La Voie Lactée (Via Lattea)

Montgenèvre is the only French resort in La Via Lattea, a vast cross-border ski area that extends on the Italian side to Sestrières, Sauze d'Oulx and Sansicario — 400 km of runs in total. Founded in 1907, Montgenèvre is one of the very first ski resorts in France, set on a pass at 1,860 m that guarantees early snow cover. The atmosphere is distinctly southern, with the sunshine of the Briançonnais and the nearness of Italy felt everywhere, from the refuge menus to the accent heard on the lifts. The 95 km belonging to Montgenèvre alone are more than enough for a week; the rest is a bonus.