Ski-Areas > Southern Alps > Alpes Maritimes (06) > Valberg
The ski resort of Valberg is situated in the Alpes Maritimes department in the Southern Alps region. It is part of the Valberg-Beuil ski domain and offers a total of 90kms of pisted skiing. The lift served area extends from 1430 metres to 2100 metres however it is not possible to ski this amount of vertical in a single run. Most of the pistes give you around 300 to 400 meters of descent Many of the pistes run down through wide, shady, gorges. This helps preserve the snow later into the season and is very attractive as the rocks feature spectacular hues of red, green and yellow. The two resorts are divided into a number of different sectors, piste signposting is excellent but there are some long traverses to get from one area to the other which may be annoying for snowboarders. The whole ski area has invested heavily in snow making over the last 10 years, boasting over 300 canons covering 80% of the runs. These obviously need cold weather to run and is not to the taste of environmentalists, and some tax-payers who have subsidised the work!
Valberg also has the only high speed quad chair lift in the Alpes Maritimes, the newly installed Garibeuil and there is also a high speed triple. This boosts the capacity from some 750 to 2400 skiers per hour in this popular part of the resort. In addition to the piste skiing there are 21 km of cross country trails. Compared to Beuil which is an authentic provencal mountain town Valberg has something of a "Wild West" feel to it being layed out along a main street with a variety of shops and bars. Apart from a burnt out discotheque when we visited last the town is not unpleasant.
A days skiing including Valberg cost 24 in the 2005-2006 season.
This short video of Valberg and the surrounding area gives a taste what is available.
Valberg is one of Frances original ski resorts, the first lift was installed in 1936.
Nearest Airport(s): Nice Côte d'Azur (75km) - 1h15 by car
Road: Nice > A8 > N202 > Saint-Martin-du-Var > D28 > Les Launes > Valberg
There are daily bus services from Nice station and airport. For the adventurous, and rich, the many helicopter companies in the area will arrange a private transfer. Flight time is around 15 minutes and cost is 800 Euros for 4 to 5 passengers, one way.
Rail: Nice mainline station
There is the curiously misplaced Swiss Chalet in Beuil town center. Otherwise we liked the Sud hotel in the middle of the ski slopes on the edge of town.
Cote Jardin restaurant, Blanche Neige (Snow White) pub and the Sud Creperie.
Four hours with an ESF instructor is a very reasonable 116 Euros.
Category: Ski Areas
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