Chartreuse Massif | Office de tourisme Belledonne Chartreuse, bienvenue dans la vallée du Grésivaudan.

The benefits du Massif de la Chartreuse

Unspoilt nature

The Chartreuse massif is a verdant setting, inhabited by a variety of flora and fauna. Its landscapes, dotted with dense forests and verdant meadows, offer total immersion in unspoilt nature.

Chartreuse Regional Nature Park

The Chartreuse, with its limestone cliffs and natural diversity, was designated one of France’s regional nature parks in 1995. Covering an area of 76,700 hectares between Isère and Savoie, the park brings together 57 communes and 50,000 inhabitants. The label, which is renewed every 15 years, is designed to protect and enhance local heritage, without imposing specific rules. Regional nature parks, nationally recognized for their natural wealth and heritage, promote economic development while preserving their natural areas.

Winter sports

In winter, the massif is transformed into a playground for winter sports enthusiasts. Explore our 8 downhill ski resorts, 6 Nordic sites, kilometers of snowshoe itineraries, an area dedicated to ski touring, and many other winter activities to discover during your mountain getaway!

Family-friendly play areas

The Chartreuse also has a number of play areas for families to enjoy together. In Saint-Bernard-du-Touvet, perched above the Grésivaudan valley on the edge of the Chartreuse cliffs, nestles the Col de Marcieu play area, a veritable paradise for children.

This area is specially designed for youngsters, offering a safe environment where they can learn and discover the joys of sliding. They’ll find a wide range of fun activities, including toboggan runs equipped with lift carpets, tubing, snakegliss, and a beginners’ area where they can try their hand at snow sports. For the more experienced, Col de Marcieu offers snowshoeing itineraries, an alpine ski area and cross-country ski trails.

This picturesque spot is suitable for all members of the family, offering everyone the chance to enjoy winter activities according to their preferences and level. The Col de Marcieu is the ideal place to introduce youngsters to the pleasures of the snow, in an environment dedicated to their safety and fun.

Sports exploration in the Chartreuse Must-see sites and activities hiking, trail, mountain biking & VTTAE

The Chartreuse offers over 1,300 kilometers of marked trails, an invitation to explore its panoramas and forests. You can follow these trails at your own pace. In this massif, you’ll find a variety of walking and hiking itineraries, some emblematic, others more secret. Get ready for adventure by finding out about recommended outings and adopting best practices.

Chartreuse, a trail pioneer, has been hosting the famous Grand Duc trail for over 30 years. At the heart of this massif, in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, lies Europe’s first Trail Station. Today, the region’s trail offer remains extensive, with a list of trail hostels to discover.

Raidlight, in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, created the Stations de Trail concept back in 2011, evolving today with Raidlight-Trail-Xpérience. This platform aims to offer the best routes, spots and challenges for your Trail outings across France, via the internet and a geolocation and route-tracking mobile app.

Whether you prefer quiet roads or forest trails, mountain biking or VTTAE are excellent ways to discover the Chartreuse and its diversity of landscapes. Get on your bike, and you’ll discover that the Chartreuse can be experienced like a bike ride, an indelible memory.

Waterfalls and natural treasures

Waterfalls such as the Cirque de Saint-Même are impressive natural spectacles. The natural wealth of the massif is revealed through these preserved sites. The Cirque de Saint-Même, at an altitude of 900 metres, boasts three waterfalls and 500-metre limestone cliffs. Part of the Hauts de Chartreuse nature reserve, it offers trails to explore the waterfalls, with itineraries ranging from 30 minutes to 1h30. During the tourist season (mid-April to September), a paid parking lot regulates access, and motorhomes are restricted between 8pm and 8am. Double-decker coaches should be avoided due to the configuration of the village of Saint-Même.

Another of the massif’s imposing landmarks is the Dent de Crolles. At an altitude of over 2000 m, it rises majestically above the Grésivaudan valley, marking the boundary of the Hauts de Chartreuse nature reserve. Hollow and mysterious, it conceals a complex underground network of 55 km of galleries, with a negative vertical drop of over 600 metres. This singularity attracts cavers from all over the world in search of unique underground explorations.

The Chartreuse massif, with its combination of unspoilt nature, cultural richness and varied activities, is an ideal destination for mountain lovers, families in search of relaxation and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Its many assets make it an unmissable place for total immersion in nature, summer and winter alike.

Events

The Chartreuse massif is also the scene of a number of major events, including the Coupe Icare, an international hang-gliding and paragliding event. Launched in 1974 by enthusiasts, it attracts over 90,000 spectators every year, thanks to its annual renewal and innovations.