The discreet climb up to Alpe d'Huez by e-bike

Didier Girard settled in the heart of the Bourg d’Oisans plain in 2004, breeding lambs and North American bison (from Canada), for their meat and to enable others to learn more about this iconic animal.Nothing presaged this engineer in agronomy from Oisans to leave his job as sales director to become a farmer. "In 2004, just before my 40th birthday, I felt the need to change my lifestyle and get back to nature", he explained. He settled in Rochetaillé, the village in which he grew up, where he bought 20 hectares of fallow ground and started breeding lambs for their meat. The need to diversify production soon became clear and Didier Girard decided to breed bison. "This is quality meat, for which there was no supplier available locally". The "bibis" as he called them are North American bison ("Alberta" bison from Canada) have acclimatised pretty well. In 2016, 9 baby bison were born, bringing the herd up to 37. The bison remain in the pasture year round, in parks where they eat hay and grass. The particularity of breeding these wild animals lies in their handling. "Bison, which weigh between 20 and 30 kg at birth, can weigh up to a ton when they reach adulthood. It's best to enter the enclosure as little as possible and take safety precautions". The animals are slaughtered when they are about 2,5 years old. Carcasses, which can weigh up to 450 kg, are cut and vacuum packed by a butcher, who also makes saucisson and bison terrine. Didier Girard then sells his production directly to local clients. Sheep breeding is faithful to the Oisans tradition, involving transhumance on foot and lambing in March/April... Lambs and ewes spend the entire summer in the mountains at altitudes of between 2000 and 3000 m in the Bérarde Valley. Every year, Didier puts out a call for volunteers to take part in the transhumance. Don't hesitate to contact him if you'd like to share in the adventure! PRODUCTS : - Pasture lamb - Bison meat. LOCATION : at the farm shop by appointment. LABELS : - Membre de la “Route des Savoir-Faire de l’Oisans” - Marque “Producteurs de l’Oisans” - Réseau “Bienvenue à la Ferme” -Agriculture biologique

The water sports centre at the Lac du Verney is open in July and August for activities including paddle boats, canoes, sailing dinghies and paddle boards.The lake stands at a 725 m altitude, extends over 75 hectares and is of variable depth. Authorised activities (lifeguard-supervised): windsurfing, canoeing, dinghy sailing, pedal boats. Prohibited activities: swimming, diving, powerboating and jet skiing.

The Alpe d'Huez Museum of History and Archaeology is the only structure in a high-altitude resort to have been awarded the Musée de France label. It traces the long history of the village of Huez and its mountain pastures, from the Middle Ages to the present day.The museum presents visitors with two new scenographies through the permanent exhibitions "Le spectacle de la montagne" and "Brandes et la ruée vers l'argent des XIIe et XIIIe siècles". There's also a space dedicated to the Second World War, with the exhibition "Eté 1944. Le Maquis de l'Oisans". 3 EXHIBITIONS: "LE SPECTACLE DE LA MONTAGNE", "BRANDES ET LA RUEE VERS L'ARGENT DES XIIE ET XIIIE SIECLES", "ETE 1944. LE MAQUIS DE L'OISANS". These exhibitions punctuate the Museum's visitor itinerary: "The Mountain Show Presented from December 2022, this permanent exhibition tells the story of the transformation of the "Vieil Alpe" alpine chalets into hotels, forming an internationally-renowned alpine resort from the 1980s-90s onwards. Featuring 4 historical kiosks, richly illustrated with photographs covering the periods 1923-1939, 1945-1973, 1974-1989, 1990-2022, this exhibition with its immersive, explanatory cubes reveals this rich history to the curious, with the role of the ski pioneers, the heyday of the traditional, family-run hotel business in the 1930s to 60s, sporting events such as the Tour de France, new snow-related activities such as snowboarding in the 1980s, summer skiing and ever-increasing events such as Tomorrowland Winter. In addition, the architectural and urban development of the resort is highlighted in the exhibition by a touch table (historical and 3D models of the resort's districts) and an interactive terminal featuring several witnesses to this urban development. The Alpe's built heritage (hotels, ski lifts, public buildings, Rif Nel, individual chalets, etc.) is also presented. Finally, INA films and a children's area will attract the attention of adults and children alike. "Brandes and the silver rush of the 12th and 13th centuries". Looking around Alpe d'Huez today, who would believe that in the Middle Ages, a community of men, women and children settled on the Brandes plateau, at the foot of the Saint-Nicolas rock, to extract silver ore from the mountain at an altitude of over 1800m? And yet, from the 12th to the 14th century, these inhabitants of the mining village of Brandes (the highest in Europe for this period) lived there year-round, despite the difficult climatic conditions from October to April. This technical and human history was revealed by the archaeological digs begun in 1977 by MC Bailly-Maître and her teams of scientists and volunteers. The discoveries made during these excavations (mining techniques, the manufacture of Brandes silver dust, religious practices and daily life, military construction) led to the creation of the Maison du Patrimoine in 1982, which became the Musée d'Huez et de l'Oisans and today the Musée d'histoire et d'archéologie de l'Alpe d'Huez. The museum was awarded the "Musée de France" label in 2002 and moved to the Palais des Sports et des Congrès on the 1st floor in 2012. A new scenography presenting the archaeological collection is visible and contextualizes the artifacts found underground. "Summer 1944. Le Maquis de l'Oisans". Finally, let's not forget the extraordinary saga of the Oisans Maquis during the Second World War. Although the mountains seem to be an unspoilt area, sometimes tragic, often heroic events took place in the Grandes Rousses massif, and in Oisans more generally. Alpe d'Huez was home to a military hospital belonging to the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur (FFI), notably in the chalet du Signal, an annex of the Grand Hôtel. "Faced with the advance of the German army and its desire to control the Oisans (following the capture of the Vercors in July), Doctor Tissot ordered the evacuation of the wounded patients in August 1944. This marked the beginning of a slow and difficult ascent for the patients, some of whom were in critical condition, and the hospital staff, to the heights of the Alpette and the slopes of the Grandes Rousses. They received help from the crew of a Boeing B-24 Liberator, "11 Americans who fell from the sky": the crash of their bomber in the commune of Prunières, near Gap, prompted them to cross the Oisans. They provided invaluable support for the FFI withdrawal. Protecting the wounded as they climbed to higher ground, the Maquisards engaged in a fierce battle on the Alpette heights against a division of German Alpine fighters; they emerged victorious on August 14, 1944, with no loss of life. Relive this historic event through educational panels and objects from the museum's collection. ANIMATIONS Activities are organized throughout the season at the museum. For further information, call 04 76 11 21 74 or email accueil.musee@mairie-alpedhuez.fr Special Alpe d'Huez goose game: "Catch me if you can! "at the museum, Wednesdays during school vacations, from 10.30am to 11.30am: free, ages 8 and up (places limited). GUIDED TOURS * Guided tour of Pic Blanc (3330m) Visit covering a wide range of topics: 3-star Green Guide panorama, history of the resort and skiing, geology, landscape, wildlife, glaciers... No walking (access by cable car). Every Tuesday and Thursday during the winter season, from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. How to get there: meet in front of the DMC outdoor ticket office (top of the resort, 1850m). Rates: please contact SATA (04 76 80 30 30). * Other tours are offered by the Huez Cultural Service, with Museum registration (limited places; €5 or €3): Notre-Dame des Neiges church (Wednesdays, 2:30 to 4pm), archaeological site (Wednesdays and Fridays, 2:30 to 4pm). Registration at the Museum, by telephone (04 76 11 21 74) or e-mail accueil.musee@mairie-alpedhuez.fr; €5 or €3; maximum 25 people. FINE ARTS EXHIBITIONS SALLE ANNE AUVERGNE In the Salle Anne Auvergne (1st floor of the Palais des Sports et des Congrès), take advantage of the volume and luminosity of this exhibition room and its works to discover watercolors, acrylic paintings, sculptures and engravings for the duration of a winter. Free admission

The Musée des Minéraux et de la Faune des Alpes houses the largest collection of alpine minerals in France. A zoological section also displays Alpine wildlife, featuring over 140 different species in an amazingly lifelike display.The diversity of its mineralogical collection, together with the dynamic setting of its wildlife area, make it a perfect place to learn more about the natural and cultural heritage of Oisans. The museum is a member of the Route des Savoir-Faire.

The Musée EDF Hydrélec is the only museum in France dedicated to hydroelectricity. Installed in Oisans, the Musée EDF Hydrélec features a new 900m2 scenographic display that retraces the epic story of the production of hydroelectricity.It pays homage to the scientists, engineers, technicians and manoeuvres that played a role in building the hydroelectric power stations and dams, some of which have become an integral part of our heritage and genuine works of art. Installed in Oisans, in the heart of an area with a long history of hydroelectricity, the Musée EDF Hydrélec has now been awarded the «Musée de France» label. It features a number of unique collections comprising scientific and technical objects from the 19th and 20th centuries. Member of the "Route of the know-how of the Oisans", he organizes the guided tour "Exceptional electricity" on reservation .. This establishment offers the E-Bike Service: charge your electric bike here on request (remember to take your charger).

Clément Marais breeds his Saanen goats high up in the mountains, in the heart of the Villard-Reculas pastureland. He offers a full range of goats’ cheese, including tomme, raclette and fresh cheese, together with lovely fresh farmhouse eggs.I took over the Villard-Reculas goat farm in 2012. Situated at an altitude of 1500 m, the farm has around 50 Saanen goats that give us the milk to make cheeses on the farm. What I like most about this life is working with the animals in this magnificent landscape, as well as the cheesemaking process itself. I am particularly motivated by farming that respects the environment. My specialities include goats raclette cheese, tomme, fromage blanc and dry fromage frais. Products : Goat’s tomme; Soft and matured goat’s cheese; Eggs during summer. Location : - At the farm - Market stalls : Fridays morning in Alpe d’Huez (in July and August) and Saturdays morning in Bourg d’Oisans.