject over one million euros to keep the station afloat, nearly exhausting its self-financing capacity.
As snows melt and the summer sun approaches, the village faces a crucial vote—set for June 28 at 5 p.m. in the Allos village hall. It will determine whether Seignus writes a new chapter in alpine tourism or closes the book on skiing altogether.
In the Alps these days, even the most picturesque postcard settings are not immune to hard choices. And this time, the mystery isn’t whodunnit—it’s what next