Alpe d’Huez is a popular high-altitude mountain resort that welcomes guests all year round. With 300 days of sunshine per year it is known as the Island of Sun. This fantastic dual season resort offers thrill seekers and quiet souls alike a respite in a magnificent alpine setting. It is a lively and modern resort which has recently invested millions of euros to upgrade the ski area. Let’s look at some reasons why Alpe d’Huez is the perfect resort to buy a property.

Alpe d’Huez – Cycling

If you mention Alpe d’Huez to any keen cyclist then your first question should be “did you rise to the challenge?” If they don’t know the answer to this question then they are not serious cyclists!

The 21 bends starting from Bourg d’Oisans and finishing just past Alpe d’Huez are a cycling mecca and feature in the Tour de France, attracting thousands of lycra-clad amateurs who attempt the climb in the summer months. It is a climb that truly tests the grit and spirit and is a challenge that few keen hardcore cyclists can turn down.

The total climb takes in an elevation of 1135 metres starting at 726 metres above sea level. The ascent is truly beautiful, almost picture perfect everywhere you look, taking in open meadows past bend 7 at Huez and majestic peaks surround you the higher you climb. The steepest sections are considered to be at the bottom of the climb until you get to La Garde which is on bend 16 when the gradient drops from a steady 10% to about 7-8%. The 21 hairpin bends have been nicknamed “Shoe lace mountain” due to their zigzag appearance.

Alpe d’Huez – Skiiing

Alpe d’Huez is a fantastic ski resort with 236km of pistes in a surrounding bowl of unbeatable skiing terrain. The resort is part of the Alpe d’Huez Grande Domaine Ski Area with 389km of downhill skiing on 304 pistes and 150 ski lifts. It is accessible to all standards of skiers which makes it an especially popular ski destination. Added to this is the bonus of the height of the resort which at 1,860m means that it is usually possible to ski straight back to the resort; with ski lifts as high as 3,330m skiing is guaranteed throughout the season. Alpe d’Huez is considered a world class ski resort and offers not only some of the greatest unbroken verticals in the world but also the Sarenne, the longest black ski run in the Alps at 18km. This is not a resort that you will easily get bored of!

Alpe d’Huez – Walking & Hiking

Walking has always been one of the primary attractions to Alpe d’Huez and the resort has much to offer a seasoned hiker as well as the gentle rambler, with 143 miles of marked trails with beautiful views. Choose village walks with barely any incline or progress up to challenging hiking trails. The most adventurous hikers can stay overnight in refuges throughout the Ecrins National Park. Buy the summer lift pass and bypass the need to slog up the mountain, allowing you to enjoy the views without the hard work. All the walks are well signposted so you won’t get lost. There are also 12 lakes within walking distance from the main resort. This is truly a walking area with something for everyone.

And more…

Alpe d’Huez is not just a resort for sport lovers and thrill-seekers, there is culture here too. Art galleries and museums detail the history of the area. The resort is also hosting the Tomorrowland electronic dance festival in 2022. Numerous bars, including a Folie Douce, and restaurants offering café meals right up to Michelin Star dining will keep you busy as well as a vast array of shops to browse in.

For the family there is also a 4 season luge that runs down the side of the mountain and a large sports complex which includes an indoor swimming pool. There are husky tours, paragliding, fishing and outdoor swimming in the lakes.