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Val Cenis
Three gateway villages linked ski-in beneath the Mont-Cenis pass, 125 km of runs including Europe's longest green — and two entirely free Nordic domains.
At a glance
Type
Ski resort
Access
Paid
Best season
12 or 13 December 2026 – 16 April 2027 (depending on the page)
Parking
Zone des Glières car park, at the foot of the slopes: 'Free', all year, reserved disabled space, animals accepted
Town
Val-Cenis
Winter access
open
Winter infra
['ski_alpin', 'ski_fond', 'luge', 'raquettes']
Wheelchair access
Partially accessible Source: Val Cenis — ESI (fiche officielle)
What is Val Cenis
Val Cenis, in Haute Maurienne Vanoise, links three gateway villages ski-in — Lanslevillard, Lanslebourg and Termignon — on an alpine domain from 1,300 to 2,800 m (1,500 m of vertical): '125 km of waymarked runs', '65 runs including 17 green, 21 blue, 22 red and 5 black' and 29 lifts. Its signature run stretches '10 km: the length of the Escargot run, Europe's longest green run' — winding down along the Mont-Cenis pass road. The resort holds the Flocon Vert label.
Free here means Nordic, and completely: 'The Val d'Ambin Nordic ski domain is free for everyone!' (29 km between 1,230 and 1,800 m, on the Bramans side), and at Val Cenis Termignon, 'at the foot of the Vanoise National Park and along the Doron', 'Access is free and open!'. The third domain, the Monolithe (39 km groomed for skating and classic), is shared with Aussois. On the alpine side, the pass is 'free for children under 5 and seniors over 75', and the 'weather guarantee' is presented as 'a Val Cenis exclusive'.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Villages
Lanslevillard · Lanslebourg · Termignon, linked ski-in
Domain
125 km · 65 runs · 29 lifts · 1,300 – 2,800 m
Season 26/27
12 December (alpine page) or 13 December (passes page) – 16 April 2027
Free
Val d'Ambin and Termignon Nordic · pass under 5 and 75+
Label
Flocon Vert
Contact
Haute Maurienne Vanoise tourist office · +33 4 79 05 99 06
When to visit
When to visit
For 2026-27 the official site publishes two dates: 'from 12 December 2026 to 16 April 2027' on the alpine-domain page, 'from Sunday 13 December 2026' on the passes page (partial opening 13-18 December at -50%, season's end 10-16 April at -30%) — we quote both. The Nordic domains open 19 December (Val d'Ambin until 12 March, the Monolithe until 14 March, Termignon until 5 March).
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Open (cleared road)
Winter infrastructure
Alpine skiing · Cross-country skiing · Sledging · Snowshoeing
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
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Gallery
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the Escargot run?
'10 km: the length of the Escargot run, Europe's longest green run' — it snakes along the Mont-Cenis pass road. Its once-quoted free access is no longer published on the current pages: we do not assert it.
Is cross-country really free?
Yes, two domains out of three: 'The Val d'Ambin Nordic ski domain is free for everyone!' (29 km on the Bramans side) and at Termignon 'Access is free and open!'. The Monolithe (39 km, shared with Aussois) remains paid.
When does the 2026-27 season open?
The site publishes two dates: 12 December 2026 (alpine-domain page) and Sunday 13 December 2026 (passes page, with partials 13-18 December at -50%). Closing 16 April 2027 in both versions. Both are quoted.
What are the family deals?
Free pass under 5 and over 75, a 900 m sledge run, a snowpark, boardercross, snowtubing — and the 'weather guarantee', presented as a Val Cenis exclusive.
Where do you park?
Parking: Zone des Glières car park, at the foot of the slopes: 'Free', all year, reserved disabled space, animals accepted.
What does it cost?
Access: Paid.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Partially accessible (Val Cenis — ESI (fiche officielle))
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Free
Col du Mont-Cenis
Val-Cenis
Upper Maurienne pass above a hydroelectric reservoir. Three published altitudes (2,081, 2,083, 2,085 m). Entirely in France since 1947, despite what you will read.
Free
Lac du Mont-Cenis
Val-Cenis
The Lac du Mont-Cenis at Val-Cenis: 320 million m³ behind France's biggest rockfill dam, swimming forbidden, 'Europe's highest' kayak-pedalo base, 5-hour walk round. Road open late May to early November.
Free
Monolithe de Sardières
Val-Cenis
The Sardières monolith: a 93 m cargneule spire in the pine forest, a family loop via the Biches trail, the waymarked snowshoe version — and the national park's dog ban.
Paid
Aussois
Aussois
Aussois (1,500 m), Haute Maurienne's south-facing village resort: 55 km of runs, 8 lifts, the Monolithe Nordic domain shared with Val Cenis. 2026-27 season: 12 December to 9 April.
Paid
Pralognan-la-Vanoise
Pralognan-la-Vanoise
Pralognan-la-Vanoise (1,410 m): a village resort at the heart of the Vanoise, 25 runs, 27 Nordic km, the 1992 curling's Olympic rink — free lifts under 5 and 75+.
Paid
Val d'Isère
Val-d'Isère
Val d'Isère (1,850 m): domain linked with Tignes, '300 km of runs' between 1,550 and 3,400 m, free Val Bus shuttles, free beginner lifts. 2026-27 season: 28 November to 2 May.