La Grave
La Grave ( also La Grave la Meije ) is a commune with 486 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011 ) in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur. It belongs to the district Briancon and is the capital of the canton of the same name. La Grave is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France (plus beaux villages de France).
- 5.1 Derby de la Meije
Geography
The resort is situated at 1500 m altitude on the right side of the valley of the river Romanche about 10 km west of the Col du Lautaret from Grenoble (79 km) and Briançon (35 km) on the pass road D1091, the former N91. La Grave is overlooked by almost 4,000 m high Alpine peaks Meije and is composed of the five hamlets of Les Fréaux, Le Chazelet, Les Terrasses, Ventelon and Les Hières, with a portion of the territory is integrated in National Park Ecrins.
Coat of arms
Description: Blue with three gold (2, 1) lily a black oblique right thread and a dreistegiger white collar tournament is hovering at the upper plate edge.
History
The origin of the Romanesque church of La Grave goes back to the 11th century. It was destroyed in the 15th century and rebuilt. Inside is a contemporary report on the construction of the church, a statue of Mary from the 17th century and a naive paintings from the 18th century. The church is the oldest monument of the canton and is since 1959 under monument protection. Opposite the church is a small chapel ( chapelle des pénitents ) from the 17th century, which houses several religious works of art. In the neighboring hamlet of Les Hières lying on the sun terraces north of La Grave in the municipality, there is a Romanesque church from the 12th century.
At the beginning of the French Revolution (1790), the municipality was first associated with the Isere department in the wake of the new division of France in Departments, La Grave is both hydrographic and economically associated with the location west of the Lautaret Pass. However, La Grave wanted to be connected to the Hautes -Alpes, likely to come in the hope to benefit from the favorable tax system of Briançon. When the National Assembly abolished this tax privilege then, it was too late to call for an integration into the Isere department.
Economy
Tourism
Located near Les Deux Alpes place is known as a paradise for freeriding, since there is only a short groomed slope section on the Glacier de la Girose the whole ski area and the remaining area is not prepared and in compliance with the alpine dangers at your own risk can be used freely. In addition, it is because of his long runs with impressive steep slopes, ice grooves ( couloirs ), massive glaciers projections and columns by the surrounding 3809 m high Le Rateau give a stunning impression Chamonix next to one of the most famous alpine centers for extreme skiers.
The winter sports infrastructure includes on the northern slopes of the massif of the Meije a cable car with two sections 1500-3200 m and a surface lift to the Glacier de la Girose up to the Dôme de la Lauze to 3560 m. From there, there is a transition to the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes. Catering facilities are located at the middle and top station. On one of the default routes into the valley located on a rocky section near the small lake Lac de Puy Vachier which also managed hut Evariste Chancel ( 2508 m). On the sunny terraces north of La Grave, it is in the hamlet of Le Chazelet another small family ski area with two lifts.
Events
Derby de la Meije
Every year in late March / early April in La Grave the Derby de la Meije, a freeride race instead. Is started from the Dôme de la Lauze on 3550 m height and it can be mastered 2100 m height difference to the valley. An exact route is not specified, the decisive factor is the driving time. The fastest skier complete the course in six to seven minutes.
Summit of the Meije, 3982 m
Summit of Meije in winter
The glacier Glacier de la Girose
Funicular
Cable car in the winter
Church of La Grave overlooking the Meije
The Alpine summits Meije with the Lac lerie in the foreground