Located at an altitude of 2 m, the Col du Lautaret is the highest French pass open to motor traffic even in winter. This does not mean, however, that the weather conditions are always suitable, as it can be subject to heavy snowfall, storms or avalanches.
The Lautaret connects the Guisane valley and Briançonnais on one side, and the Romanche valley and Oisans on the other. Its proximity to the Ecrins National Park makes it a privileged place to admire the peaks of the Hautes-Alpes, their fauna and flora. Whatever way you climb to the pass and whatever the season, it will be an opportunity to enjoy a breathtaking view of the glaciers of la Meije and that of the Grand Galibier.
The Lautaret pass in winter
Until the mid-2000s, a winter sports resort existed, with blue and red runs, as well as a snow wire for beginners. Today, downhill skiing is no longer practiced at the Col du Lautaret, but many other winter activities are available. For example, Nordic ski trails are regularly marked out when those of the Valleys are not usable, such as those of the Nordic domain of the country of the Meije, located at the foot of the Col du LautaretThis area also offers snowshoe trails, an ice rink, toboggan runs, ski hockey, etc.
At the beginning of the season, when the snow is still very fresh, the Col du Lautaret is popular with ski touring enthusiasts. You can also practice snowkiting or paraskiing there. This is a discipline equivalent to kitesurfing: standing on a snowboard, you are pulled by a sail held at arm's length. The wide open spaces in the open wind around the Col du Lautaret are particularly well suited to this. You can also try your hand at airboarding, an inflatable sled that lets you go down snowy slopes head first. And for another unusual activity that will certainly leave you with lasting memories, don't hesitate to treat yourself to a ride in sled dogs !
Lautaret in the summer season
In summer or spring, when the snow recedes, the Col du Lautaret and its entire region are particularly suitable for hiking. For example, you can go to from Villar d'Arêne to Col du Lautaret along a 12,5 km medium level route. Many hiking trails pass near the pass, including the GR® 50, also called the Tour du Haut Dauphiné.
The more experienced will enjoy taking on the very difficult hike that connects le Col du Lautaret to the upper Clarée valley. Le Lautaret is located just 10 km from the village of La Grave, one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", with its stone houses and slate roofs. It is the starting point for many trails of all levels, which allow you to admire the mountain lakes, snow-capped peaks and glaciers. You will also take advantage of the warm welcome from the guardians of one of the Oisans mountain huts, because they are an integral part of discovering the region.
If the Col du Lautaret is particularly well-known, it is for its climb, which has been taken up many times during the Tour de France. This climb is popular with cyclists, even amateurs, because the slope is rather gentle for a pass of this altitude. This is also the reason why this pass has historically been used to connect Briançon and Grenoble, and to access Italy.
The heritage of Lautaret
The Lautaret pass is located near the Ecrins National Park, remarkable, among other things, for the diversity of its fauna and flora. In the same field, the Lautaret Garden is a listed site that is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Alps in Europe. It is a structure of the University of Grenoble-Alpes, as is the case of the neighboring Robert Ruffier-Lanche arboretum.
The garden has more than 2 mountain and arctic plant species. In 000, the Ministry of Culture and Communication labeled it a "Remarkable Garden". It can be visited every day from the beginning of June to the beginning of September. Since 2005, the visit can be completed by that of the Alpe gallery and its 2016 m exhibition space.2It also hosts conferences and working meetings.
You can also take advantage of your visit to the Col du Lautaret to discover remarkable buildings, some of which are listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage. Among them, the Sainte-Madeleine hospice, the "Napoléon refuge" or the Col du Lautaret tunnel which has the particularity of never having been finished!