DESCRIPTION

Auron resort close to the village of Saint-Etienne de Tinée, has an idyllic setting in the Mercantour Park. Founded in 1937, this small winter sports’ resort in the Alpes d’Azur has experienced a radical transformation over the last few decades. Once a little village given over to growing cereal crops, Auron now enjoys an outstanding setting: 1,600 metres’ altitude, at the edge of the National Mercantour Park, with the largest skiable estate in the department: 900 hectares of specially developed land, including 200 hectares which are signposted and packed down, and 132 kilometres of pistes spread over three areas: "Les Donnas", "Sauma Longue" and "Demandols", of 1,140 metres to 2,450 metres’ altitude. The combined difference in height reaches 7,900 metres and there is an hourly flow of 21,500 skiers. Despite these impressive facilities, Auron has managed to retain its style and charm as a family resort. In the summer, the resort is converted into an outdoor and open air sports’ centre. More than thirty types of activity and amusement are on offer. The Chapelle Saint-Erige is a chapel worth visiting.

WALKS

The skiable estate has 39 pistes: 8 black, 14 red, 13 blue, 4 green and 27 mechanical lifts: 3 cable cars, 9 chair lifts and 15 ski lifts. The artificial snow facilities can cover 33 hectares of equipped areas between 1,600 and 2,000 metres’ altitude.

EXCURSIONS

The Auron resort is located at the edge of the National Mercantour Park where ibex, chamois, marmots and other more common species such as red deer, roe deer and wild boar live together; and not forgetting the unique flora.
Hikers can explore the Mercantour Park with its 250 kms of signposted footpaths. The following are worth seeing: the GR5, the Vens Lakes, the Rabuons Lake, the Col d’Anelle (pass), the Col de la Bonette/Restefond (pass), and the Plateau de Sestrières...

HAUTE CUISINE

In the village of Saint-Etienne de Tinée, which is close-by, gourmets can discover Stéphanois specialities. Dandelion salad, green pasta made from wild spinach, and gances: a sort of doughnut stuffed with Swiss chards (sweet or savoury), anderols, and so on. There are also more traditional dishes from the region which have gradually been exported over time, such as daube (casserole), gnocchis, polenta and gibier aux champignons (game with mushrooms)...

SPORTS

Auron ski resort many activities on offer: safe hiking with guides, figure skating courses, snow-shoes, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, skiing and of course, tobogganing... In summer, you can perform a few swimming strokes in an open air heated swimming pool. You can also get back into shape (aquagym, baby gym for kiddies, physical exercise, dancing, pumping iron in the body building room), judo, and ping-pong, etc. There is also trampolining, tennis, golf, archery, climbing, acrobatic forest assault courses (juniors and adults) and from Via Ferrata, you can go canyoning, quad biking, paragliding, and go for trips in a carriage; not forgetting traditional hikes and trips on horseback and mountain bikes.
Nurseries and a youth amusement centre also offer various activities.
Since 2007, Auron has held a Games Festival, at the end of July.

LOCATION AND DIRECTION

Located near the Mercantour National Park, next to the village of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée, Auron is known for its proximity with the Côte d’Azur. Proof of this fact is that for the walkers who come here can enjoy Nice and the seaside resorts along the coast, which are only an hour’s car trip away. Right close-by is the Isola 2000 ski resort.
By air :
Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport is around 90 kms from the resort.
By road :
When coming via the A8 motorway, exit at Nice-Saint Isidore. Then take the RN202 heading for Digne-Grenoble and at the junction, head for Auron-Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée.

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