Vialattea the ski area between Italy and France

What is Vialattea and where is it located?

Vialattea is an Italian-French ski area that unites seven locations in Piedmont — Oulx, Cesana Torinese, Claviere, San Sicario, Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere, and Pragelato — with the French location of Monginevro (Montgenèvre). It extends between the Alta Val Susa and the Val Chisone, in the province of Turin, and is easily reachable by both train and car.

How big is Vialattea?

The area stretches from 1,372 meters in Cesana Torinese to 2,789 meters at Monte Motta, with a height difference of 1,417 meters. It has 69 ski lifts and about 400 km of ski slopes, making Vialattea the largest fully connected ski area in Italy.

How are the slopes of Vialattea divided?

The slopes are divided into three categories:

96 km of blue slopes (easy) for beginners and families; 220 km of red slopes (intermediate) for experienced skiers; 84 km of black slopes (difficult) for the most trained.

Many of these slopes hosted events during the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, a sign of their technical quality and the sporting charm of the place.

Between descents, Vialattea offers breathtaking views, authentic mountain villages, and "ski-in ski-out" connections that allow you to move from one village to another without ever taking off your skis. This is its true magic: to combine sports, landscapes, and alpine culture into a single experience.

How do you reach Vialattea?

The area is easily accessible from Turin and France. By train, the reference stop is Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere, along the international line from Turin to Modane. By car, you can reach it via the A32 Frejus motorway, exit Oulx Circonvallazione. From here, you continue towards the locations of Sauze d'Oulx, Cesana, San Sicario, or Sestriere.

Which locations are part of the Vialattea area?

The seven Italian locations in the area are: Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Oulx, Cesana, San Sicario, Claviere, and Pragelato. To these, we add Monginevro on the French side. Each location has its own identity:

Sestriere is the most modern and central; Sauze d'Oulx is lively and loved by snowboarders; Cesana and San Sicario offer tranquil views and wide slopes; Pragelato is perfect for those seeking nature and cross-country skiing.

When does the ski season start and end at Vialattea?

Generally, the ski season in Vialattea runs from early December to mid-April. However, the calendar may vary depending on snowfall and the opening of lifts.

The alpine climate and high altitudes would theoretically guarantee excellent snow retention. However, in recent years, snowfall has become less predictable. The prudent management of water and energy resources means that artificial snowmaking is used only in part, even though snow cannons cover about 50% of the slopes.

How reliable is the snow in Vialattea?

The certainty of natural snow has decreased, but many areas of the area enjoy good north-facing exposure, which preserves the snow longer. The slopes of Sestriere, Claviere, and Monginevro, at high altitude, generally remain the most reliable even at the end of the season.

Why are not all slopes artificially snowed?

The main reason is related to energy savings and environmental sustainability. Even though half of the slopes have programmed snowmaking systems, not all are activated. This helps contain costs but reduces the certainty of opening during periods of low natural snowfall.

Does the price of the ski pass vary if there is little snow?

No, the price of the daily ski pass generally remains unchanged even if not all slopes are open. For this reason, it is always advisable to check the official website vialattea.it for which lifts are active before planning your day.

In addition to the sporting aspect, Vialattea is a place with an important history in the development of skiing in Italy. From the pioneers of the late 1800s to the great world competitions, each village has left a mark on the culture of skiing.

Where does skiing in Italy originate?

The cradle of Italian skiing is Sauze d'Oulx, where in 1896 Swiss engineer Adolfo Kind introduced skis to our country for the first time. From here, the passion for this sport spread throughout the Alpine arc.

When was Sestriere born as a modern ski resort?

Sestriere was born in the 1930s as the first modern ski resort in Italy. In 1931, the Alpette-Sises cable car was inaugurated, followed by the Banchetta in 1932 and the Fraiteve in 1937. In the 1950s, Sestriere hosted the first Italian stage of the Kandahar circuit, one of the most prestigious races in the world.

What were the years of greatest development for Vialattea?

The big leap occurred in 1984, when Sestrieres S.p.A. brought together the various lift companies and inaugurated an innovative programmed snowmaking system, then one of the most extensive in Europe. From that moment on, Vialattea became a model of efficiency and a reference point for international skiing.

Today, even though the climate has changed and the Pragelato lifts are no longer operational, Vialattea remains an extraordinary area for those seeking large spaces, panoramic connections, and alpine authenticity. The charm of uniting Italy and France on skis continues to attract tourists from all over the world, in search of snow that tells a story, passion, and freedom.