With a few honourable exceptions, most of France's major ski resorts today were only built and developed after World War Two. This means that the planners of these resorts - most of which were effectively purpose built - were able to learn from the mistakes of older resorts and create ski stations that mostly are the very definition of skiing convenience. No country in the world can offer as much slopeside ski in/ski out accommodation as France.

Unfortunately, many of France's post-war ski developments were architecturally insensitive to their majestic mountain settings. But fortunately, the majority of them have, by now, been redeveloped in much more harmonious styles.

The lift systems in French resorts are mostly state-of-the-art with lots of high-speed 4 and 6 person chairlifts, not to mention very fast underground funiculars.

The French are, well ... the French. Our relations with our closest neighbour - dubbed by Shakespeare "that sweet enemy France" - have had their ups and downs over the years. But one thing is for sure, we love their ski resorts and that explains why France is the most popular destination in the world for British skiers.