Where to Ski And Snowboard - French ski resorts open post-Covid lockdown

French ski resorts open post-Covid lockdown

21st May 2020, by Abi Butcher

The famous Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix, open for business today. Pic: facebook.com/ChamonixFans

Mountain resorts in France are opening for summer skiing as coronavirus lockdown measure in the country are slowly lifted. Today, the Aiguille du Midi cable car in Chamonix opens for skiers for the second time this month.

The Covid 19 lockdown in France was eased on 11 May, with residents allowed to travel 100km from their own home for leisure, prompting the immediate opening of ski resorts, as the Prime Minister indicated holidays would likely be permitted in July and August.

In Chamonix, the Aiguille du Midi cable car opened last weekend, with skiers using it to enjoy some late-season spring skiing; the Montenvers-Mer de Glace cog railway re-opened as well — with passenger numbers restricted. Both closed for a couple of days but Chamonix is now open again today for the long weekend. Although mountain biking, hiking, paragliding, rock climbing and ski touring are allowed again in the Savoie region, mountain huts currently remain closed — though tourist offices expect them to open next month.

The Grande Motte glacier in Tignes is currently scheduled to open for skiing on its 20km of pistes from 20 June until 20 August but says the dates may change according to the health situation and government measures.

A statement on its website reads: “The tourist office, the accommodation providers, the activity providers and the various shops in the resort are currently preparing for the summer season and are ready to open as soon as they are authorised to do so, in accordance with the directives which will be given. by the Government, and within the framework of their respective opening dates.”

The ski resort of Les Deux-Alpes is opening for skiing on the weekends of 6/7 June and 13/14 June, then plans to remain open between 20 June and 30 August, and Les Arcs is planning to run its lifts between 4 July and 29 August 2020 — but for mountain biking only, no skiing.