A more traditional Italian Alpine ski resort it would be difficult to find - Champoluc is a pretty village surrounded by mountain peaks and pine trees with a glacial-fed river running through its middle.
Driving from St. Vincent on the valley floor, you climb through dozens of bends, hamlets and small villages en route to Champoluc.
The village of Brusson, home to some of Europe's greatest cross-country skiing and a ski world cup venue, straddles the road which heads up the valley.
This undiscovered ski area covers over 200 kms of piste and the three resorts of Champoluc (where our hotels are situated), Gressoney and Alagna. Dave Watts, editor of the respected Daily Mail Ski Magazine, "loved" the ski area on a recent two day visit to Monterosa. He couldn't believe that such an area was so relatively undiscovered by British skiers. In an article in the Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard magazine (October 2001) he gave Monterosa a rave review.
High level (with skiing up to 3,500 metres) and snow-sure, Monterosa is a skiing and snowboarding paradise for those of any ability. Wide open pistes are a feature of all three resorts, with more difficult tree-lined runs for those looking for a challenge.
From the resort of Champoluc, the ski area is accessed by one of two lifts - one from the resort centre and the other from Frachey, a hamlet at the head of the Champoluc valley.
A nursery area for beginners is found at the top of the six-person Champoluc cable car, with good progression onto longer, more challenging runs. There is also a chairlift from the hamlet of Frachey (just outside Champoluc) which gives faster access to the easier runs on this side of the mountain.
Intermediate skiers and 'boarders' will be in heaven with miles of well maintained pistes, most with stunning views across the three valleys. For those who like to rest a little en route, the pistes have a good number of strategically placed bars and mountain restaurants!
For the more advanced there are a good number of tougher, more challenging pistes, with lots of chances to ski just off the edge of the marked piste to improve off-piste skills. For those that like covering as much ground as possible each day, the run from Champoluc to Alagna will appeal.
Monterosa was originally best known for its off-piste skiing and this still draws skiers from across Europe. Accessed either by the higher lifts or helicopter, the acres of virgin snow remain remarkably un-touched even days after a fresh fall.
The ski area infrastructure is excellent with many fast moving chairlifts. The pistes are well maintained, generally well marked and any that might suffer a little from the sun's rays are serviced by snow cannons for guaranteed snow all season.
The scenery in the Monterosa ski area is stunning, and even seasoned skiers will not be failed to be impressed by the far reaching views and mountain peaks. As you ski from Champoluc into Gressoney and on into Alagna, you really do get the impression of skiing into different resorts, each with their own unforgettable panorama.
Apres Ski
This is the kind of area where the nightlife is described by tour operators as ‘informal and relaxed’. What is there takes place in the bars of family hotels, where locals and tourists drink and play cards. The Champoluc disco scene centres on the Gram Parsons in Frachey, while the relaxed nightlife in Gressoney consists of cafés such as the Hirsch Stube and the Petit Bar. Gamblers with their own transport can visit the casino in St-Vincent (25km from Champoluc, 70km from Gressoney). Alagna has added some new bars and restaurants.
In regards to dining out, The Favre remains consistently good, with a bias towards gargantuan feasts of local game. Le Petit Coq and La Grange at Frachey are recommended too. Capanna Carla in Gressoney provides typical local cuisine at reasonable prices. In Alagna, Fum Diss offers superb game and polenta, and Ristorante Unione Alagnese is not to be missed.
