France

Alpe d'Huez (Vaujany)

Sleepy, great value ski village with value chalet accommodation - great family skiing resort

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Vaujany resort guide - a general overview

Vaujany is an attractive, relaxing alternative to the modern ski resort. There is a good choice of chalet, hotel and apartment accommodation and you can access Vaujany within 90 minutes by road from either Chambery or Grenoble airport.

Vaujany is connected to the Alpe d'Huez ski area by a gondola that was built by the locals using the money from the compulsory purchase of a giant chunk of land for France's largest hydro-electric scheme. As a result Vaujany provides access to over 250km of pistes which offer something for everyone. Beginners can utilise the green runs at either Montfrais or Alpette when taking their first steps on snow. Those who are able to venture further can take advantage of the excellent beginners area in Alpe d'Huez. Intermediates are able to ski freely around the whole area. There is an excellent set of runs for intermediates which run all the way down from the Dome des Rousses to Alpe d'Huez which can be accessed by taking the gondola from Vaujany and then another gondola from Alpette. There are many challenging black pistes in the ski area, particularly from Pic Blanc, including the famous 16km long Sarenne run. Vaujany also offers some excellent off piste which can be accessed from the top of the gondola which rises out of the resort.

Photos courtesy of Simon Hoskyns.

Resort stats

220km

1,250m - 3,320m

Level of skiing

Beginners
Intermediates
Experts
Snow sure
Off-piste
Ski area

Qualities

Charm factor
Non-skiers
Nightlife
Resort layout
Fine dining
Short transfer
Resort value

Airports

Grenoble
1hr 30mins
Lyon
3hrs
Geneva
4hrs

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great Nursery slopes that are gentle, sunny and easily accessible
  • Extremely efficient modern lift system to access the snow sure Alpe d'Huez ski area
  • Pretty and traditional village with a very friendly atmosphere
  • Great resort for families
  • Fantastic tree skiing for experts

Cons

  • No Nursery slopes in the village, beginners need to catch the gondola to the Montfrais area

Restaurants

Alpe d'Huez (Vaujany) Resort Restaurants

Vaujany has a good selection of restaurants for a village of its size. If you are looking for fine dining, try IDA Restaurant in Hotel V, where they offer both tasting menus and à la carte gourmet dishes. For more traditional local specialities, La Table De La Fare and Le Chalet Gourmand are both favourites. If you have a car, it is well worth driving to Auberge La Cure near Oz-en-Oisans, where the food is excellent and great value for money. Other recommendations include Chez Bibi, La Mi Do Re for pizzas and Le Stou for a more refined dining experience.

Alpe d'Huez (Vaujany) Mountain Restaurants

Good cuisine is not just limited to hotels and chalets. Vaujany has some superb mountain restaurants. Bonsoir Clara is often regarded as one of the best on the mountain, serving innovative dishes that combine traditional alpine flavours with modern French cooking, alongside an excellent wine list. L'Ile d'Oz and Les Airelles also come highly recommended. La Grange at the Alpette mid-station serves excellent pizzas cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven.

Alpe d'Huez (Vaujany) Apres Ski

There are three or four bars in Vaujany where you can have an apres-ski tipple before heading to your hotel or ski chalet. Vaujany is generally pretty low-key, however, and is better suited to families or those looking for a quieter holiday.

Alpe d'Huez (Vaujany) Nightlife

Le QG is the main spot for an after-dinner drink and a lively atmosphere. Vaujany is not the most lively of places though, so do not expect a thumping nightlife scene.

Alpe d'Huez (Vaujany) Resort Map

Key

  • Funicular
  • Cable Car
  • Gondola
  • Chair lift
  • Drag lift
  • Property