A classic French mountain village at the foot of La Meilleur peak (3988 m) with the glacier of the same name. The peak belongs to the Oisans mountain range. This is a gathering place for extreme skiing enthusiasts from all over the world. Those who want to get away from the noisy, colorful crowd of skiers and find out what it is worth alone with the mountains gather here. This is not a place for those who love comfort and safety.

The village consists of a few tiled houses located on the slope. On the main street there is a bakery, a bar, a cheese shop. The lower station of the lift is located not far from the center with a 12th century church. You can visit the neighboring resorts: through the Mont de Lan glacier, descend to the slopes leading to Les des Alpes or take the highway to Serre-Chevalier.

Few people would know about its existence, if not for one “but”: a quiet village built up with unique Alpine chalets offers unique opportunities for freeriding.

Here you will not meet a single “dummy” and there is practically nothing for families with children to do in La Grave, your neighbors on the slope will only be professionals from whom you have something to learn.

Unlike most mountain settlements in France, wooden chalets are extremely rare in La Grave. The reason for this is the lack of trees and frequent fires in the past. Having weighed the lessons of history, local residents began to build their houses from volcanic stone, which is in abundance here, which added originality to the ancient village.

Thanks to the northern exposure, there is a lot of snow here, and its quality will satisfy the most ardent lover of virgin lands. The slopes of local circuses and couloirs are very steep, the risk of avalanches is high. However, the resort pays great attention to skiing safety: the snow condition is assessed twice a day. Information about the results is posted at each lift station. For all interested parties, La Grave regularly holds lectures by the avalanche service, and there is also an opportunity to take courses in searching for people in avalanches. It is recommended to ski in helmets, with a beeper, ABC backpacks and accompanied by guides. The ski rental shops in La Grave offer avalanche probes, beepers and shovels for rent.

How to get there

There are two ways to get to La Grave: by car from Grenoble or by taking the cable car to the Mont de Lance glacier from Les Deux Alpes and then skiing down. The latter option is quite dangerous, accessible only to advanced riders and not always open.

The nearest airport is Grenoble, France (125 km). You can get there by car from the airport along highway No. 91 Grenoble – Briançon.

Trails and lifts

Here you can comfortably hone your skills on first-class trails, watch other experienced skiers or take a few skill lessons from highly qualified instructors. Skiing at the resort begins with a climb to a gondola lift at an altitude of 3200 m. For 30 minutes, you can admire the beauty of the surrounding snowy peaks, and then, having reached the final point, choose your own descent route. Experienced skiers are waiting for glaciers, open virgin fields, chutes, steep vertical walls, and at the bottom of the slope – areas of dense forest. The length of some of the La Grave trails reaches 9 km, and the height difference is 2150 m. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts are waiting for 20 km of trails. You can also go down from the top to the neighboring resort of Les Deux Alpes, which has combined 200 km of prepared trails of varying difficulty levels. Excellent conditions have been created here for snowboarders, including a prepared Snow Park and two trails for border cross.

There are only two marked trails here – Chancel and Vallon de la Meille. The first is marked as red, the second is more difficult. Everything else is off-piste skiing. The slopes are served by two lines of gondola lifts, with a transfer at an altitude of 1800 m. Above the upper gondola station there are two towbars that lift up to a height of 3550 m.

The slopes are served by two lines of gondola lifts, with a transfer at an altitude of 1800 m. The height difference between the lower and upper lift stations is 1750 m. There are only two marked trails here – Chancel and Vallon de la Meille. The first trail is marked as red, the second is more difficult. Everything else is off-piste skiing. Above the upper gondola station there are two towbars, on which you can climb to a height of 3550 m and two simple blue trails with a height difference of 350 m.

Height difference – 2150 m;

Max. height – 3550 m;

Lifts – 4 (63, including Les des Alpes);

Marked trails – 12 km;

Cross-country ski trails – 10 km

Excellent opportunities for off-piste skiing. Mostly these are extreme descents along the couloirs, rock and ice slopes with a steepness of up to 50 degrees and above. High avalanche danger.

Nowhere in the world are competitions held on tracks of such length. Often those who have visited La Grave at least once, rode the cold, harsh slopes of the beautiful La Meije, tasted transparent rosé wine in a bar near Michou and walked along the steep winding streets of the ancient village, return here to spend the winter in this corner of the French Alps, which still preserves traditions and resists civilization.

Accommodation

There are no fashionable hotels here, and guests of the resort are waiting for small, cozy hotels and apartments, permeated with a homely atmosphere. At the same time, accommodation prices are quite affordable.

Les Enfetchores

Les Enfetchores offers self-catering apartments located in La Grave. The hotel is 200 metres from the Glaciers de la Meije cable car and offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Wi-Fi access is available at an additional cost.

The apartments feature a TV, a seating area and a private bathroom with a bath or shower. Some have a balcony or terrace. The kitchens include a dishwasher and a microwave. Guests can enjoy mountain and garden views from their rooms.

At Les Enfetchores you will find a garden. Other facilities offered include ski storage. The hotel offers free parking.

If you feel like visiting the surroundings, check out Passe de Lotaret (10 km) and Lausa (7.6 km). Grenoble – Isère Airport is 214 km from the property.

3-star Hotel Panoramic-Village La Grave

Hotel Panoramic-Village La Grave is located in the village of La Grave, 10 km from Col du Lautaret. It is located in a pedestrian area with 17 chalets, including a large reception area. Free WiFi is provided.

The rooms and apartments are located in chalets. On the upper floors, the rooms all face south with views of the glaciers. On the ground floor, the apartments have a kitchenette, a fireplace and a terrace with panoramic views. Additional amenities include a TV with international channels.

Breakfast is served daily in the dining room, which offers panoramic mountain views, or on the terrace, allowing you to relax by the fireplace in the lounge bar.

Local activities in summer include cycling and glacier hiking. It features 2 seasonal outdoor pools, open in summer, and a private spa with sauna and hot tub.

For winter skiing, the cable car service to the Meije Glacier ski slopes can be found 150 metres away. Panoramic-Village La Grave is 5 km from La Grave. Free private covered parking is available on site near the reception.

Hotel Auberge Edelweiss 3-star hotel

Auberge Edelweiss is located in the heart of the medieval village of La Grave, 10 km from Col de Lautaret. The hotel is set in a former coaching inn and features a chalet-style décor.

The rooms are accessed by stairs, with mountain views and a bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Extras include a flat-screen TV and a desk.

The buffet breakfast includes cereals, yoghurt, fruit juice, hot drinks, jam, fresh homemade bread, meat, cheese and fruit salad. The hotel’s restaurant serves fresh seasonal produce and its bar offers an extensive wine list.

Guests can enjoy the hotel’s terrace with panoramic views, warm up by the fire, try wine tasting at the hotel’s own events, relax in the sauna and enjoy a massage. An electric car charging station is available.

Auberge du Pont de l’Alp

Auberge du Pont de l’Alp is an inn located on the Grands Alpes road, a 7 km drive from the nearest ski station, Serres Chevalier. It offers ski storage and an on-site restaurant with a panoramic terrace. It is a 7-minute drive from Les Grands Bains du Monétier.

The rooms at Auberge du Pont de l’Alp are decorated in a mountain style and include free Wi-Fi. Each room has a mountain view, a TV and a private bathroom.

A buffet breakfast is served every morning and sandwiches can be arranged in advance the day before. You can also relax with a drink at the bar or on the terrace before sampling regional-style cuisine at the à la carte restaurant at lunchtime. Half-board options are available at the hotel in the evenings when booked.

Free private parking is just one of the other facilities available at this hotel. Massages can be enjoyed at the spa, which is a 5-minute drive away. Hiking trails with mountain passes and lakes of the Ercris National Park start outside Auberge.

The nearest ski resort is just 5 km away. Other activities include the equestrian centre Le Ranch du Grand Aigle, a 12-minute walk from the hotel, and the via ferrata l’Aiguillette du Lauzet, 2 km away. Auberge du Pont de l’Alp is 20.6 km from Briançon.

APRES-SKI and nightlife

The resort has several shops, including a couple of sports shops. The choice of bars and restaurants is limited. Most restaurants are located in hotels.

Active recreation

For cross-country skiers, the resort has two trails about 10 km long. In winter, people also come here to go snowshoeing on the Plateau d’Empary, ice climbing and mountaineering, or ice skating in the open air.

In bad weather, you can have a good time in the sports complex with gyms and a climbing wall, in the library or in any of the few restaurants and cafes.

In the summer season, La Grave is interesting primarily for fans of

VAE, mountaineering and rafting. From here you can also go hiking or riding donkeys or paragliding in the mountains.

Only at this time of year can you descend into the mysterious ice cave at an altitude of 3,200 m. Go on an excursion to abandoned silver mines or visit the high-altitude alpine botanical garden Lothar. Those who are not inclined to change places will enjoy spending time fishing, playing golf or tennis.

The resort has a kindergarten where attentive teachers will look after young children, a ski school, shops, Snowlegend ski equipment rental and the Meije sports club.