Barcelonnette in the Ubaye valley
28 April 2015 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General, French Riviera Reading Time: 7 minutes Barcelonnette is a commune of France and a subprefecture in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It is located in the southern French Alps, at the crossroads between Provence, Piedmont and the Dauphiné, and is the largest town in the Ubaye Valley. The town’s inhabitants are known as Barcelonnettes. Barcelonnette is situated in the wide and fertile Ubaye Valley, of which it is the largest town. It lies at an elevation of 1132 m (3717 ft) on the right bank of the Ubaye River, and is surrounded by mountains which reach peaks of over 3000 m; the tallest of these is the Needle of Chambeyron at 3412 m. Barcelonnette is situated 210 km from Turin, 91 km from Nice and 68 km from Gap. read more…Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the heart of the French Alps
26 February 2013 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General Reading Time: 6 minutes Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is the last large town along the Tarentaise valley in the heart of the French Alps. read more…Grenoble, capital of the Alpes
30 September 2011 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General Reading Time: 8 minutes Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, situated at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère. The proximity of the mountains has led to the city being known as the “Capital of the Alps.” Grenoble’s history encompasses a period of more than 2,000 years, and the city has been the capital of the Dauphiné since the 11th century. Grenoble experienced a period of economic expansion in the nineteenth and 20th centuries, which is symbolized by the holding of the X Olympic Winter Games in 1968. The city is now a significant scientific center in Europe. Grenoble hosts several festivals: the Grenoble Jazz Festival in March, the Open Air Short Film Festival in early July, and the Cabaret Frappé music festival at the end of July. read more…Route des Grandes Alpes
8 April 2011 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General Reading Time: 3 minutes A legendary trail for a unique adventure!Unveiled in 1937, the Route des Grandes Alpes (Great Alps Route) is the most beautiful of mountain hiking trails. It runs from Thonon-les-Bains to Menton, from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, is 684 km long and includes 16 passes, among the highest in the French Alpine massif: six of them culminate above 2,000 metres. The trail guides car drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, touring cyclists (and sometimes even … intrepid ramblers!) through a land whose natural and cultural heritage is exceptional. read more…