The Milky Way: 400km of Franco-Italian pistes from Montgenèvre

400km of pistes, six resorts, two countries

The official figure is 400km of pistes, the majority of which lie in Italy, an imbalance which reflects the size of the Italian resorts within the area.

The six historic resorts are Montgenèvre in France, followed by Clavière, Cesana Torinese, Sestrière, San Sicario and Sauze d’Oulx in Italy. Sestrière is probably the most internationally recognised, being one of the historic resorts that hosted the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Montgenèvre side: a considerable local area

The Montgenèvre area alone, “Le Grand Montgenèvre”, comprises 95km of pistes, between approximately 1,750m and 2,600m altitude. This high altitude for the Southern Alps, combined with varied exposition, affords the local snow front a season generally longer than its southern counterparts at similar average altitude.

All levels are well represented, from beginner to advanced. It serves as daily terrain for skiers who wish to avoid crossing into Italy on a daily basis.

Italian side: distinctive terrain

Sestrière, accessible from Montgenèvre via the lift network and connections of the area, presents a distinctly different character: steeper terrain, predominantly red and black runs. It is a terrain for accomplished skiers, which represents a marked departure from Montgenèvre’s profile.

Sauze d’Oulx and San Sicario round out the offer with forested massifs and long descents, whilst Clavière often serves as a pivot point for border crossings by ski.

Crossing into Italy: what this entails

The crossing from France into Italy is undertaken by ski, via the area’s lift network. This opens access to several hundred additional kilometres, as well as to a Piedmontese après-ski experience, dining, Piedmont wines and the atmosphere of Italian villages, quite distinct from the après-ski of the Briançonnais side. For those wishing to take full advantage of the entire area, it is wise to allow at least a day dedicated to the round trip, whilst retaining sufficient time to catch the last lift.

When to visit

The altitude of the village (1,860m) and summits up to 2,600m on the Montgenèvre side afford a window of suitable snow conditions which typically spans mid-December to mid-April, with the heart of the season between January and March. February weekends see the heaviest footfall; January and the second half of March generally offer the best balance of snow and visitor numbers.

Planning a stay in Montgenèvre

AEC Collection selects and represents high-quality chalets and apartments in Montgenèvre, positioned within immediate proximity of the Milky Way’s lift network. Cross-border passes and conditions for France-Italy connections should be verified with the tourist office and lift operators.