There is so much more to Vaujany than skiing and snowboarding, as Ashley Green discovered when he visited the area in the Oisans canton to find out what it is like to ‘ski like a local’.

It may seem unusual to start a feature about skiing in Vaujany with details about its museum but skiers and snowboarders visiting the resort in the Isere region of France should make sure they find time to pay it a visit.

There they will find the EMV (Espace Musee de Vaujany) an immersive museum which injects serious amounts of fun into learning about the resort’s history, its future and natural surroundings. The EMV’s clever multimedia animations ensure a playful experience where families can learn to track animals and forage in an animated forest, step into the shoes of snowmakers and mushers, and even fly over Vaujany in a pro flight simulator.

There’s a strong educational element with sections about the challenges of tourism development and avalanche control but the emphasis is very much on learning, playing, and engaging the senses – for all ages.

Perched on a sunny hillside in a sector of the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine, Vaujany offers a lesson in sensitive tourism development. It combines traditional architecture and the laid-back feeling of a preserved mountain village with modern facilities and impressive views of the Massif des Grandes Rousses.

A gondola linking the village to Alpe d’Huez was constructed in the 1980s by locals using money from the compulsory purchase of land for France’s largest hydro-electric station. This means that while Vaujany guests sleep in a relaxed village in the heart of the Oisans canton, they can easily access all slope levels from beginner to expert in the Grandes Rousses ski area.

As a Famille Plus resort, Vaujany caters particularly well for young families with a state-of-the-art nursery/creche and snow garden for little ones. On the slopes at Montfrais, beginners and early intermediates will find their ski legs with 70km of pistes (from 1,250m) with seven green, 11 blue, nine red and three black runs available on the Oz-Vaujany lift pass.

More advanced skiers in the family can take the gondola to explore Alpe d’Huez’s 250km of slopes – 42 green, 37 blue, 39 red and 17 black runs accessed by 84 lifts. Depending on snow conditions, confident intermediates will want to take the Pic Blanc cable car to reach the 16km-long Sarenne run which is classified as the longest black run in the Alps while it takes skill and nerve to ski the Tunnel run, one of the steepest in the Alps.

Off-piste skiers and snowboarders should experience La Combe du Loup itinerary with its views across to La Meije and La Grave or on snowy days, simply enjoy fun-filled powder laps off the Herpie chair lift.

Vaujany isn’t big on shopping or nightlife (which will suit families) but there are enough restaurants to satisfy during a week-long holiday. Stay at the newly-refurbished Hotel Les Cimes and eat at Le Chalet Gourmand for mountain specialities in the heart of the village.

There are also plenty of activities on and off the snow to entertain guests. Local mountain guide Alain Hilion leads customised (including sunset) snowshoe and winter Nordic walking tours while ski touring fans can explore Plan des Cavalles, a high plateau which leads to iconic routes and descents in what locals call ‘the secret Alps’. Amongst the secrets that skiers will discover in this area are powder stashes and tree skiing amongst Vaujany’s lesser-known terrain.

The leisure centre is a focal point for families with a 25m swimming pool, Olympic size indoor ice-skating rink, bowling alley, water slides and games for children and relaxation for adults at Le Spa de la Fare – again, newly renovated – with Jacuzzis, sauna and hammam. There’s a strong focus on activities for children and teenagers with sledge parties, curling classes, biathlon practice and backstage tours to discover how the resort is run.

TRAVEL FACTS

The Skier & Snowboarder magazine flew to Geneva with EasyJet and was a guest of:

France Montagnes en.france-montagnes.com

Vaujany Tourism Office vaujany.com/en

Avoriaz Tourism Office avoriaz.com/en

In Vaujany, accommodation was provided at the Hôtel Les Cimes. As well as skiing, other activities included Ski touring in Plan des Cavales, sunset snowshoeing with mountain guide Alain Hilion, relaxing at the Spa de La Fare, and the visit to the Vaujany Museum.

In Avoriaz, accommodation was provided at the Hotel Mil8 and Hotel des Dromonts. Other activities included snowshoeing and a tour of Avoriaz with its architect Simon Cloutier. Ski-joering and e-biking was also available.