
Valentine's Day in Alpe d'Huez
If you're looking for a special way of celebrating Valentine's with a loved one then Alpe d'Huez is a great choice.
© Vaujany Station-Village
© Vaujany Station-Village
© Vaujany Station-Village
© Vaujany Station-Village
A pretty Alpine style town accessible by lifts from Alpe d'Huez centre
Vaujany is a charming alpine village set at 1,250m with stunning views and a blend of traditional and modern Alpine architecture. Connected to the Grande Domaine ski area by the Vaujany-Alpette cable car, it offers chalets, hotels and apartments close to lifts and village facilities. Ideal for those seeking a peaceful base with a few good restaurants and bars, while the nearby town of Bourg d’Oisans provides all the essentials just a short drive away.
Vaujany is a charming Alpine village set at 1,250m, just a short lift ride from the centre of Alpe d’Huez. Nestled on one side of a valley above the Allemont reservoir, it offers stunning views and a lovely mix of traditional Alpine architecture alongside newer hotels designed to blend in beautifully.
As part of the Oz-Vaujany ski area, it’s connected to the vast Grande Domaine by the Vaujany-Alpette cable car, affectionately known as the ‘James Bond Gondola car’. Despite its small size, Vaujany has a good selection of chalets, hotels and attractive apartments, all within easy reach of the village’s facilities and ski lifts.
If you want a peaceful Alpine base with quick access to the slopes, Vaujany fits the bill perfectly. The village also has a handful of good restaurants and a few bars for some relaxed après-ski, making it ideal if you prefer a quieter, more traditional mountain experience. For everything else, the nearby market town of Bourg d’Oisans is just a 25-minute drive away, with plenty of shops, supermarkets, medical services and more to stock up and keep you well looked after during your stay.
Location | Kms from centre | Best for |
Alpe d'Huez | - | Being at the heart of everything |
Huez | 0.75 | Quiet village vibe |
Vaujany | 21 | Chaming alpine resort |
Oz en Oisans | 15 | Modern purpose-built |
Auris en Oisans | 15 | Small and family friendly |
Villard Reculas | 4.6 | Traditional chalets and calm |
Vaujany hosts a large cycling race each summer in June, but for more variety of events you'll need to head over to the main resort of Alpe d'Huez
If you're looking for a special way of celebrating Valentine's with a loved one then Alpe d'Huez is a great choice.
The 21 hairpin bends that lead from Bourg d’Oisans up to Alpe d’Huez is probably the most famous climb in the whole of the cycling world. The views from the top of the Pic Blanc (accessed from the DMC lift centre) offers truly breath taking views, on a clear day you can see Mont Blanc, Les Deux Alpes and even the mighty Mont Ventoux (the giant of Provence!!). Around 45 minutes toward Grenoble is the historic town of Vizille with its museum and Chateau. Top-flight rugby is played at the new Stade des Alpes by Top14 club Grenoble, which is around an hour away. The historic and incredibly picturesque ‘Route Napoleon’ runs from the area all the way to the Mediterranean, and follows the route taken by Napoleon upon his return from Elba in 1815, and links Grenoble with Cannes (N85).
Learn the secrets of the wildlife of the Oisans. Qualified staff leads this fun and realistic wildlife discovery, using interactive terminals offering a choice of virtual walks with activities featuring mountain fauna.
La Remise, in the middle of town, has a good menu and offers good quality. Stief's Steakhouse (practically next door) does what it says on the tin! Le Stou restaurant, located in the sports centre complex, is great for an après-swim or après-workout meal and drink. When on the mountain, L'Alpette - Chez Passoud offers good food and views.
Livelier than Oz but quieter than Alpe d’Huez, Vaujany has a few bars that offer good fun ‘après-ski’. Stief's Steakhouse café offers an array of beers, Wi-Fi, drinks promos and live sports. L’Aigle Royal in the middle of town has a nice atmosphere.
Linked to the Alpe d’Huez Grande domain by the suitably nicknamed ‘James Bond Gondola car’, Vaujany offers a wide range of winter activities with something to suit all abilities. Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding (on and off piste), cross-country skiing, Nordic walking, paragliding and the latest craze of ‘Fat biking’ (basically a mountain bike with 4x4 tyres). In summer Vaujany offers mountain biking, hiking, archery, climbing and has a fantastic modern sports centre offering an indoor ice rink, swimming pool, bowling, tennis and a fully equipped gymnasium.
The nine-hole golf course in Alpe d’Huez, by the altiport, consists of six ‘pitch and putt’ holes to start and three genuine tough par 3’s to finish. A tougher nine-hole course can be found in Les Deux Alpes, underneath the ‘red jelly bean’ bubble car. For a serious challenge try the Golf International at Eybens, around 45 minutes away towards Grenoble (near Vizille). This Robert Trent Jones designed course is regarding as being amongst the best in France. During the summer in Alpe d’Huez most Thursdays you will find a competition at the course which can be entered on the day. The sixth tee box is literally on the runway of the altiport and offers fantastic views. There are other courses in the area at Seyssins, Charmeil, and Uriage (all near Grenoble).
Probably more than any other French ski resort Alpe d'Huez has proven itself to be a destination for road cycling enthusiasts.
This is one of the most famous sections of the Tour de France and during the summer months around 1,000 cyclists a day tackle the 21 bends.
With two big climbs and an average of 13% this is a tricky route but once again the views make it worth while.
You can buy a microchip for time trail from €3/day.
A gentler ride than many in the area but with some steep sections and great views.
This route has plenty to offer cyclists who like a challenge.
Especially suitable for families or those looking for a relaxed introduction to alpine hiking.
Beginning directly from Alpe d’Huez, the trail gradually ascends to the Col de Sarenne, which sits at 1,999 metres.
This hike offers so much, making it a top choice for a well-rounded alpine hiking experience.
Starting at approximately 1,860 metres near the Vieil Alpe area of the resort, the trail descends through terraced meadows, coniferous woodland, and timeworn hamlets.
This watersports centre is located between Venosc and St Christophe, not far from the Ecrins National Park.
There are some really gorgeous Alpine style chalets in Vaujany with plenty of choice in terms of size, style and budget. A lot of them can be rented out in the summer months too for all those cycling and mountain bike fans that head over this way each year.
This chalet is situated in a fantastic location, just 50 metres from the lift and a short walk from all the villages amenities.
This stunning, privately-owned south-facing chalet has been luxuriously furnished with a sophisticated style that gives it a relaxed yet chic vibe.
A well located apartment, 50m from the closest lift and within walking distance to the village.
Welcome to Maison Rostaing, a combination of their three chalets in La Villette de Vaujany (Rostaing, Lucette & Dibona). This can also refer to simply Rostaing plus another (one of the two).
This chalet is situated in a fantastic location, just 50 metres from the lift and a short walk from all the villages amenities.
This chalet is set off a quiet road leading through La Villette, which is linked to the Alpe d'Huez ski area. It is a quintessential French Alpine chalet, converted from an old farmhouse, oozes character and charm with an abundance of wood and grey mountain stone.
Holiday apartment for weekly rental in the Alps
There are a good range of apartments to choose from in Vaujany from small studios to larger ones suited to big families or groups.
A well located apartment, 50m from the closest lift and within walking distance to the village.
This stunning, privately-owned south-facing chalet has been luxuriously furnished with a sophisticated style that gives it a relaxed yet chic vibe.
This chalet is situated in a fantastic location, just 50 metres from the lift and a short walk from all the villages amenities.
This charming contemporary yet homely chalet won the ’Alpine Chalet of the Year’ at the 2001 Golden Ski Awards. It is situated in the picturesque village of Vaujany which links directly to the Alpe d'Huez ski area via cable car.
A well located apartment, 50m from the closest lift and within walking distance to the village.
La Perle de l’Oisans are the only four-star apartments in Vaujany with on-site massage options! Experience the feeling of apartment luxury from the moment you enter any of their ten wonderfully designed, spacious, and fully equipped apartments.
Booking with them means your holiday won’t involve the stress of public transport, the cost of private transfers, or the hassle of fitting snow chains on a hire car.
They provide the best price for airport transfers to destinations throughout the French Alps, year-round.
This company offers private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport to Alpe d'Huez, nearby areas, and resorts across the Alps. With great value fares on all journeys, it’s an easy way to save money.
Alp Venture offers safe, reliable and professional private transfers to Alpe d’Huez at competitive prices.
Find out all about what is happening in Allpe d'Huez and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the valley. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsAlpe d'Huez hosts a wide range of events throughout the year. In the winter, you can expect motor racing on ice, comedy festivals, ski races and various live music gigs. During the summer months, the focus turns to cycling with the Tour de France usually passing through town. The Megavalanche, a mass-start mountain bike race that draws thousands of MTB fans from around the world, takes place in July.
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