French Alps Travel

Belledonne

2008-12-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

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

2006-08-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Maritime Alps

2006-08-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Explore the Alps where they meet the Mediterranean! Our Maritime Alps itinerary allows you to sample the trails on both sides of the border! In the quiet, unfrequented corners of the protected Parc National du Mercantour (France) and the Parco Naturale della Alpi Marittime (Italy) you'll find alpine wonders the equal of those found anywhere in the Alps! Here, rushing streams, flower-spangled meadows and glorious alpine lakes sparkle like jewels in the rocky crown of the "Azure Alps."
The Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the south-western part of the Alps. They form the border between the French département Alpes-Maritimes and the Italian province of Cuneo. The Col de Tende separates them from the Ligurian Alps; the Maddalena Pass separates them from the Cottian Alps. The Mercantour National Park is part of the Maritime Alps.
The Maritime Alps are drained by the rivers Roya, Var and Verdon and their tributaries on the French side; by the Stura di Demonte and other tributaries of the Tanaro and Po on the Italian side.

The Mont Blanc massif

2006-08-23T01:56:00.000-07:00

The highest mountain in Western Europe was first climbed on the 8th of August 1786 by a local crystal hunter, Jacques Balmat and a local doctor, Michel Gabriel Paccard. They claimed the prize money that Horace Benedict de Saussure had offered in 1760.
The mountain lies between the regions of Haute-Savoie, France and Aosta Valley, Italy. The location of the summit itself is a subject of controversy between the two countries, and each tends to place it within its own boundaries on maps. In a convention between France and Kingdom of Sardinia, in Turin (1861), the border was fixed on the highest point of Mont Blanc and this was the last official definition of this border, but often the French maps do not agree about this solution.

People had been trying for years but the breakthrough didn't come until the June of 1786 when Jacques Balmat was trapped out overnight on the glacier, AND SURVIVED; thereby destroying local myths and proving that a 2-day ascent was feasible.

Nowadays, in summer, their exploit is repeated by as many as 200 people a day.
The Mont Blanc massif is being put forward as a potential World Heritage Site because of its uniqueness and its cultural importance, considered the birthplace and symbol of modern mountaineering. However not everyone shares this goal and it would require the three governments of Italy, France and Switzerland to make a request to UNESCO for it to be listed.
To climb Mt Blanc takes good fitness, preparation, determination and luck with the weather. It is advisable to acclimatise by making at least one climb at altitude before attempting Mt Blanc, and to have some basic training in the use of ice-axe and crampons. Your chances of success will improve dramatically (to around 80%) if you do a course first ie if you're acclimatised.

Grande Traversee des Alpes

2006-08-21T04:08:00.000-07:00

The alpine portion of the GR5 long distance hiking trail is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and personally rewarding multi-day hiking experiences in the world.
But you can't beat the GR5 for the sheer beauty of Alpine slopes and pastures, flanked by some snow-covered mountains and glaciers, and punctuated by the the charm of flower-filled French villages, served up with good food of French hotels and inns and/or the comraderie of French communal lodgings—refuges and gîtes d''etape, (and a few Italian and Swiss ones)— all this with the variety that comes from changing elevations and diminishing rainfall as you move from the lush and green north to the sparse and brown south and to the sub-tropical Mediterranean.There are three considerations that might deter you: First, you won't be among many native English speakers: Few British and even fewer Americans walk the GR5. That said, most hikers will speak English as a second or third language. In lodgings of all types, if you are polite, people will try to speak English. They will view conversation with you as an opportunity to practice their English.. Possible negative feelings that some may have to today's American foreign policy will not carry over to you as an individual, and, assuming you are polite in your discussions, an exchange of views will be welcomed. To an adventurous traveler the language issue is more of an opportunity than a problem.
The second consideration that might deter you is the weather: This consideration applies to any northern Alps hiking trip, whether in France, Switzerland, or Austria. While the southern Alps are generally sunny, the Northern Alps can be rainy—that is why they are so green—and rain can delay or even spoil a GR5 trip. By and large I personally have had good luck with the weather with either no rain or only a couple of days of rain, but one never knows.

touristic routes

2006-08-15T02:15:00.000-07:00

Meader over Mountains, Descend to the Sea

Much like a European version of the Appalachian Trail, the Grande Randonnee 5 is an spectacular hiking route.

It runs the length of Europe beginning on the North Sea and ending on the shores of the Mediterranean. The section of the GR 5, which begins at the base of the Mont Blanc Massif and traverses the French Alps south to the Mediterranean, is referred to as the Grande Traversee des Alpes (GTA). Trek this diverse route on foot hiking to a new destination each night.

events

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leisure

2006-08-15T02:14:00.001-07:00

accommodation

2006-08-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

partner links

2006-08-15T02:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the French Alps

2006-08-01T01:18:00.000-07:00

The Alps are a mountain system located in south-central Europe, to the immediate north of the Mediterranean Sea. They extend for almost 700 miles in a crescent shape from the coastline of southern France (near Monaco) into Switzerland, then through northern Italy and into Austria, and down through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro - then ending in Albania on the rugged coastline of the Adriatic Sea.
The French Alps are known for skiing and mountaineering, but there are much more than that. There are many lakes including the Lake of Geneva, Lake of Annecy and Lake of Bourget where numerous water sports are possible.
Famous resorts include Chamonix, Annecy with its old city, Grenoble where the Olympic Games took place in 1968. The French Alps have also great many restaurants and is especially famous for its numerous varities of cheese.