The skiing opportunities in the region are amazing – most resorts are within 2.5 hours of La Cachette and include Isola 2000.

Across the border in Italy you have more…

The sensational drive with breathtaking views to the ski resort of Limone Piermonte only takes 1hr 50 minutes. It is well worth the trip any time of the year – summer time is equally special as you can see from the pictures. You can take the train from the next door village of L’escarene which is also a memorable journey.

http://www.limonepiemonte.it/turistico/index.php?option=com_limone&view=sezione&idSezione=7&Itemid=55&lang=en

You can ski for a day or stay for a few. It is a wonderful old town with a C12th church and a great variety of restaurants, bars, shops and patisseries/specialist chocolate shops.

Compared to many French ski resorts, it is very inexpensive to eat and drink in the mountains and in the town so you will not break the bank. Ski hire and lift passes are located within 50m of the main gondolas. There are wonderful snow parks for learners/children.

The 3rd president of the USA, Thomas Jefferson went from Nice to the province of Cuneo through the Escarène, Sospel and then going up the valley Roya up to Limone April 15, 1787, describing it in his journal with these words:
“By Limone I noticed an abundance of limestone wherever the ground is free of snow, that is up to half an hour or three quarters of an hour’s walk from the top. The snow falls far below the eastern side than the western one. Wherever there is land, there is wheat, even until the beginning of the snow and, I suppose, even below. In arid parts are double-needle pines, lavender and thyme.”