Chamrousse
NileGuide Expert Says:
A good ski resort and hiking area just 30 kilometers from the city.Address:
Phone:
+33 (0)4 76 89 92 65NileGuide Expert tip:
Get the bus! Parking can usually be a hassle and bus fare is relatively cheap compared to the stress of driving on icy roads.Description:
The Chamrousse ski resort sits 30 kilometers from Grenoble and can easily be seen from the city itself. The resort actually stretches over two zones, Chamrousse 1650 (Le Recoin) and Chamrousse 1750-1700 (Roche Béranger).In winter, Chamrousse offers 320 hectares of wooded slopes with 22 lifts. A free shuttle bus links Le Recoin and Roche Béranger. The resort is small, but in a good way. It keeps the friendly atmosphere of traditional resorts, even if the architecture in some of the higher parts screams concrete jungle.
Chamrousse had been a popular ski destination since the 1950s, but Jean-Claude Killy's double gold medal on the resort's slopes catapulted it onto skiers' radars in 1968.
In the summer, Chamrousse is a bit quieter. It makes a great destination for hiking and mountain biking though. Every August, the Course de Côte automobile race runs up resorts winding roads to the delight of racing fans.
If you don't have a car, you can still easily reach Chamrousse. Buses regularly run between the Grenoble bus station and the resort. Round trip tickets cost (actually a day ticket for the Transisère buses) costs 7.20€.
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