Le Grand-Bornand is a working farming village with a seriously good ski resort attached to it. Set in the Aravis range of the French Alps, it has over 400 century-old wooden chalets, a village church, and a weekly market that's been running since 1795. The village splits between Le Grand-Bornand Village at 1,000m and the higher satellite of Le Chinaillon at 1,300m, each with its own lifts and a shuttle running between them. This is the birthplace of farmhouse Reblochon cheese and remains Haute-Savoie's largest farming commune, and that agricultural heritage shapes everything here, from the food on your plate to its unhurried atmosphere.

The ski area covers 90km of pistes across 47 runs between 1,000m and 2,100m at Mont Lachat. Most of the skiing sits on north-to-west-facing slopes above Le Chinaillon, which helps the snow hold well despite its relatively modest altitude. Long greens and blues suit those building confidence, engaging reds through the Floria sector keep intermediates busy, and steep blacks off the summit test stronger skiers. The Grand-Bo Snowpark, regularly rated among the best terrain parks in France, adds a serious freestyle dimension with a Big Air Bag, boardercross, and progressive features. The season runs from mid-December through to early April

Away from the pistes, Le Grand-Bornand rewards slowing down. The local tartiflette here is called péla, made with the village's own Reblochon, and it's worth seeking out amongst other Savoyard dining. Each December, the Biathlon World Cup turns the village into a buzzing international sporting event, and sunset skiing sessions run on Saturday evenings from late January through March. Between the 58km of cross-country trails, snowshoe paths, ice rink, and farm visits, there's plenty for anyone wanting a day off the slopes.