Abandoned ski lifts

No snow, no skiing

The French Vosges is full of deserted ski slopes due to the lack of snow. Fifteen ski areas have been closed in recent years, yet they have left some traces.

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One of those relics is the ski lifts that had to take the skiers to the top of the hills. Although many were dismantled, others remain standing in the landscape.

Among the fir trees of the Vosges, you will find this cable car of more than half a kilometer in length, which bridges a height difference of 150 meters.

The ski lift was put into use in 1988 but has been unused since the early 2010s.

Legislation

The many abandoned ski lifts sparked a discussion about what should be done with that infrastructure. They disfigure nature and pose a safety risk for hikers who walk under the rusting installations.

Since 2016, ski station owners have, therefore, been obliged to dismantle the old installations. However, the law only applies to ski lifts built after 2016. So nothing changes for the older installations.

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No snow, no skiing

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