Like many other lower-level Alpine skiing resorts in France, the village of Val d’Allos-Le Seignus has been seeing less and less predictable snow, and has not seen a profit on its ski runs in years.
Faced with increasing costs and less hope, the town’s residents have decided by referendum to shut down the skiing operations altogether. Mayor Michel Lantelme said the local council will now come up with a plan to close ski facilities, but added that it won’t take effect “tomorrow.”
With warming temperatures, lower- and mid-altitude resorts have faced shorter seasons and higher costs; the shorter seasons with fewer visitors do not reduce the maintenance costs. The ski operations have left the town with a €700,000 deficit.
Villagers and second-home-owners faced three choices on the ballot: Maintain downhill skiing and pay 30 to 35% more in taxes, keep open only part of the slopes and pay 10 to 15% more or stop the skiing altogether.
Overall, the 2023-24 season had almost no snow at lower altitudes, and only patchy snow at medium altitudes. Only resorts at 1800 meters and above had real snow cover for skiing. Since the 1970s, 180 other French ski resorts, almost all at lower altitudes, have closed.
