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Courmayeur, Italy: Ski & Soiree In One
Jonathan Swift
At the bottom of Mont Blanc, lying on the Italian side of the mountain, you'll find the Italian ski resort of Courmayeur. Near the Aosta Valley-the least populated region in Italy-Courmayeur fits the Italian village image. Small restaurants with tables in the alleyways and cobbler's cobblestones forming the passageways, Courmayeur is a postcard of medieval Europe.
With Mont Blanc in Courmayeur's backdrop, there'll be plenty of snow for a very long season. Mont Blanc, as you may know, is one of the world's tallest mountains and summits at 4,810 meters. It is also Western Europe's tallest mountain. It's not a wonder then that Italians consider this to be one of the prettiest resorts in Italy. Visitors come in hordes year-round really. In the winter, the crisp mountain skiing air, the aprs ski venues and accessible location give crowds a reason to come. In the summer, too, the Giardino Botanico Alpino Saussurea (Europe's highest botanical garden) and hiking keep Courmayeur humming at full throttle.
No matter the season, Courmayeur is strikingly popular at weekends, both because of access and because it is the quaintest of all the area resorts. The ski area, however, is a bit more difficult to access, so while some may not come for skiing, they do come for the nightlife and charm. If you had a week, you could reasonably ski and party an equal amount of time. Courmayeur is not for those looking for hundreds of kilometers of pistes, but rather for those in search of a mixed ski holiday.
Though smaller than other Alp skiing areas, the Plan Checrouit has snow cannons capable of dumping tons of snow. The terrain does, however, get plenty of snow with Mont Blanc creating essentially her own weather system. At any one time, the snow can keep coming for a very long time during the skiing high season. Predictable snow offers skiing security for your ski holiday. Plus, if you don't like skiing, you can take a helicopter tour around the whole Aosta Valley.
The skiing area in Courmayeur has its highlights, but can become fatiguing after a few days. Luckily, Courmayeur's favored location gives skiers easy access to Cervinia and La Thuile ski areas. If you go for daybreak from Courmayeur, then you can access the slopes at Chamonix (France) and Verbier (Switzerland). If you don't want to escape and wish to stay put for more than a week, the Val Very section of Courmayeur has received upgrades over the past few years. This equates to better skiing and more snow in all the skiable areas.
If you want to get out and about in Courmayeur, travel to the town of Dolonne, where the more residential side of Italian life strums by. Here, there's a sport center if you'd like to not forget your fitness training. To get here, you'll have to cross a bridge over the tributary before the A5 road. Mont Chetif's summit has a statue of the Virgin Mary watching over the town. It's almost impossible to escape her glare.
Courmayeur ski resort has a number of lifts to transport you to the top. You can ride the one gondola or one of four cable cars up to 2763 meters. The eight chairlifts or seven plate lifts won't be overcrowded even during the high season. If you mainly ski the blue/green runs, you'll have seven slopes to choose from. If you ski the reds, then you're in luck as there are nearly twice as many slopes with 13. If, however, you're a black slope skier, you'll have the least with four, though they are said to be bumpy.
All the ski areas vary from 1224 meters (the resort altitude) to around 2600 meters. There's around 100 km of pistes and 22 total runs. The uphill hourly capacity is 8500 people. If you're into cross-country, then there are trails at Val Ferret in Dolonne. Snowboarders are also welcome in Courmayeur and Dolonne. Though the numbers may seem discouraging when compared to other Alp resorts, Courmayeur has some nice slopes and runs, especially if you like quick challenges.
Because the skiing can be limiting, there's plenty of aprs ski options to attract the leeriest of vacationers. If you're into being active, then try the indoor ice rink, fitness center, snowshoe walks, heli-skiing, curling, swimming pool, and walking tours. If you're into music, dancing or restaurants, you won't be let down. At Poppy's Disco pub, dancing on the tables is not only allowed but also encouraged. The restaurants dish up everything from Italian food to seafood. There's a weekly market to boot. Ski schools can teach your children as young as six months to 12 years old. This will give you a chance to escape familial responsibilities and hit the slopes and truly experience Courmayeur.
O.B.S. company is currently working on Italian skiing project, Courmayeur ski resort. It represents Courmayeur cheap hotels and possible winter vacation activities in Courmayeur, Italy .
Article submitted Friday, September 26, 2008
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