Champery, Switzerland

Champery is nestled at the foot of the Dents du Midi and Dents Blanches mountains in the Swiss part of the Portes du Soleil. Historically tourism started here in 1857 with the opening of the first hotel in Champery, the Hotel des Dents-du-Midi. The resort has remained a firm favourite for winter sports ever since. The fourth alpine ski World Cup Championship is to be held here in 2008 with thirty competing nations taking part. Champery has also a thriving summer tourism trade thanks to the wealth of activities on offer in the area.