Sainte Foy - introduction

If you’ve never heard of St Foy – you are missing out. Those that know, love it, because right in the heart of the Tarentaise is a ski area that has plenty of snow, fab off piste, and quiet slopes.  Tucked away off the road about 20 minutes from Bourg St Maurice station, for years it was ignored as skiers drove past toward Val d’Isere and Tignes, not realising the little gem that they were driving past.

In the past few years the resort’s reputation has grown through word of mouth and glowing reports from skier and ski writers that have savoured it. In pace with this, more chalets have been built to keep up with a steadily growing demand for this ‘off-the-beaten-track’ kind of resort, but it remains off the mass-market radar.

Though the ski area is a small one, it makes up in quality: quiet slopes, no lift queues and abundant off-piste.  Indeed, powder snow in St Foy lasts a long time because unlike busier resorts, there simply aren’t enough skiers here to use it up – which means you’ll see the delight on people’s faces all week long.

The compact, friendly village is built in classic Savoie Alpine style, and very easy on the eye.  However, this is no place for those who want to party hard – but if you fine for those who want to enjoy a drink after the slopes in a relaxed ambience. 

Highlights

• Cross-border skiing in France and Italy on the combined lift-pass
• Convenient ski-school areas
• Terrain for all levels – including off-piste and heliskiing
• Developments (and redevelopments) here have a quality feel
• Friendly (and family-friendly) vibe, both on and off the mountain
   

Lowlights

• Small ski area (but quality, not quantity)
• Quiet nightlife
• Some lifts are quite slow – but you don’t queue for them