Belledonne

The chain of Belledonne is a solid mass of the the French Alps located at the doors of Grenoble, mainly in Isere, the north-eastern slope being in Savoy. It culminates with 2.977m.

Activities

In addition to the traditional pastoral activities still present, Belledonne knew a mining activity until recently; in some testify Toponyme S (collar of the Iron Mine). Turning mainly around the exploitation of iron (valley of Bréda), there were also mines of money under the Large Lance of Allemont, with the locality of Chalanches. The mines of Chalanches were worked of 1767 to 1890, initially clandestinely, then legally following many accidents. Etienne Favier, the winner of the Large Peak of Belledonne the August 16th 1859, worked there as foreman. This mining, large activity consuming wood, was principal the person in charge of the Déforestation of the solid mass.

Belledonne was also one of the cradles of the Hydro-electric power thanks to Aristide Bergès and with its paper mills with Combe-with-Lancey, or on the commune of Livet-and-Gavet.

Although near to great agglomerations, the solid mass of Belledonne knew to keep its wild side and lends itself very well the summer to the Randonnée and the winter with the Ski touring. Lastly, for some time, the collars of certain stations attract a new category of sportsmen: the chutes, which they are in roller, longskate, streetluge, buttboard…

Dauphine Alps

Near the west end of the Alps in France lies the Dauphiné and the Ecrins National Park. This region, epitomized by the 12,800 foot La Meije, the last major summit of the Alps to be climbed, was for centuries one of the poorest areas of the Alps, and it was one of the last to be developed for tourism.
French Alpes Du Dauphiné, western spur of the Cottian Alps (q.v.) in southeastern France, lying between the Arc and Isère river valleys (north) and the upper Durance River valley (south). Many peaks rise to more than 10,000 feet (3,050 m), with Barre des Écrins (13,459 feet [4,102 m]) the highest. The mountains include the Massif du Pelvoux (Massif des Écrins) and the Belledonne and Grandes Rousses ranges. They are separated from the Cottian Alps in the east by the Col du Galibier and the upper Durance valley; from the western Graian Alps (Vanoise) in the north-east by the river Arc; from the lower ranges Vercors Plateau and Chartreuse Mountains in the west by the rivers Drac and Isère. Many peaks rise to more than 10,000 feet (3,050 m), with Barre des Écrins (4,102 m) the highest.
Mountain ranges within the Dauphiné Alps include the Massif des Écrins (in the Parc national des Écrins) and Belledonne.

Cottian Alps

French Alpes Cottiennes, Italian Alpi Cozie, segment of the Western Alps extending along the French-Italian border between Maddalena Pass and the Maritime Alps (south) and Mont Cenis and the Graian Alps (north). Mount Viso (12,602 feet [3,841 m]) is the highest point. The western spurs are known as the Dauphiné Alps. The main activities in the mountains include climbing and skiing. They form the border between France (Hautes-Alpes and Savoie) and Italy (Piedmont). The Maddalena Pass separates them from the Maritime Alps; the Col du Mont Cenis separates them from the Graian Alps; the Col du Galibier separates them from the Dauphiné Alps. The Fréjus Road Tunnel and Fréjus Rail Tunnel between Modane and Susa are important transportation arteries between France (Lyon, Grenoble) and Italy (Turin).
The Cottian Alps are drained by the rivers Durance and Arc and their tributaries on the French side; by the Dora Riparia and other tributaries of the Po on the Italian side.

The great limestone ramparts of Monte Viso, the ‘Stone King’ as it is known locally, overlook Casteldelfino, now in Italy though two centuries previously part of the French Delfinato. From here the Varaita River descends a few kilometers before passing our hotel en route to joining the Po on the floodplains of Piedmont. The limestone of the Cottian Alps changes abruptly to the acidic rocks of the Queyras a few miles to the west of high passes where we’ll encounter a rich tapestry of alpine wonders. For this is marvelous butterfly and flower country. One can expect up to 70 species of butterfly in a single day. All three European Apollo species float about the flowery slopes along with Moorland Clouded Yellow and any number of confusing Ringlets. The local Glandon Blue flies with Titania’s Fritillary while colourful subalpine meadows are further enlivened by shimmering Scarce and Purple-shot Coppers, and lower warmer slopes will have Large Blues, Great Sooty Satyr and Foulquier’s Grizzled Skipper. The flowers are if anything even more impressive. Fine Saxifrages adorn rocks and this is the best time to see them - diapensioides, adscendens and strange biflora among them. There’s Gentians and Primulas, Lilies and Pinks, alpine Buttercups both white and yellow, delicate Snowbells, gorgeous King of the Alps, and the lovely ‘Vanilla Orchid’ Nigritella corneliana.