Ski and Snowboard Alpe d'Huez, France

Alpe d'Huez, France

Alpe d'Huez combines the Alp's longest high-altitude trails with spectacular views and some of the best values in Europe.

The highway to Alpe d’Huez from Grenoble traces a path through a deep Alpine valley. This was the route of Napoleon when he attacked Italy and, long before, may have been the pass that Hannibal followed during his daring attack on the Roman Empire. Every fold of the mountains contains drama from ancient history right through WWII when this was the center of the French Resistance.

The final steep approach to Alpe d’Huez is a series of 23 hairpin turns that have international challenged bicycle riders for years. Every other year, in the summer, this is the site of one of the top climbing tests of the Tour de France. In the winter the 23 hairpin turns take skiers and boarders curve after curve closer to one of Europe’s best high-altitude snowfields.

This amazing system of trails is anchored by a town that has not sold itself out to ritz and glitz. Alpe d’Huez has an resort slogan that embraces living life to its fullest. And that is exactly what one can do amidst the old chalets and modern hotels that are filled with everyday pleasures such as a lift ticket that includes 23 other activities, restaurants that are packed by normal people enjoying themselves for affordable prices and lodging that ranges from hotels that pamper the rich to residences that provide roomy condo space with 70 percent designated ski-in/ski-out for the rest of us.

As one cranes their neck looking up during the winding approach to Alpe d’Huez the only clue to a winter resort is what seems to be a wall of hotels lining a shear cliff much like a castle wall would stand protecting its inner fortress. The final hairpin turn into the resort through the outer ring of buildings brings an old mountain village into focus and just above the old town center, the new village spreads at the base of dramatic a snowfields beneath a soaring 3,330-meter peak.

The expanse of mountain trails do not reveal themselves from the old village. It is only when one twists uphill or rides one of the lifts to the upper village and its collection of apartments and hotels that the immensity of Alpe d’Huez can be seen.

The lift system is designed to allow walkers as well as skiers and snowboarders access to some of the most dramatic scenery in the Alps. The people movers take visitors from the heart of the Alpe d’Huez to the lift hub with gondolas, chairlifts and poma-lifts radiating to a trail system that reaches a half-dozen other Oisan towns. Non-skiers can soak in the breathtaking mountain panoramas from the highest point of the resort.

Alpe d'Huez Tourist Information:

Alpe d'Huez Office du Tourisme, Place Pagpnon, 38750 Alpe d'Huez, France
Country code: 0033
Telephone: 04 76 11 44 44.
Fax: 04 76 80 69 54.
For reservations only: 04 76 80 90 00; fax 04 76 80 98 96.
Internet: www.alpedhuez.com
Email: info@alpedhuez.com

Note: All prices are in Euros unless otherwise noted.

For more information on skiing and staying in the country of France, click the map.