Tourist attractions French Alps

Don’t be put off this modest climb (60m to get to an altitude of 2 860m), since the view over the southern Alps which awaits is exceptional: north to Queyras, Mt Viso and l’Ubaye; northwest to the Pelvou massif; west to the upper Verdon; south to t..

From this isolated spot there is a splendid view (from the bend to the left) of the Meije massif (orientation table at 1 834m). Continue to the village of Chazelet , renowned for its balconies. Heading back down the valley, continue to the Ventelon..

Mont Revard (1 537m) offers magnificent plunging views over Lake du Bourget and Aix les Bains. There are interesting views fom the cable car: westwards over the lake and the dent du Chat – through the gap of the Chat pass, the glimmering waters of th..

Sharing the distinction of being the most famous route in the French Alps with that of the Iseran Pass, and linking the Maurienne to the Briançonnais, this steep incline with views over the Maurienne leads from the bottom of the Arc Valley to its tri..

Reached by cable car from Pierrafort, there is a fine view from this summit, taking in the Valmorel Valley surrounded by the Cheval Noir, the Grand Pic de la Lauzière and, beyond, the Belledonne range. On the other side is the Belleville Valley: the ..

The route traverses a wild landscape dotted by mountain communities which thanks to its isolation retains its charm. Among the more spectacular sites, don’t miss the Collet de Vaujany for its view of the west face of the Grandes-Rousses; the Combe..

The Transarc cable car (from Arc 1800) passes over the col du Grand Renard and arrives at the base of the Siguille Grive, at a height of 2 600m, from where the view takes in the Aiguille Rouge, Mont Pourri, the Aiguille du Saint-Esprit, La Grande Mot..

Between Beuil and the Var Valley, the River Cians has cut through red schist and limestone to create some of the most beautiful steep gorges in the Alps. Its powers of erosion are increased tenfold in the weakest places, and thus the river has carved..

There is a magnificent panorama (with a viewpoint indicator) from Saint-Pilon in the heart of the Sainte-Beaume massif: to the north, of the Hôtellerie de la Sainte-Baume in the foreground, Mont Ventoux in the distance, the Luberon , Montagne de..

Who hasn't dreamt of one day traversing the Alps from end to end, from pass to pass, from one sea to the other, from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean? The southern part of the route begins at the Col du Lautaret and continues into the southern Alps..

A steep incline (of up to 14%)! From the Col de Porte , you first traverse a forest cut across with mountain ramparts which become more and more dispersed, before coming out into pastureland. You can make an initial stop to enjoy the panoramic views..

The Route de la Corniche Sublime begins at Comps-sur-Artuby, a former stronghold of the Knights Templar and later of the Knights Hospitaller. The village nestles at the foot of a rock crowned by the 13C Eglise St André. The views from this church ove..

Edouard Martel (1859-1938), the inventor of potholing, was the first to explore these gorges in 1905-06. In the 1920s lookout points were built along the canyon, and in 1947 a cliff road (D 71), known as the Corniche Sublime, was constructed on the s..

Created in 1960, Serre-Ponçon covers 7 413 acres (more than Lake Annecy). 3km wide, it is 20km long from Embrun to Espinasses and holds some 1 270 million m 3 of water. The water is held back by an equally impressive dam . A number of scenic road..

The Queyras is an isolated hinterland. A geographical, historical and cultural entity, it became a protected park in 1977. Its villages such as st-Veran are among Europe’s highest (average altitude here is 2 200m), and its charm combines vast space..

The Grande Corniche is the highest coastal road between Nice and Menton. Built on the orders of Napoleon, it follows part of the old Roman road Via Julia Augusta. Its panoramic views are unforgettable, especially from Le Vistaero restaurant and Be..

This low-lying, ravined mountain range extends to the sea with promontories, deep creeks, headlands and beaches. Its fire-red colours form a striking contrast with the indigo blue of the Mediterranean. The Corniche d’Or coastal road running between..

Ruins are all that remain of this château built in the 12C and destroyed in the 17C. A path leads up to the castle (1hr there and back). From the lookout point of the keep, the view over the Valence plain, the Bourg-lès-Valence dam and the confluence..

Valence is the starting point of a magnificent scenic route. The D 287 will first take you past the striking site of the Château de Crussol and then on to St-Romain-de-Lerps. Here, two observation points command a splendid panorama of the entire Rhôn..

At an altitude of 3,323 m, the Pic du lac Blanc offers a fine view of Les Deux-Alpes, Lake Lauvitel, Mount Ventoux, L'Alpe-d'Huez, Taillefer, Belledonne and Chartreuse. On the main terrace, a wider panorama enables you to see the Pic Bayle, Grande Ca..