By Abbas Nazil
Hundreds of ski slopes across the Alps are being abandoned as rising temperatures push the snow line higher and make traditional winter tourism increasingly unviable.
In France alone, at least 186 ski resorts have permanently closed, leaving behind rusting lifts, empty chalets and decaying infrastructure that are reshaping mountain landscapes.
One of the most-striking examples is Céüze 2000 in the southern French Alps, a small family-oriented resort that shut its doors after 85 years of operation due to unreliable snowfall.
When the resort closed in 2018, staff expected it to reopen the following winter, leaving behind maps, schedules and everyday items frozen in time.
Six years later, Céüze has become part of a growing network of so-called ghost resorts scattered across Europe’s mountains.
Global heating has made snowfall increasingly erratic, shortening ski seasons to the point where many resorts can no longer cover operating costs.
At Céüze, the resort needed at least three months of snow to remain viable, but in its final season it operated for only six weeks.
Local authorities were spending up to €450,000 each year to keep the resort open, a cost that became unsustainable as seasons grew shorter.
Attempts to consider artificial snow were abandoned after projections showed it would only delay closure rather than secure a long-term future.
Across France, 113 abandoned ski lifts now stretch for nearly 63 kilometres, with most located in protected natural areas.
Environmental groups warn that thousands of derelict structures, including pylons, cables and old machinery, are slowly contaminating soil and water.
At Céüze, insulation is shedding from cabins, plastic is breaking off pylons, and hazardous materials such as oils and asbestos remain in old buildings.
Campaigners argue that dismantling obsolete infrastructure is essential to allow nature to recover and to prevent long-term pollution.
French law requires ski lifts built after 2017 to be removed once they are no longer used, but most older installations are exempt.
As a result, dismantling projects like Céüze’s, which began in November 2025, remain rare due to high costs.
Early signs of ecological recovery are already visible where lifts have been removed and pistes are no longer maintained.
Dog rose shrubs, winter berries and native plants are returning, providing food and shelter for birds and wildlife.
Trees are gradually reclaiming cleared slopes, signalling the slow re-emergence of forest ecosystems.
Scientists caution that natural recovery can be complex, with risks that invasive species may spread if restoration is unmanaged.
Despite the closure, Céüze has not been abandoned by people, as visitors still come to walk, snowshoe and enjoy quieter mountain activities.
Some residents believe the resort should have been saved, arguing that artificial snow could have prolonged its life.
Others see Céüze as a preview of the future facing dozens of low-altitude resorts across Europe.
Researchers warn that with 2C of global heating, more than half of existing ski resorts worldwide may struggle to maintain sufficient snow.
The fate of Céüze highlights a broader question confronting mountain communities about what should be preserved, dismantled or returned to nature.
As climate change accelerates, abandoned ski resorts are becoming stark symbols of a warming world and the difficult choices that lie ahead.
