{"id":649,"date":"2016-05-23T11:26:14","date_gmt":"2016-05-23T09:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/wordpress\/?p=649"},"modified":"2020-04-17T16:50:50","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T14:50:50","slug":"route-des-grandes-alpes-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/summer\/scenic-touring\/route-des-grandes-alpes-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Route des Grandes Alpes II"},"content":{"rendered":"
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W<\/span>e’re on the second leg of the Route des Grandes Alpes<\/strong>, a scenic touring itinerary following the mythical cols and valleys of the French Alps from Lac L\u00e9man to the Mediterranean sea. In this section we travel from the Beaufortain to Brian\u00e7on<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After the winding, initially-wooded ascent from Beaufort-sur-Doron<\/strong> and its cosy neighbouring valleys, the final push up onto the Cormet de Roselend<\/strong> (1967m) feels almost like entering another country. This famous Tour de France<\/strong> stage now passes the Lac de Roselend<\/strong>, created with an 800m-long barrage to provide hydro-electric power in 1961. A top-of-the-world remoteness heightens the haunting, wild natural beauty<\/strong> of a landscape which takes its name from the annual colourful blossoming of naturalised rhododendrons.<\/p>\n

From here the Route continues to climb, passing through craggy and often snow-covered landscapes, which add a tangible sense of drama to this section of the Route.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nThe climb continues past the Belved\u00e8re de la Tarentaise, only finally relenting when we reach the Col de l\u2019Is\u00e8ran…, one of the highest passes in Europe.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A skiers\u2019 paradise<\/h2>\n
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The onward descent through Bonneval-les-Bains<\/strong> is a more relaxed affair, however, and is eventually rewarded by the welcoming sight of Bourg St Maurice<\/strong>. The bustling town (whose rail terminus receives Eurostar direct Ski-Train services each winter) is overlooked by the family ski station of Les Arcs<\/strong>, linked by the sensational Vanoise Express cable car<\/strong> to neighbouring La Plagne<\/a> creating the vast Paradiski<\/strong> area.<\/p>\n

From \u2018Bourg\u2019 the Route climbs once again, this time into the Tarentaise National Park<\/strong>. The road threads its way through a deep valley below the very different ski stations of La Rosi\u00e8re<\/strong>, Villaroger<\/strong> and Sainte-Foy Tarentaise<\/strong>, while pale aquamarine glaciers ooze silently over the nearby mountains. An indication of the seasonal extremes is conveyed by the nearby presence of montagnette<\/em> farming villages like Le Monal<\/strong>, constructed for summer occupation only. Things open out briefly beside the vast concrete barrage of Tignes-le-Chevril<\/strong>, topped by the road providing access to Tignes<\/a>, part of the famous Espace Killy<\/strong> ski area. The Route, however, now enters the series of tunnels before passing through Tignes\u2019 illustrious partner ski village, Val d\u2019Is\u00e8re<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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From Val d\u2019Is\u00e8re to the Col de l\u2019Is\u00e8ran<\/h2>\n
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After passing through the heart of the village and its smaller neighbour Le Fornet<\/strong>, the road turns and climbs gently at first before scaling the valley side more determinedly between piste-markers, a reminder that each winter the road is covered by a scenic ski piste. The climb continues past the Belved\u00e8re de la Tarentaise<\/strong>, only finally relenting when we reach the Col de l\u2019Is\u00e8ran<\/strong> (2764m), one of Europe\u2019s highest passes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an exposed, often wind-blasted spot, and there\u2019s a real sense of achievement on the triumphant long swoop down through the Parc National de la Vanoise<\/strong> towards Bonneval-sur-Arc<\/strong> (1800m), unquestionably one of the most beautiful and best-preserved mountain villages in France. Bonneval also offers downhill skiing, and there\u2019s much more in Lanslevillard<\/strong>, Lanslebourg<\/strong> and Termignon<\/strong>, in the Val Cenis Vanoise<\/a> ski area.<\/p>\n

Just across the Col du Mont Cenis<\/strong> (painted by JMW Turner<\/strong> in 1820) lies a vast lake set beside the old trade route to Turin<\/strong>. Today the valley hosts the final stages of La Grande Odyss\u00e9e<\/strong>, an annual dog-sledding<\/strong> event attracting professional teams from throughout the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Border Country: into the Maurienne <\/h2>\n
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Pressing on down the valley past Bramans<\/strong>, the family ski station of La Norma<\/strong> and the remarkable Fort d\u2019Esseillon<\/strong>, we reach the Maurienne Valley<\/strong>, a busy centre for local industry. Near Modane<\/strong> lie the trans-Alpine Frejus road and rail tunnels<\/strong>, the latter commenced under Sardinian territorial rule and completed in 1872. Beyond Orelle<\/a> (whose cable-car accesses Val Thorens<\/strong> and the huge Trois-Vall\u00e9es<\/strong> ski area) the bustle is soon left behind, as we join the legendary climb to the Col du T\u00e9l\u00e9graphe<\/strong>, another classic stage of the Tour de France<\/strong>, spiralling relentlessly through tree-lined hairpins to the 1566m summit (from which military telecommunications were pioneered during WWI).<\/p>\n

From here we sweep down into the ski village of Valloire<\/a>, before another climb injects a sense of drama. Eventually the route is reduced to a narrow ribbon of tarmac set between vast walls of grass-clad gypsum, and the final ascent creates an eerie sense of remoteness plus an occasional dusting (or more) of snow.<\/p>\n

When the summit of the Col du Galibier<\/strong> (2645m) is closed by unseasonal snowdrifts travellers can generally continue the journey, thanks to a 370m-long single carriageway tunnel<\/strong> opened in 1890 around 100m below the Col. In fine weather emerging from the far end brings a heart-stopping panorama towards the Parc National des \u00c9crins<\/strong>, while at the roadside is a monolithic monument to Henri Desgranges<\/strong>, creator of the Tour de France<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n\"Bonneval-sur-Arc\"\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Down past Serre Chevalier to Brian\u00e7on<\/h2>\n
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Welcome to the Brian\u00e7onnais<\/strong>. Below le Galibier<\/strong> the Route joins the main road from Grenoble<\/strong> at the Col du Lauteret<\/strong> (2058m) for the long cruise down a broad valley through the villages of the Serre Chevalier<\/a> ski area.<\/p>\n

Ahead lies Brian\u00e7on<\/strong>, at 1326m Europe\u2019s second highest city (and itself connected to the Serre Chevalier<\/strong> area by a modern gondola ski-lift). It\u2019s a rich reward for the journey so far, with much to see in the historic Ville-Haute<\/strong> fortified during the 17th Century by military engineer Vauban<\/strong>, who added a formidable citadel-style defensive complex. \"MountainPassions<\/p>\n

Click link to follow Route des Grandes Alpes III<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n\"The\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From the magnificent Beaufortain region and the extraordinarily beautiful Lac de Roselend, we discover the Maurienne Valley and the fortified city of Brian\u00e7on. ","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[39,50,86,87,88,91,92,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRoute des Grandes Alpes II - Scenic Touring France - MountainPassions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The classic touring itinerary Route des Grandes Alpes. 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