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Risoul Ski Resort
Guillestre in the Southern Alps is home to lovely Risoul, a parish of tiny hamlets dotted about under a modern ski resort.
Most of the hamlets have their own guesthouses and hotels - Rua and its town hall being the nerve centre of the lot, Gaudissard the highest at 1300m and Hamlet L’Eglise arguably the prettiest, named after its 16th century Romanesque church. They’re delightfully compact and traditional, with church steeples, wood and stone buildings and surrounding forest.
On the other hand, Risoul 1850 has been purpose built on the mountainside – a collection of tall apartment blocks and hotels within easy reach of the ski lifts. It’s been here since the seventies, when the population of the quiet hamlets was diminishing and locals (AKA ‘Risoulins’) decided to build a ski resort to put Risoul back on the map.
There’s a reason visitors opt for the less attractive resort over the hamlets, and it’s the swift access to the Forêt Blanche ski area. Risol connected with Vars in 1990 to create a fabulous 185km linked ski area. Its name comes from the larch forest that blankets the mountain from 2200m and up top, sights of the Écrins and Queyras National Parks, Mont Viso and Mont-Blanc will blow your ski boots off.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Southern Alps, France
Established: 1970
Open: December – April
Downhill: 185km
View our detailed Risoul snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Risoul snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Turin Airport (TRN) | 157km, 2h15 |
| Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) | 227km, 2.5 hours |
| Grenoble–Isère Airport (GNB) | 199km, 3h10 |
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| Top Altitude: | 2750m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1650m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1850m |
| Longest run: | 8km |
| Slope Orientation: | N W E |
| Vertical Drop: | 900m |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | Yes – snow park |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 185km |
| Beginner slopes: | |
| Intermediate: | |
| Advanced slopes: | |
| Lift Pass Price: | €190 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Vars | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Risoul
With 21 green runs and 45 blues, beginners and improvers will have a ball in Risoul. The Espace Debutants (usually free to use) is near the village base, with easy access to the Chardons and Vallon Vert greens for progression. When you’ve got your ski legs, the R12 and R4 chairs serve some gorgeous tree-lined blues back to the village (we like Faucon). The ski area planners have laid out the pistes so learners can ski back home from the Peyrefolle summit like all other levels of skier and snowboarder – and we love them for it.
You can link over to Vars via the Col des Saluces blues, continuing down to the neighbouring resort on runs like Jas du Boeuf and Serre Banet.
The red runs here feature a mix of terrain – some groomed into crisp corduroy, others (like Lac and Aigles from L’Homme de Pierre) left with bumps and powder on snowy days. There are some excellent runs from Pointe de Raziz, which stream down towards the tree-line from 2571m. Don’t miss the highest point of the area, Pic de Chabrieres, where the red Col Sans Nom links with Pro Rond and other blues to Peyrefolle. The Olympic Superior and Inferior pistes are another favourite, which we could easily repeat again and again.
Experts have ten black runs to tick off the list, including the Epervier and Gentiane pistes (get to them via Peyrefolle) where bumps and powder are allowed to build up. Towards Vars, Coni from the top of the ski area is a must-ski, where the views are incredible.
The Vars half is freestyling central, with seven areas assigned to different levels. For freeriders, powder fields, gulleys and forest runs can be found all over the Forêt Blanche – get a guide to show you the best of it.
Risoul Apres Ski
Families are the main focus here, which means the après is less rowdy, more relaxed. That’s not to say you can’t find a decent watering hole in these parts - Grotte du Yeti has sister bars in Les 2 Alps and other resorts, and is a favourite for big themed parties where crowds spill out from the terrace. In the resort centre, Le Babao Rhum do all the classic cocktails and a cracking rum punch, while Pub La Place is a good spot for draught and bottled beers as well as whisky.
For food-focussed evenings, there are plenty of places to eat. Contrary to its name, Le Marmite is somewhere everyone loves and no one seems to hate, serving regional favourites like Tartiflette and fondue. Le Pitchounet serves everything from soup to fries and crepes (try the stuffed potatoes), while Le Chalet is a popular spot for raclette.
Ice skating, mushing and climbing frozen waterfalls are some of the wintery activities on offer here, while anyone needing a break from the great outdoors can relax in the Pause O Spa on the main street.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Risoul
Best time to visit & ski Risoul
One of the first things you hear about the Forêt Blanche area is how wonderfully quiet the ski area is. The lift company have brought in lift systems and queue management from the USA, creating a lift capacity of 57,000 snow lovers an hour. Even on the busiest day of the season you shouldn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes to get on a lift.
Another thing often mentioned is that Risoul has some of the best snow in the Southern Alps. Over 80% of the slopes here are above 2000m, and this with the dry climate and numerous north facing runs helps the area hold onto the white stuff well throughout the season. If things need a kick start, there’s also snowmaking on more than half of the runs.
Peak Dates
The Marché de Noël usually takes place in the lead up to Christmas in Risoul, with Noel Scandinave events on previous years featuring parades and husky sleigh rides with Santa until December 31st.
Music concerts and family activities have welcomed in the New Year in Risoul in seasons past.
Head to the Southern Alps for Half Term in Risoul, where lift queues don’t tend to take over the week.
Thanks to the bulk of the ski area being above 2000m and a host of north facing pistes, Easter in Risoul often still sees good skiing conditions.
Families in Risoul
Risoul’s ‘Espace Enfants’ childcare centre looks after youngsters from 6 months to 10 years old and opens throughout the ski season. The crèche for 6 month olds to 3-year-olds (find it above the ticket office and French ski school in the middle of the resort) has a dormitory, playpen and more toys than you can shake a stick at. 3-10 year olds are looked after in La Garderie (above the tourist office) and services include the ski school run, quiet time and indoor games as well as fun outdoors sledging and igloo making.
The Ski Kindergarten gently coaches little ones through their stops and turns, soon seeing them glide down the greens above the village. Those with more ski weeks under their belt can get involved in the Zing Zone’s freestyle area with its boardercross and forgiving obstacles.
Look out for exciting activities like husky rides with Father Christmas if you’re here in December, or swap ski boots for skates on the local ice rink.
GroupsGroup Holidays Risoul
With the Forêt Blanche to explore by day, and the likes of Grotte du Yeti to gather in come sundown, Risoul has a lot to offer groups. Spend less time in lift queues and more time roaming the linked ski area, which has a good amount for all levels of skier and boarder. If you’re a bunch of beginners, share the cost of a private instructor who’ll have you zooming down from the Peyrefolle summit in no time. Or, for more seasoned snow lovers, a mountain guide will show you some incredible steeps and deeps off the beaten track. Non skiers can visit the charming hamlets further down the valley, or sample the local spas and cafes. The nightlife isn’t as huge as Val d’Isere, but make Yeti or Babao your local for the week for music, drinks and dancing. For something different, get the gang husky sledding or climbing frozen waterfalls…
Which are the best ski holidays in Risoul?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Résidence le Silvana | 7 | £ 598 |
| Hotel Snow Chill | 7 | £ 716 |
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