On September 24, 2025, the French resort of Montgenèvre (Hautes-Alpes) and the Italian company Sestrières S.p.A., operator of the Via Lattea (Milky Way) ski area, signed a new cross-border collaboration agreement formalized in Clavière, a border village on the Italian side. This strategic partnership, concluded for a period of five years, consolidates the joint management and promotion of one of the largest international ski areas in the world. It also broadens cooperation by now including the neighboring Italian resort of Bardonecchia, in order to enhance the tourist appeal of the entire region. The signing took place in the presence of the heads of the ski lift companies of both countries (including Giovanni Brasso, president of Sestrières S.p.A., and Roger Rouaud, president of the Régie de Montgenèvre) alongside local elected officials, underlining the common desire of the Alpine territories to work hand in hand.
Nearly half a century of cooperation in the Milky Way
This new agreement is part of a history spanning nearly 50 years between Montgenèvre and the Italian resorts of the Via Lattea. In the late 1970s, France’s oldest ski resort joined forces with its Piedmontese neighbors (Sestrières, Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana, Clavière, etc.) to offer a joint ski pass and a cross-border linked ski area. An initial agreement was signed at the time to market a single international ski pass, laying the foundations for the Via Lattea. Thanks to this pioneering vision, skiers were able to cross the border freely on skis, enjoying an extended playground on both sides of the Alps.
The area grew in size and popularity, particularly after hosting the alpine skiing events at the 2006 Turin Olympics, which propelled it to become one of the most popular XXL ski areas in Europe. Today, the Milky Way spans six main resortsand offers more than 400 km of slopes served by 70 ski lifts, spread between France and Italy—a rare configuration that allows crossing an international border on skis.
A ski area without borders and with an international dimension
Born out of this long-standing Franco-Italian cooperation, the Vialattea International (Milky Way) ski product is highly popular with customers eager for vast and varied spaces. From the snow front of Montgenèvre (1,850 m above sea level) to the peaks of Sestrières (2,800 m), skiers can enjoy a huge cross-border area that combines French and Italian Alpine cultures. “The merger of the Italian and French areas has given rise to Vialattea—one of the world’s largest ski areas—offering the unique opportunity to cross the border on skis,” the press release states. This international dimension is a major asset in attracting not only French and Italian skiers, but also a European and global clientele in search of exotic experiences. The gateway on the French side, Montgenèvre, benefits from its position as a cultural and historical crossroads (the resort, founded in 1907, was the birthplace of competitive skiing in France), while the Italian resorts bring their rich sporting heritage (the Kandahar Giovanni Agnelli Olympic slope in Sestrières is one of the legendary courses on the World Cup circuit). Together, they form a unique ski area where you can start your day on a slope in France and end it with a hot chocolate in Italy.
Enhanced competitiveness and the 2030 Olympic horizon
The renewal of the Montgenèvre–Vialattea alliance comes at a time of fierce competition between major ski areas to attract international customers. Giovanni Brasso, President of Sestrières S.p.A., sees it as a way to present a stronger and more competitive product on the global tourism markets: “This partnership represents the union of the ski areas of the Italian Milky Way resorts, Montgenèvre on the French side, and, as of this year, Bardonecchia. It is a strategic union for the region, as it allows us to present an increasingly rich and competitive product on the international market for alpine skiing tourism. I would like to thank our French friends for the work we have done together and for sharing this journey of growth with us.”
On the French side, the importance of this cooperation in the face of future challenges is also emphasized. Roger Rouaud, president of the Montgenèvre ski lift company, points out that after half a century, the Franco-Italian agreement remains an asset for staying in the race: “The renewal of the partnership agreement between Sestrières S.p.A. and the Montgenèvre Ski Lift Authority reflects an exemplary collaboration that has lasted for nearly fifty years. It underscores a shared desire to continue developing our ski areas together in an increasingly competitive environment. This strengthened trust is undeniably an asset in meeting the future challenges of our region, such as the 2030 Olympic Games.” Indeed, the prospect of the 2030 Winter Olympics, which will be held in the French Alps, adds an additional challenge. Montgenèvre is expected to host several freestyle skiing and snowboarding events during these Olympic Games.
A global showcase is therefore on the horizon for the Franco-Italian region. Just as in 2006, when the resorts of the Milky Way shone in the Olympic spotlight in Turin, the 2030 deadline is encouraging partners to join forces to show their mountains in the best possible light. Joint initiatives are already being studied with a view to this Olympic horizon, in order to increase the visibility of the destination and offer optimized facilities for the event.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Bardonecchia—an iconic Italian resort in the Upper Susa Valley—in the current agreement illustrates the dynamic expansion of the area. This expansion, which adds around 100 kilometers of slopes to the joint product, was made possible by the recent acquisition of Bardonecchia by the investment fund iCON Infrastructure, which already owns Sestrières S.p.A. By bringing Montgenèvre and all the major Olympic resorts in northern Piedmont together under one banner, the Via Lattea destination is clearly demonstrating its ambition to remain competitive in the face of the globalization of mountain tourism.
Concrete new features for skiers starting this winter
While this strengthened partnership provides a strategic framework, it also translates into tangible benefits for skiers on both sides of the border, applicable from the coming winter season. Specifically, here is what will change for ski pass holders:
- New connections and infrastructure projects. On the ground, the agreement provides a framework for the joint management of the slopes and lifts located on the border. A major project is underway on the Italian side in the Colletto Verde sector: the relocation of the Col Saurel chairlift, which will eventually open a direct high-altitude link between Montgenèvre and Clavière/Sestrières. This new high-altitude route will make it easier for skiers to travel between France and Italy without having to change lifts, improving the cross-border experience.
- Free ski days. Starting this winter, any 6- to 15-day Montiluna–Montgenèvre ski pass (Montgenèvre/Clavière sector) will entitle the holder to two free days in the Italian sector of Vialattea and one day in Bardonecchia.Conversely, each multi-day (6 to 15 days) pass purchased for Bardonecchia or Vialattea will include one free day of skiing in Montgenèvre.
- Promotion and target customers. Finally, the French-Italian partners will coordinate their commercial activitiesmore closely. A joint work plan has been defined to harmonize promotional campaigns for the international ski area, with a particular focus on ski clubs, works councils, and groups in each country. The aim is to capitalize on the “borderless” image of the Milky Way to attract new audiences and build loyalty among a demanding, sports-minded clientele who enjoy ski touring.
With this agreement, Montgenèvre and Sestrières reaffirm that the mountains have no borders for those who live and develop them. By combining their strengths, the partners intend to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the Milky Way in a rapidly changing climate, economic, and sporting context. This cross-border cooperation is therefore exemplary, proving that when it comes to large ski areas, the Franco-Italian union can be a strength—to the benefit of Alpine regions and ski enthusiasts around the world.
