Oz en Oisans introduction
General Information
Oz-en-Oisans is located in the Grandes Rousses/Alpe d’Huez region of the French Alps and is the closest and easiest resort to reach in the Oisans. The village at the resort is at 1,350 meters or about 4,400 feet from the sea level. The top of the highest lift is at 3,330 meters or about 10,900 feet elevation. Oz-en-Oisans is about an hour away from Grenoble. Cars are banned in the town center of the resort. There are many hotels, bed and breakfasts, furnished rentals, and chalets for the overnight stays. There is a free shuttle which heads to a water sports center about six miles away.
Winter Activities
There are many miles of ski runs so, during the winter, plenty of skiing and snowboarding can be done. The slopes are perfect for beginner skiers, intermediates and the advanced skiers as well, lifts are available for each level of expertise. In January the Pyramide d’Oz ski mountaineering French championship is held here. Besides catering to downhill skiers, there are several trails for cross-country skiers and back country skiers and also for snowshoe-hiking. Night skiing is popular at Oz-en-Oisans. There are also dog sledge rides, sleigh rides, and helicopter rides at the disposal. There are ski schools and snowshoeing instructors available. The nearby glacier, offers chance for ice-climbing as well, one of the favorite activities of many tourists.
Summer Activities
Oz-en-Oisans has the longest downhill run in the world for mountain biking. The French Mountain Bike Cup is held here in August. There are hundreds of miles of trails so hiking, as well as mountain biking, is popular during the summer months. Rock-climbing and mountaineering are quite famous but other activities include horseback riding, fishing, river-rafting, and skating. There are few tennis courts and an archery range for those who like to beat the heat. There is also a mini-golf course. There is an adventure park that offers a course through the gorges using zip lines and rope bridges. Paragliding is also quite popular. Skijoring is another activity which attracts lots of skiers, which requires a skier to be towed behind a horse or a donkey.
Other Information
The village has a number of restaurants and other shops such as bakeries and sports shops, there are a number of restaurants including ones near the top. A number of exhibitions, festivals, and concerts occur during the year, in July there is the Festival les Folies d’Olle. There are quite a few museums to visit that have exhibits covering anything from wildlife to traditions of the area. The Megavalanche, the mountain bike race that is now going international is hosted in August, sometimes the race begins in Oz-en-Oisans and when it does, it starts from the top, from about 10,900 feet.
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