First, a few words about the resort: Alpe d'Huez lies in the heart of the Grandes Rousses ski area. Of course, the French were skiing there first but foreigners joined them quite soon, since the reputation of the «Island of the Sun» goes well beyond the French territory. A resort where, on certain years, several hundreds days of visible sunshine are recorded can not be kept secret for long! The sceneries are astounding on clear days and, from the Pic Blanc summit, both the Mont Blanc and Mont Cervin can be spotted in the distance. The Alpe d'Huez ski area covers over ten thousand hectares and offers more than 230 kilometers of slopes.
Back to our topic, the restaurant offer in Alpe d'Huez is endless. On course, many restaurants serve traditional alpine specialties, but the diversified offer (Mexican, Thaï, and whatever else you can wish for) will satisfy even the pickiest diner.
One cannot visit the Alps and have a complete experience without trying at least one of their traditional specialties. Typical dishes, including tartiflette, raclette and fondue, come in many declensions but always include lots of melted cheese. They all can be eaten guiltlessly since the totality of the extra calories ingested will be easily spent on the exciting slopes the next day. Many restaurants offer those dishes, the most reputable ones would include Le Passe Montagne, where you will find good value on Route de la Poste, Au Blé Noir on Chemin des Bergers, Les Epiciers on Place de l'Ours Blanc and Le Petit Taverne in L'Eclose. In Huez Village, a slightly remote location, you will certainly not be disappointed by L'Ancolie, the experience is well worth the extra distance.
Like in any European ski resort, you will find a very large choice of pizza and pasta restaurants. One stands out of the crowd and is particularly charming: L'Authentic, on Avenue des Jeux. The traditional Italian dishes, such as a selection of fresh pastas served with homemade sauces as well as sea fish skewers and saltimbocca of calf with figs and gnocchi, are served in a wooden chalet-style restaurant.
If you are a seafood fan, you most definitely have to try La Fromagerie, located opposite the ice rink. And if you fancy food with an edge, then you must try the very popular Smithys Tavern. The Tex-Mex menu and the homemade burgers are hearty and the portions, generous.
For a smaller fare, there are numerous fast food joints in Alpe d'Huez. For a midnight snacks after great partying, one good option is the Captain Sandwich, open until 2am. For a real bargain, get a mini-pizza at Pizza Roll for only €3!
Other notable mentions are Le Genepi, which serves out of the ordinary ribs and Le P'tit Creux, which is renowned for its fine cuisine - traditional menus with a distinct touch.
After skiing, eating and partying, you will most certainly want to engage in an other great activity: sleeping. The accommodations in Alpe d'Huez are as diverse as the visitors' budgets and needs: from cabins and chalets, from apartments and houses, to hotels and self-catering studios, you'll find what you need.
The runs in Alpe d'Huez offer some serious skiing. There are 123 total runs and nearly 70 intermediate ski runs. Now that the best of the numbers are told, there are also 36 beginner runs, 17 advanced runs and the long Pit Blanc run, which covers well over 15 km from a height above 3,330 meters. The ski resort can lift almost 100,000 skiers per hour with 84 ski lifts functioning throughout the day. The lines are never backed up and if a line forms, it won't last very long at all.
There's a 2,230-meter drop and La Sarenne, one of the longest advanced runs in Europe, to keep you busy for a big part of the day. Additionally, this is one of the places to get out and about if you're into cross-country skiing. There are tons of snow cannons to keep the slopes covered in the best white powder you can get for your ski pass money to boot. Getting here is quite easy too as you can get here from Grenoble, Lyon and Chambery. There's always a way, either by car, train or plane, to get here for some primo skiing. Nearly all the places mentioned here can be driven in less than two to three hours.
The accommodation in Alpe d'Huez French ski resort consists of all the types of places you're used to staying in: from cabins and chalets, from apartments and houses, to hotels and self-catering studios, you'll have what you're looking for. Though cheaper prices are as rare as a cloudy day, you can easily access the shops and restaurants in the Quartier des Jeux. Quartier Bergers is a little toned down and is about twenty minutes away on foot. This is about the only place where you'll have a fair chance to find cheaper, budget friendly accommodation.
Alpe d'Huez has been catering to tourist for several decades. Way back in the sixties, it was considered one of Europe's best purpose built resorts. In the 1968 Olympics, the bobsled race was even held here. The track, however, began to melt time and time again because of the sun. With some remodeling and shading added, the track didn't thaw and was used. The track is still visible but no longer in use today. Even before the sixties, though, Alpe d'Huez made its mark on the map. It was because a Mr. Fausro Coppi climbed up the twisty road with a grade of eight percent to win the Tour de France. There is a plaque today with the inscriptions of those who have climbed and conquered after Coppi.
Both Alex Gwen Thomson & Jamie Hanson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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