Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez (French pronunciation: [l‿al.pə d‿ɥɛz]) is a ski resort in Southeastern France at 1,250 to 3,330 metres (4,100 to 10,925 ft). It is a mountain pasture in the central French Western Alps, in the commune of Huez, which is part of the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
L'Alpe d'Huez
It is part of the Grandes Rousses massif, over the Oisans, and is 59 km (37 mi) from Grenoble. The Alpe d'Huez resort is accessible from Grenoble by the RD 1091, which runs along the Romanche Valley passing through the communes of Livet-et-Gavet and Le Bourg-d'Oisans as well as Haut-Oisans via the Col de Sarenne.
Alpe d'Huez is known internationally as an iconic cycling venue, as it is used regularly in the Tour de France cycle race, including twice on the same day in 2013. In 2019, it became the site of the first Tomorrowland Winter festival.
History[edit]
The site of the Alpe has been permanently occupied since the Middle Ages. East of L'Alpe veti, a medieval agglomeration had grown from the end of the 11th to the 14th century under the name of Brandes. It was composed of a castle, a parish church with a cemetery, a village with about 80 homes, surface and underground mine workings, as well as several industrial districts. Its occupants operated a silver mine on behalf of the Dauphin. It is currently the only medieval coron[1] known and preserved in its entirety, making it a unique site in Europe and classified as historical monuments by a decree of 6 August 1995.[2]
Excavated and studied continuously since 1977 by a team of the CNRS, this site is registered as an historic monument.[3] The medieval mining operation stretched from Gua (the Sarenne Valley) to the Lac Blanc [White Lake] (Massif des Rousses). The massif was also the subject of mining operations, including copper, from the Bronze Age.[4]
It is also at Alpe d'Huez where botanist Gaston Bonnier began his study of flora of France in 1871.
The station was developed from the 1920s. This is where the first platter lift for skiers was opened in 1936 with perches by Jean Pomagalski, creator of the Poma company.
Economy[edit]
Each year, the Alpe d'Huez Film Festival is held in January.
Alpe d'Huez also has an altiport, the Alpe d'Huez Airport, built for the 10th Winter Olympics held at Grenoble in 1968. It was named for Henri Giraud on 15 April 2000, in memory of the famous mountain pilot. The altiport hosts helicopters including those of civil security, SAF Helicopteres and the Dauphiné flying club. A gourmet restaurant is located on the edge of the platform.
Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez, France
Grenoble – 59 km (37 mi)
2,224 m (7,297 ft)
3,330 m (10,925 ft)
1,120 m (3,675 ft)
236 km2 (91 sq mi)
123 (249 km (155 mi))
(easy 38, intermediate 68, difficult 17)[6]
16 km (10 mi)
84 – (6 cable cars,
10 gondolas, 3 access lifts,
24 chairlifts, 41 drag lifts)
95,000 skiers/hr
5.48 m (216 in; 18.0 ft) /yr
64 km2 (25 sq mi)
Limited, 1 lift, 2 days/week
1,120 m (3,670 ft)
13.8 km (8.6 mi)
1,860 m (6,100 ft)
8.1 %
13 %
