The spiritual home of winter sports, the French Alps form one of the most stunning mountain ranges in Europe. The snowy peaks and ice-capped spires of this region are famous for their downhill thrills and fresh powder, but there are also some fascinating towns to explore, including Annecy, which sits in a spectacular spot surrounded by sawtooth mountains and a sparkling lake, and elegant Grenoble, the undisputed capital of the Alps. When it comes to skiing, France is one of Europe's top destinations: the area around Chamonix and Megève offers the fifth largest skiing area in France. Tignes / Val d'Isère is a high mountain area, with some 300 km of pistes. The ski area of Les Trois Vallées (Les 3 Vallées), including the resorts of Courchevel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires, is the world's largest ski area accessible with a single pass. The area gives skiers access to over 600 km of slopes. Courchevel, with its collection of Michelin starred restaurants, is reputed as the most up-market ski resort in the French Alps, on a par with Zermatt and St. Moritz.