Val Thorens

45.2980555555566.58Koordinaten: 45 ° 18 ' N, 6 ° 35 ' ​​E

Val Thorens is a ski resort in the French region of Rhône -Alpes. Politically Val Thorens is part of Saint -Martin -de- Belleville. It is situated at 2300 meters above sea level and is the highest ski resort in Europe, if the pure summer resort on the Stelvio Pass ( 2750 m) does not count. Together with Saint -Martin -de- Belleville, Les Menuires, Méribel, La Tania and Courchevel forms Val Thorens, Les Trois Vallées ski area, one of the largest ski areas in the world.

Val Thorens is distinguished by its snow and expansive views from Cime de Caron at 3200 m altitude. The ski area covers 68 runs with 140 km of slopes, which are connected by 29 turbines. The lowest point, which must be traveled by the ski slopes of Val Thorens is the valley station of the chairlift Plan de l' Eau at 1800 m. The highest point of the mountain station of the Bouchet with 3230 m. Val Thorens is the area with the world's highest density of funitels.

Tour de France

In 1994, a summit finish of the Tour de France was held in Val Thorens. It won at that time Nelson Rodriguez Serna the 17th stage. The increase began in Moutiers ( 481 m) and led about 36 km up to the ski resort. It therefore had to be overcome to 1794 meters in altitude, which corresponds to an average gradient of 5.2 percent. Classed was the rise with the highest difficulty HC.