Poster: A snowHead
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Can anyone give me some feedback on Pralognan La Vanoise ? Skiing, village, potential etc etc. Keep hearing thats its the next" Chamonix!" don't know how much truth there is to that ! Any info much appreciated. Thanks
Rgds
Rich
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Rich, reckon you've seen the same email I have. Looks a bit low to me - max alt 2300, next Chamonix????? Also if you google it you don't get a lot. Not sure it's worth the risk.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Good question. It stretches my imagination if it is the next Chamonix.
To start with Pralognan La Vanoise is in Tarentaise. It can be reached by the road leading to Courchevel off Moutier. Instead of turning right going up to St Bon one goes straight into Bozel leading to Champagnay en Vanoise and then Pralognan La Vanoise. Pralognan is the last civilisation of the dead end of that road. There is a small mountain road beyond Pralognan, showed on both Michelin road map and also the 1:25,000 scale Les Trois Vallees map, leading to the bottom of Petit Mont Blanc with a summit of 2677m above sea level.
If Pralognan is termed as the next Chamonix then it is a poor man's version because the real Mont Blanc is the highest summit in the Apls at 4807m. The 2130m difference is a lot to catch up as it can swallow up the highest mountain in UK.
After checking the 3 Vallees and Paradiski piste maps I can confirm Pralognan is in neither map. Therefore Pralognan has to operate independent of the 3 Vallees and Paradiski. From the look of its piste map it is small by the Tarentaise standard. It also charges less than 20 Euro for a day pass comparing with 31 Euro for La Rosiere/La Thuile with 140km piste, 32 Euro for Valmorel with 152 km piste, 38 Euro for either Les Arc or La Plagnes each has over 200km piste and 41 Euro for 3 Vallees with 600km piste.
Many local small resorts in France are enjoyable for skiing holidays and I don't doubt this is one of it. However having a summit called Petiti Mont Blanc is not enough to become the next Chamonix. Apart from being the highest in the Alps Chamonix is about 20 miles from Switzerland and 10 miles from Italy. It is a gateway to cover three countries skiing experience and cannot be compared with being stuck at the dead end of a road where most visitors are channelled into the 3 Vallees. However being deep in the valley the snow will be good and far from the madding crowd would ensure a nice and relax skiing hoilday.
Sorry if there is more cold than warm water pouring over the shoulder but there must be a limit the French can offer for a 20 Euro in a day's skiing.
Let's hope other snowheads can put some sparks into this resort which I have assessed only from the facts as I haven't ventured into it myself. I could visit it next time I am in Tarentaise as I thought I have only left out Ste Foy unvisited.
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I have stayed there.
I was at the PTT lodge. The lodge was memorable for having draught wine. We were on all-inclusive deal
The skiing itself is not extensive.
There is a bus that connects to La Plagne but we had cars too. So I mostly skied La Plagne after the first day at Pralognan.
Town is a lovely little place and the area is in some sort of protected National Forest area.
Buses connect to the train station for Eurostar travellers.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Haven't skied there, but as well as La Plagne, you could also ski Courchevel if you have a car.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It's a nice little village, but limited skiing. It's quite a long drive to Courchevel from Pralognan, down to Bozel then back up to Courchevel 1300 before you hit the first ski lift.
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Latchigo,
Presumably the sensible way to ski La Plagnes from Pralognan is drive the car to Champagnay?
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saikee wrote: |
Latchigo,
Presumably the sensible way to ski La Plagnes from Pralognan is drive the car to Champagnay? |
Yes and that is where the bus from Pralognan ends up too.
I think any references/comparisons between Pralognan & Chamonix were somebody having a laugh.
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