Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans is the largest commune in Oisans in terms of surface area, and the fifth largest in mainland France. This town in the Isère department covers 20% of the area of the Parc des Ecrins. It also covers part of the 2 Alpes ski area. The commune is also characterized by its significant biological and geological diversity. This makes it an ideal area for hiking and discovery. It’s also a veritable stronghold for mountaineering and climbing. These two disciplines are practiced in particular in the hamlet of La Bérarde, at an altitude of 1,727 meters, in the Vénéon valley.
Saint-Christophe-en-Oisansand mountain activities
Nature sauvage
Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans is the perfect setting for a wide range of mountain and winter sports activities. Visitors flock here for hiking, glacier trekking and skiing; bivouac, circuit and donkey trekking are also popular activities. Then there are freshwater sports such as rafting, kayaking, hydrospeed and fishing. A portion of the ski area of the 2 Alpes ski resort is also in the commune. Skiers will be able to get there quickly and take advantage of the chairlifts and lifts for a great skiing vacation. Cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing – the choice is yours!
It’s also a great opportunity to discover the many natural treasures of the Ecrins National Park. Cultural activities are also part of the program, including visits to the museum, the village and its hamlets. This escapade can also lead to a must-see place in Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans: the hamlet of La Bérarde. Hikers will have the opportunity to stroll along the trail of their choice and set off on a high-mountain hike overlooking a glacier or lake, in one of the most natural areas of Auvergne Rhône Alpes.
Saint-Christophe-en-Oisansand mountaineering
Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans covers the entire Vénéon valley. Nestled in the heart of the Ecrins massif, this mountain commune is surrounded by 128 peaks over 3,000 meters high. Because of this geographical location, its history is closely linked to that of mountaineering and climbing. Among the places not to be missed is a cemetery where many legendary mountaineers are buried, their headstones often adorned with ice axes. The Musée de l’Alpinisme in Saint-Christophe also retraces the great adventure of the first mountaineers in the Écrins massif, including Pierre Gaspard, the first to conquer the Meije. One room features a 3D model of the Vénéon valley and its relief, while the other rooms introduce you to the expeditions of the first mountaineers and the world of women mountaineers.
The highest part of the Vénéon valley is accessed via the commune of Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans. You then pass from hamlet to hamlet, until you reach the last one, La Bérarde, the shepherds’ village. It was in this humble village that the Société des touristes du Dauphiné opened its chalet-hotel in 1887. The establishment became the Hôtel Tairraz in 1909, and contributed to raising the hamlet’s profile in the 20th century.
It was a time when mountaineering tourism was booming. La Bérarde, in particular, attracted more and more visitors with the construction of a road between 1900 and 1023. Between the two world wars, the hamlet became France’s second-largest mountaineering resort. The development of this activity and the opening up of the village to tourists has led to a proliferation of modern accommodation facilities such as hotels and campsites. Also nearby are the Deux Alpes resort, Mont de Lans, Col du Lautaret and Lac de Serre Ponçon.