Perched high on the Col de Montgenevre, very Italian, but within a short stroll of France, Claviere is a gem of Alpine charm. You don’t get much more typically Alpine than Claviere.

An old farming village, now become modern ski resort, Claviere combines stunning Alpine scenery and a secluded village atmosphere with the convenience of a world class ski area. Choose to stay local, or venture further afield into the internationally famous “Milky Way” ski area. 400 km of prepared pistes, the vibrant bustle of Sauze d’Oulx, the upmarket elegance of Sestrieres, (conceived and built by the Agnelli family at the height of their power when running the Fiat empire), the rural charm of smaller resorts like Claviere and Cesana Torinese - this is a ski area that offers most things to most skiers.

As “doorstep skiing” as any resort, Claviere offers two four man fast chairs, one two man chair and a beginners drag lift that depart right from the centre of the village, and whisk you directly into the centre of the Milky Way linked ski area. A combination of draglifts, chairlifts, cable cars, and continuous loop “bubbles” minimises queuing, and ensures that you get the maximum amount of skiing.

Returning at the end of the day is easy for everyone, as there are three blue pistes, three red pistes and two blacks all of which deposit you right back into the centre of the resort. Scratch the surface once the sun has disappeared over the horizon, and a buzzing evening nightlife suddenly becomes very evident. With fourteen hotels, sixteen bars, a selection of sports shops, a karaoke bar, an ice skating rink and an evening meal option in a mountain restaurant with a skidoo ride back down the mountain, you will not be short of entertainment once you have slipped off the ski boots. Getting around ? It is only around 800 metres from one side of the resort to the other - nothing is very far from anything else.