Auron
Last update on
Oct 2, 2026
Ski resort on Saint Etienne de Tinée. 92 km from Nice, take RN 202 heading Digne/Grenoble, then the D 39.
Discover the Auron ski resort in the Alpes-Maritimes
Auron emerges from the woods onto a sun-drenched plateau overlooking the Tinée Valley. The snow crunches beneath your skis.
Before you, the peaks of the Mercantour close off the horizon. Nice and the Côte d’Azur are just an hour and a half’s drive away, and yet the Mediterranean already seems far away.
This village resort, founded in 1937, is situated at an altitude of 1,600 metres in the commune of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, in the Alpes-Maritimes. Its ski area is the largest in the department: 135 kilometres of slopes, reaching up to 2,450 metres. You can download the piste map below:
Downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing in Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage: your winter sports holiday begins here, on the edge of the Mercantour National Park.
Comprising four ski areas (Demandols, Sauma Longue, Las Donnas, Lieuson), Auron is, alongside Isola 2000, one of the flagship resorts in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and is particularly sunny.
The village of Auron
Founded in the late 1930s, Auron boasts the superb St Érige Chapel, built of cut stone with a Romanesque bell tower and a typical Alpine wooden shingle roof (the interior features remarkable frescoes). The tourist office is also housed in a beautiful stone building with a shingle roof.
Otherwise, Auron consists of charming chalet-style buildings with wooden balconies, where you’ll easily find accommodation, as well as numerous restaurants with terraces where you can enjoy the mountain sunshine.
Summer in Auron
In summer, you can enjoy hikes through meadows and forests where, as you wander along the paths, you’ll be able to spot ibex, chamois, marmots, buzzards and sparrowhawks, as well as over 2,000 different species of flowers, 25 of which are extremely rare!
What to see
Chapelle Romane St-Erige, fresques (1451).
Oratoire du Pilon (17ème siècle).
Things to do
Winter: 135 km of downhill ski runs in 4 skiing areas served by 21 ski lifts,
including 3 cable cars. Snow park. French Ski School.
Surf. Rackets. Ice rink, pony and sleigh trekking.
Summer: Swimming pool, tennis, horse riding, climbing, mountain biking, archery, fishing.
Pass card (with points) for summer sport acivities. Plenty of hiking routes.
For the children: Judo, quads, body sculpting, roller blading.
Basketball, volleyball, skating, hangliding.
Airbnb
A superb, renovated 80 m² flat on the top floor of a block in the heart of Auron, on Avenue de la Malhira: three spacious bedrooms, including one en suite, an open-plan kitchen and a balcony with views of the slopes.
Sleeps ten, with linen and cleaning included, two ski lockers and the town centre just 50 metres away — the cable car, ESF ski school, shops and restaurants are all within walking distance. Please note: fourth floor with no lift.
A luxury duplex, fully renovated in 2026, set in a chalet-style residence in a peaceful location, away from the main roads: three bedrooms with 160-cm beds, two bathrooms, a modern kitchen and a large terrace overlooking the mountain peaks.
Sleeps six, with an office area, fibre broadband, parking and a garage for bicycles, a ten-minute walk from the centre of Auron and at the start of the Vertiges d’Auron trail.
Discover our selection of houses, villas and apartments on Airbnb for an authentic stay in this Provençal village. You will love your vacation here.
Your questions about Auron
You’ve sent us several questions about this lovely ski resort. Here are our answers to your most frequently asked questions.
How much is a lift pass in Auron?
For the 2026-2027 winter season, an adult day pass costs €44. Teenagers, young adults and seniors aged 62 to 71 pay €37, while children aged 5 to 11 pay €33.70. From the age of 72, a day on the slopes costs just €5.
For a week, the 6-day adult pass is €217 in high season and €188.80 in low season. Families save 10% with the family pack from 3 consecutive days. Allow an extra €2 for the compulsory hands-free card.
Worth knowing: a valid Auron multi-day pass also gives you free access to the Isola 2000 ski area. You can book online at auron-skipass.com or buy at the ticket offices on the main square.
How do you get to Auron from Nice?
From Nice, allow around 1 hour 30 minutes for the 90-kilometre (56-mile) drive. Leave the A8 motorway at exit 51.1 Carros / Mercantour, then follow the Var valley and the Tinée valley. Be wary of your sat nav: the Lombarde and Bonette passes are closed in winter.
Car parks in Auron are free. You can also park in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée and ride up on the Pinatelle gondola.
Without a car, bus line 91 runs from Nice Grand Arénas. The Bus 100% Neige also links Nice and Auron throughout the season, booking required. For a truly exceptional holiday, helicopter transfers are available from Cannes or Monaco.
What events are on in Auron this season?
The season opens in early December and runs until mid-April. The 2026-2027 programme is being released week by week, but the ski and mountain bike sale is already set for 14 and 15 November 2026.
Last winter, an arts week and a comedy week livened up February. Shows, workshops and concerts bring the village to life every winter. Check the official events calendar or call in at the Auron tourist office in the Grange Cossa.
Families have plenty to choose from: ice rink, snow tubing, dog sledding or a tour of the snow factory. In the evening, the Le Riounet cinema takes over.
Which ski runs should you try in Auron?
Auron's ski area covers 135 kilometres (84 miles) of runs, between 1,600 and 2,450 metres (5,250 to 8,040 feet) above sea level. It is the largest in the Alpes-Maritimes. Its 44 runs include 3 green, 17 blue, 15 red and 9 black.
Four sectors share the mountain: Las Donnas, Sauma Longue, Demandols and Lieuson. You move from 360° panoramic views to runs carved through fir and larch forests.
Beginners start at the ESF ski school's snow garden. Confident skiers head for the red and black runs, while snowboarders make for the snow park. Download the piste map from the resort's website before you go.
What makes Auron special?
Auron is a village resort founded in 1937, at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,250 feet). It belongs to the commune of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, 7 kilometres (4 miles) further down the valley. The resort stands at the gateway to the Mercantour National Park.
Its heritage comes as a surprise in a ski resort. The Saint-Érige chapel, a listed historic monument, holds frescoes from 1451 painted by an artist who was most likely from Piedmont. Legend has it that Saint Érige leapt across the Tinée river on horseback to escape a band of brigands.
For any information, the tourist office welcomes you at the Grange Cossa, 06660 Auron.
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