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Family-friendly and easily accessible, the small town of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse is the ideal place for quiet sports holidays in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Far from the large and busy ski resorts, the commune enjoys a dream setting, perfect for enjoying the pleasures of the mountains.

28 kilometres north of Grenoble, 45 minutes from Chambéry and 1 hour from Lyon, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse is a mid-mountain ski resort. As its name suggests, it is located in the heart of the Chartreuse massif, well known for its eponymous alcohol and its generously snow-covered valleys. In the middle of the mountain pastures and forests, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse will allow you to enjoy the fresh air, nestled between the mountains.

Whether you are a beginner skier or, on the contrary, aficionados of skiing in search of good sensations, Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse will satisfy all your desires. Located between 640 and 2079 metres above sea level, the estate (Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse/Le Planotet) is the largest in the entire Chartreuse, with 28 slopes for all levels (8 green, 6 blue, 10 red and 4 black). What is special about this station? It is accessible directly from the heart of the village, thanks to a 6-seater chairlift connected to the Combe de l'Ours. The beginner's area (Essarts cable car) has three beautiful green slopes perfect for a gentle introduction to skiing. Experienced skiers will opt for the heights of the domain, which they can reach thanks to the Scia chairlift: up there, at an altitude of 1789 metres, freestyle modules (along the Chamois piste or on the Goulet piste) and other red pistes await you! For beautiful off-piste outings, the forests of the Combe de l'Ours and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse sectors will offer you good sensations for skiing in complete freedom.

Not fans of downhill skiing? Opt for snowshoe rides! The resort has many itineraries for all levels, and it is likely that you will find what you are looking for. A route is particularly recommended for beautiful panoramas: that of hiking from the heart of the resort to La Scia. Through the snow-covered and steep passes, this rather sporty route will guarantee you incomparable views of the entire resort and the Chartreuse. To gently reconcile yourself with sliding, why not try a cross-country ski ride? If the domain does not have a Nordic area, the neighbouring domain of Saint-Hugues/Les Égaux has a beautiful 33-kilometre stretch (4 trails): in classic or skating, it is the ideal activity to mix sport, hiking and contemplation... We validate!

In summer, when Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse unveils its thick white coat, the town attracts fans of outdoor sports. Trail enthusiasts in particular will find their happiness here, thanks to 18 trail rides spread across the Chartreuse and more than thirty hiking routes from the city. The Chamechaude hike, those of the Sources du Guiers, the Antonins, the Grand Som, the Roc d'Arguille or the Monastery are really recommended. The Monastery of the Grande Chartreuse, it is its name, is also worth a visit: if it is not visited since its monks are dedicated to silence (since 1084), you can still observe it from the beautiful belvederes located overlooking the hermitage. Inspired by the history of Chateaubriand (Memories from Overseas France), Alexandre Dumas (Impressions of Travel to Switzerland), Honoré de Balzac (The Human Comedy) or Stendhal (The Chartreuse of Parma), this unusual place houses behind its walls a recipe kept in the greatest secret for more than 250 years: that of the Chartreuse liqueur, an alcoholic mystery made of 130 plants. Green or yellow, the Chartreuse (also called by the monks "elixir of long life") is exported to more than 80 countries, and is THE specialty that makes the pride of an entire region. A museum just next to the Monastery is entirely dedicated to him.

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Alpes