Oisans

With influences from both the northern and southern faces of the Alps - Provence/Cote d’Azur borders the south – L’Oisans with its spectacular peaks has been a centre for high Alpine tourism since the 19th century.

Spreading between Grenoble and Briançon, L’Oisans is in the heart of the Parc National des Écrins – one of France’s greatest national parks. With 10km² of glaciers, with summits such as La Barre des Écrins at 4102m and La Meije at 3983m, it comes next after the Mont Blanc Massif as the favourite training ground for mountaineers. Bounded by the Romanches and Vénéon valleys, the rivers Romanche, Durance and Drac, and the many mountain lakes the Oisans region provides a very varied terrain for the activities to be found in the area.

The Oisans consists of several mighty peaks on the northwest corner of the Ecrins. If there’s one thing you should do here, it’s take the breathtaking cable car ride from La Grave up to the majestic snowy peak of La Meije which stands supreme at nearly 4000m. 

Two of the most spectacular road passes in Europe are also to be found here – the Col du Galibier with unbeatable views out over the Alps and the Col du Lautaret. The Alpine valleys that sit at the foot of the slopes are a holidaymaker’s dream come true in summer time. There are crystal clear lakes to swim in and glistening mountain streams and rivers where you can fish for trout and pike. Don’t miss the chance to fish at a remote mountain lake, it might mean walking for an hour or two to get there but the exquisite setting makes it well worth the effort.