© Refuge de la Fare
© Refuge de la Fare
Refuge de la Fare (2280m), Alpe d'Huez region
Small refuge perched in the mountain pastures between the lakes and glaciers
Built in 1887, it is the oldest refuge in Oisans and will take you back to the old days of mountaineering in Oisans.
Accommodating 11 people in one dormitory, this family-friendly refuge welcomes hikers, climbers, mountaineers, fishermen and wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. It is open with guardians in the summer, and in winter there are no staff but you'll find blankets and mattresses to sleep on. You can book half board, B&B or bed-only, and there is a reduced rate for under 18s and for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Their restaurant has a non-stop service of homemade food with all fresh ingredients made by their in-house chefs. Dishes available include soup, pastas, omelettes, planchers with desserts like tarts and crèpes.
They have a small library and board games are available.
Payment is by cash or cheque - cards are not accepted.
Directions
Via cable car
Take the Alpette cable car from Oz en Oisans or the Vaujany cable car, then hike the 280m altitude difference in around an hour.
From the Besson Lake parking area
Take the small road after the Alpe d'Huez resort, which crosses the Poutran pass, to the end, and start from the Besson lake car park.
Take the flat path leading to the refuge which slopes after the Alpette fork, and will delight fauna and flora enthusiasts: the areas around Besson and Faucille lakes are teeming with marmots, cotton grasses and even specimens of carnivorous plants.
From Bessay in Oz-en-Oisans
Follow the GR549 - for good walkers this takes about four hours with over 1,000m elevation gain.
