Winter is in full swing and it’s ski season in Europe. With alpine resorts opening and money to spare, skiers from all over the continent are taking their vacations to the slopes. Lift ticket prices continue to rise, making ski holidays unaffordable for many people. But not everywhere.
There’s one ski resort in the French Alps, and out of necessity rather than choice, it’s offering skiing completely free this winter. Yes, you read that correctly. Anyone can enjoy skiing for free. We are talking about Saint Colombin des Villars, a small Savoie village located at 1,100 meters above sea level.
Unfortunately, the reasons behind this decision are far from clear. The resort’s deficit has worsened sharply over the past two years, and to avoid further financial damage, the municipality has decided, after months of uncertainty, not to sell any lift tickets this winter. This paradoxical move is intended to save costs.
Resort in the red for over 20 years
According to Mayor Pierre-Yves Bonnivar, the Saint-Colombin des Villars ski area has been in the red for nearly 25 years. Initially estimated at between €400,000 and €600,000 per year, the shortfall has increased significantly in recent seasons, mainly due to increasingly erratic snowfall. In 2025, the operating deficit alone amounted to 1 million euros.
For a municipality with a total annual budget of 2.7 million euros, this situation had become intolerable. “Almost 40 percent of the town’s budget was being used to cover deficit activities,” Bonivar told Euronews Travel, which is not allowed indefinitely under France’s local government law.
Financial pressure prompted prefecture intervention, which ordered the city to drastically cut operating costs, even if that meant closing some or all ski lifts. The situation was further exacerbated by the closure of the link with Les Cibels. FranceThe fourth largest ski area in the country. Saint-Colombin de Villars has been included in its ski area since 2003.
Charging lift tickets actually costs more.
We tried to find a solution with elevator operators and outside companies, but we couldn’t find a viable economic model. Rather than shutting down skiing In the end, the municipality opted for a compromise by significantly downsizing the ski area and keeping a limited area open for residents and tourists. “It would have been too cruel to go from a connected ski area to something completely empty,” the mayor told Euronews Travel, especially for local businesses.
This is how the idea of making part of the ski resort free of charge was born, and the numbers explain why. Selling lift tickets requires staffing the ticket office and operating the ticketing system, which costs between 36,000 and 41,000 euros during the season. However, the expected earnings from the beginner’s pass will amount to only 18,000 euros.
“It actually costs less to not charge,” Bonibird admits. “It may sound economically absurd, but it makes economic sense.”
Overall, the municipality estimates that providing free skiing this season will cost between €150,000 and €200,000, about a fifth of last year’s cost. winter. Deficits still exist but are manageable.
Small ski area for families and beginners
Practically speaking, the resort plans to operate a mini ski area. The two main targets are drag lifts and children’s belts. beginner And family. It remains unclear whether this experiment will attract more visitors, especially since snow conditions are increasingly unpredictable at this altitude.
For the mayor, this winter is a transition period, not a long-term solution.
“Alpine skiing at an altitude of 1,100 meters is ultimately doomed to be dangerous.” disappear” he says, noting:climate change It is progressing faster than expected, especially in the Alps.
“The challenge now is to reinvent the future of mid-altitude mountain villages by diversifying tourism services, a painful but necessary change for communities that have long relied on skiing.”
Diversification beyond skiing: winter and summer options
In addition to making skiing free for beginners, the municipality is working to: diversify You can enjoy sightseeing not only in winter but also beyond. Snowshoeing and winter walking routes are already available, especially on sunny slopes where snow melts quickly.
According to the village chief, the village’s topography, with its large south-facing area and limited snowfall, has made it increasingly difficult to rely solely on alpine skiing.
Instead, Saint-Colomban de Villars seeks to build on its strengths as an authentic, unspoiled alpine valley. hikingsummer tourism already attracts a steady number of tourists, but walking trails and nature-based activities are expected to play an increasing role.
“Up until now, we have invested almost all our energy, time and money into skiing activities, and we were losing money,” Bonibird explains. “This decision frees up resources to imagine something else.”
However, migration will take time. Building a true four-season tourism model will require both public investment and support from local businesses, but the mayor acknowledges it won’t happen overnight.
Winter in transition and challenges for the future
For now, the freeski experiment remains just an experiment. The municipality will evaluate the results after the season ends, with a full financial and visitor review expected in April. Local governments will then decide whether they can repeat or adapt this model in future winters.
Meanwhile, Saint-Colombin de Villars offers something that is becoming increasingly rare in the Alps. It’s a chance to discover skiing without the financial pressures that are common at most resorts.
For beginners, families and curious beginners, it’s an opportunity to hit the snow without signing up for expensive ski passes, while for the village itself it could be the first step towards a more sustainable future beyond alpine skiing.