Risoul and Vars, two sister resorts with a hint of the South which besides share a vast larch forest with a backdrop of entwined peaks. Their combined ski areas satisfy the demands of skiers avid for wide open spaces and ready to do battle with the mountains.

Risoul and Vars created La Forêt Blanche area in 1990 by linking their respective slopes. The area gets its name from the larch trees that cover the mountainsides up to a height of 2200 m. From this spectacular setting you get a magnificent vista of the surrounding mountains, from the Alpes Maritimes to Haute-Savoie, from the Massif des Ecrins to the Queyras, from Mont Viso to Mont-Blanc. Located right in the heart of the Guillestre region, this ski area is above all true mountain country with loads of potential for winter sports enthusiasts.

 The cold, dry climate preserves the quality of the snow and the pure blue Guillestre sky soon reappears after heavy but short lived snowfalls.
“Since global warming,” explains Roland Bernaudon , director of operations at Sermont ski lift company, “although it’s a contradiction, we are less affected by lack of snow. South-facing slopes are certainly not as snowy as before but, on the other hand, north-facing slopes have more snow. There are fewer big snowfalls but lots of shorter, light snowfalls. Risoul is one of the Southern resorts with the best snow records in the region”.