Daniel Castillo Castro

Second Rough Draft Informative Essay

December 14th, 2015
12:00 14:00

Such as the horizon does, Alpe dHuez, adorned by its road struggling
into its attempt to rapt to the top, seems unending. When seen from below,
you become exhausted only to think about how to manage to get to the top.
From above, vertigo starts to fill every gap on your insides. Compared to
Western European elevations, Alpe dHuez is a pretty big mount in southern
France, Lately, it has acquired huger relevance, on touristic terms than before,
because of its unique history and the summer & winter activities developed
there.
Farmers and shepherds used to be the only people inhabiting this place
since the Brandes, a medieval agglomeration who occupied it from the 11 th to
the 14th century, abandoned the place. In 1920, the French government
decided to establish on this 1985m elevation, the main resort in the Grandes
Rousses Massif region, to promote the tourism in this region. The location as it
can be today appreciated was finished in 1936. Nowadays, it is a thriving year
round resort with a steady community of 1700 permanent residents and it is
classified as a historical monument on Europe.
One of Alpe dHuezs special features is its geography. For instance, Alpe
dHuez guide mentions, it has a vertical drop of 2610m from 3330 (Pic Blanc),
to 710m (Allemond). This allows different activities to be performed there
whether it is summer or winter.
During summer, these roads are usually occupied by road cyclists,
mountain bikers or free riders (pros and amateurs). Each summer day, an
average of 400 cyclists snake around the 21 legendary bends of the road to
Alpe dHuez, following the path left by the bikers who reached this stage,
usually after 19 days of exhausting race at the Tour the France. Each year,
more than 7000 touring cyclists participate to the Marmotte (a race), and 1000

receive a certificate awarding their climbing time. Other summer popular

activities include, hiking through its exceptional panoramas, including 12 lakes
within walking distance, or encouraging a 200m rock face.
When the winter comes, the resorts glamour starts to blossom. The ski
resort becomes the main attraction. The infrastructure consists of five resorts
and two villages; where an outdoor ice-rink, a sledging run, dog sleighing, and
snowmobile within others are available. Covering an area of 10,000 hectares
the domain boasts 249km of linked pistes spanning an altitude range of
2,230m. It also hosts The Sarennes ski run, the longest in Europe.
Alpe dHuez provides one of the most challenging stages of the Tour de
France, it is considered as a mecca for cyclists of all standards. Michelin Travel
Guide refers to it as one of the main destinations at southern France, without
mentioning the amazing features the ski resort has, which is the reason it has 3
Michelin stars. It averages 300 days of sunshine per year you would have to be
very unlucky to go home without a tan! And from Pic Blanc top, on a clear day a
fifth of France can be seen (alpedhuez.com). Whether you go there alone or
with companionship, because of its unique locations and activities developed
there, you will have a great time and know why it has become one of the most
notable places to visit, not only in France, but also in Western Europe.

CITED WORK

Alpe dHuez Tourisme. Alpe dHuez, Summer Issue. alpedhuez.com.

December 2013. Web. December 2015.

Alpe dHuez Tourisme. Alpe dHuez, Winter Issue. alpedhuez.com. July

2013. Web. December 2015.

See the World. About Alpe d'Huez. Alpe dHuez Net. n.d. Web.

December 2015.
Michelin Travel. Alpe-dHuez Travel Guide travel.michelin.com. n.d.
Web. December

2015.