A well situated resort near the Riviera

95 Km from Nice and the French Riviera close to the Mediterranean Sea and the Nice International Airport is Auron/St Étienne de Tinée, an authentic ski and mountain resort. This area is one of the greatest ski resorts in the French South Alps and it offers lots of advantages like all downhill run levels in three sectors served by 26 lifts, with 3 cable cars. Altogether this resort is able to offer you more than 7900 m of downhill runs

95 Km from Nice and the French Riviera close to the Mediterranean Sea and the Nice International Airport is Auron/St Étienne de Tinée, an authentic ski and mountain resort. This area is one of the greatest ski resorts in the French South Alps and it offers lots of advantages like all downhill run levels in three sectors served by 26 lifts, with 3 cable cars. Altogether this resort is able to offer you more than 7900 m of downhill runs and skiing between 1600 and 2450 meters. Other advantages are the proximity of the Mercantour National Park, a very sympathetic and fun way of life in the ski resort Auron and the historic village St Étienne de Tinée. Not to forget is the very agreeable climate, which is due to the Mediterranean Sea. In the department of Alpes Maritimes, Auron St Étienne de Tinée is French since 1860. Before this date it belonged to the Savoy Kingdom- since 1388 This domination has given lots of great remains like the Baroc Art in the churches and the local flag.

There is a children's nursery in Auron that will take good care of your children from 9am to 5pm. Both indoor and outdoor activities are included and all children between 2 and 5 years are welcome. For kids between 4 and 7 years there is the Mini-club. That is a special ski-school for children with special activities and it has a great way of teaching children how to ski. Children who are not yet 5 years old can have a free ski pass and prices are reduced for children less than 10 years old.

Special Sights The Cable Car of Las Donnas the first in the French Alps, built in 1937. The Bercia Peak (easy to go with the chairlift) with a great viewpoint. The Benette Pass (in summer only) the highest road in Europe.

St Étienne de Tinée has got four churches and all are possible to be visited with a local guide. There are museums showing traditions and school history and also a library with a mediatheque. A swimming pool is situated in Auron with possibilities for relaxing and recreation.

In Auron there is a snowboard club and a snowboard area, which serves all disciplines: Free Style, Half pipe and also has a personal program, demonstrations and competitions. In the same village you are also able to rent snowmobiles per hour and go for a ride through the beautiful landscape. There is an artificial skating rink, open seven days a week with skate rental. Play hockey or be a princess on ice for a night.

24th December: Père Noel (Santa Claus) arrival in St Étienne de Tinée. Midnight Mass in St Étienne de Tinée church. 31st December: St Sylvestre Feast in St Étienne de Tinée.

During the day you can eat in one of our 13 mountain restaurants and self-caterings in the area. The Mediterranean climate provides a very sunny weather and you are able to have lunch in the open air even in the winter. You won't be bored in the evening with 18 restaurants in Auron and 7 in St Étienne de Tinée. After a good day of skiing we offer you a cinema with 2 or 3 movies daily and a nightclub. There are also four game shops and seven places where you can play billiards. To get a really sympathetic ambience you can listen to Radio Altitude on 92.6 every day every time.

With 130 km of downhill runs in three sectors served by 26 lifts with 3 cable cars this resort is able to offer you more than 7900 m of downhill runs. You can ski between 1600 and 2450 meters with a great variety of slopes. The three skiing areas are las Donnas, Sauma Longue and Demandols, all with different character and atmosphere. The resort is open to snowboarders with special runs for free style snowboarding and there is also a half pipe and a special snowboard-club. Cross-country skiers have got two special arenas and well prepared tracks to go with.

With 80 teachers the Auron's French ski-school is able to teach you skiing and snowboarding whatever is your level. You can have a lesson for one hour, half a day, one day or a week. The children can learn skiing too at the Mini-club. All children between 4 and 7 years old are welcome. Prices: Collective lessons (all levels) 102F in the morning. Particular lessons (all levels): starting at 178F an hour Ski stage for 6 days: mornings: 875F/ Flocon 660F/ Super 6: 1446F Snowboard stage (on 2 days): 127F.

There are 14 hotels in Auron/St Étienne and four different agencies where you can rent apartments. Well worth considering is the Forfait-compris-offer. That includes staying at a hotel, meals, a ski pass and all at a reduced price. Ask the tourist board for more information.

By car: Auron is 95 km from Nice and it will take you approximately 1 ½ hour to get there.

From Paris/Marseille follow A8 motorway in direction of Nice. Get out at Saint Isidore and follow Grenoble/Digne direction on National road 202. Get out at da Mescla and follow Auron/St Étienne de Tinée/Bonette Pass.

By train/plane: At the arrival (Train: Nice station at the town centre. Plane: Nice International Airport) Take the Santa-Azur coach company. There are 2 departures daily and the company phone number is +33 4 93 85 92 60.