WINTER 2024/25 THE GUIDE
(November 16 to December 22), Aubagne (November 16 to December 29) and Aix-en-Provence (November 15 to December 31).
www.foire-aux-santons-de-
marseille.fr
SNOW SPORTS & FESTIVALS
The Alps, the Pyrenees, the Massif Central… France boasts some of the best winter sports resorts in all of Europe. Aside from skiing, snowboarding and the vibrant après-ski scene, there are plenty of seasonal celebrations in midwinter.
Enjoy the spectacle of La Grande Odyssée dog-sledding race
Les Arcs Film Festival A tribute to the diversity of European cinema, this festival at the famous Alpine ski resort will show around 100 fi lms from countries all over Europe. There’s a special focus this year on Iceland, with multiple fi lms and guests from the island. The festival runs from December 14 to 21. lesarcs-fi
lmfest.com
Eurostar Snow train Could this be the easiest and the most environmentally responsible way to get out to the French Alps for your skiing fi x? Departing every Saturday from December 21, 2024, until March 1, 2025, Eurostar is offering a daytime train service from London St Pancras International to Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-La-Plagne, Landry and Bourg-Saint- Maurice, with a quick change at Lille. Snow-sport luggage is included in the price. Return journeys run on Sunday mornings.
www.eurostar.com
La Grande Odyssée This is one of the longest and most challenging dog sled races in the world, featuring 11 stages across 400km of the French Alps. Thousands gather to watch the mushers and their teams of dogs – over
500 in all. Towns and villages along the route celebrate with fi reworks, exhibitions, igloo-building, camp fi res and huge tartifl ettes. The 2025 race takes place from January 11 to 23, starting in Megève and ending in Villard-de-Lans.
www.grandeodyssee.com
Les Gets Comédie Laughing… that’s one way to keep warm in the snow. From January 25 to 31, Les Gets ski resort stages Les Gets Comédie, with top comedians from the French and British stand-up scenes entertaining audiences after a day on the slopes. The francophone shows take place from January 25 to 30, while the anglophone show is on January 31 – all in the Salle de la Colombière.
www.lesgets.com/les-gets- comedie/
Snowboxx
Ski by day and party by night at Snowboxx, one of the best music festivals in the Alps. From March 15 to 22, Avoriaz is laying on live music and DJ sets from the likes of The Blessed Madonna, Groove Armada, Becky Hill and Melanie C, as well as bingo, fancy dress, bottomless brunches, sledge races and après-ski at the legendary La Folie Douce. Oh, and there’s plenty of skiing to enjoy as well.
www.snowboxx.com
Rise
“Party on top of the world,” say the organisers of Rise festival at Les Deux Alpes resort, which takes place from December 7 to 14 this year. The line-up of artists and DJs, including Chase & Status, Gorgon City, Sub Focus,
Hedex, BLK and Enzo Siragusa, will be performing across three main stages, fi ve indoor venues and a converted warehouse.
www.rise-festival.com
Abode on the Snow Val Thorens has earned its reputation as a hard-partying ski resort so it’s the perfect venue for this house and techno festival which takes place from January 4 to 11. Week-long festival passes start at £149. Accommodation packages available too. No under-18s allowed.
abodesnow.aboderecords.com
Learn French while you ski The Morzine-based Alpine French School offers French language courses for all levels designed to fi t around your time on the slopes. Courses run in the weeks commencing December 30 and February 17. Private lessons and accommodation can also be organised if desired.
alpinefrenchschool.com
Tomorrowland Ski by day and party by night at Snowboxx
The line-up had yet to be announced as we went to press, but rest assured, this electronic music festival in the ski resort of Alpe d’Huez always draws in excellent musicians and DJs.
❯❯ Dec/Jan 2025 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 127
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