Both, for different reasons — winter brings skiing around Saint-Lary and Loudenvielle, while summer opens up the hiking trails through the Aure and Louron valleys.
Discover Authentic Mountains & Valleys: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Mountains & Valleys, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Fort du Saint-Eynard, Les Caves de la Chartreuse and Lake Paladru.
Top 5 Things to Do in Mountains & Valleys
Saint-Lary-Soulan
A village at the heart of the Aure valley, on the Neste d'Aure river — a ski resort come winter, a base for high-mountain hiking come summer. Its proximity to the Spanish border gives it a slightly freer, less tourist-polished feel.
Loudenvielle
Set in the Louron valley beside the Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle, a man-made lake ringed by mountains. Quieter than Saint-Lary, with thermal baths and a slower pace.
Cauterets
A Belle Époque spa town that's been drawing visitors to its thermal baths for generations. The architecture alone — grand old bathhouses and hotels — makes it worth a wander even if you skip the water.
Lourdes
One of the most visited towns in France, built around its pilgrimage sanctuary. Whatever brings you here, the setting — mountains rising directly behind the town — is striking on its own terms.
Pic du Midi de Bigorre
A mountain observatory perched at nearly 2,900 metres, reached by cable car from La Mongie. The panorama over the Pyrenean chain from the summit terrace is the reward for the ride up.
Explore Mountains & Valleys's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Grenoble, Mountains & Valleys
We've mapped local spots around Grenoble and its mountains.
Peaks & hikes
Fort du Saint-Eynard
Perched above Grenoble in the Chartreuse, a 19th-century fort that once held 477 soldiers. Today: sweeping views over the Belledonne range and the Grésivaudan valley, with trails all around. 30 minutes from our Mercure Grenoble Centre.
Chartreuse · Fort and viewpoint · Perfect for views
Le Charmant Som
One of the gentlest peaks in the Chartreuse: a 30-minute walk through pastures to views of the Grande Chartreuse Monastery, and an inn serving mountain dishes at the end.
Chartreuse · Easy summit walk · Great for families
Pic de l'Œilly
A four-hour hike in the Luitel nature reserve, south of the Belledonne range, past a lookout over Lake Luitel to the top at 1,380 metres. 30 minutes from central Grenoble.
Belledonne · Hike · Made for hikers
Monts du Matin
A woodland hike of about 10 km above Romans-sur-Isère to a viewpoint over the Isère valley. Set off early – it's best in morning light.
Romans-sur-Isère · Hike · Ideal for morning walks
Heritage & tastings
Les Caves de la Chartreuse, Voiron
For more than 80 years, Chartreuse liqueur – 130 plants, a Carthusian monks' secret – was made here. Tour the cellars and their 1,200 objects, taste, or join a cocktail class. 25 minutes from central Grenoble.
Voiron · Distillery cellars · Perfect for tasting
Lake Paladru Archaeological Museum
The MALP reveals what lay beneath Lake Paladru: traces of Neolithic communities who lived on its shores around 2,700 BC. Pair it with a walk around the lake.
Charavines · Museum and lake · Great for history and walks
Histo-Bus Dauphinois
40 historic public transport vehicles, from horse-drawn coaches to trolleybuses, plus a 23-metre model railway. Kids love it.
Grenoble area · Transport museum · Perfect for families
Musée Dauphinois
In the 17th-century convent of Sainte-Marie-d'en-Haut, a museum founded in 1906 on the history and heritage of the Alps.
Grenoble · Museum · Ideal for history
Domaine de Vizille
A château at the gateway to Grenoble on the Route Napoléon, home to the Museum of the French Revolution and vast gardens.
Vizille · Château and museum · Made for gardens and history
CNAC – Le Magasin
A national contemporary art centre in a hall built by the Eiffel workshops for a Paris exhibition.
Grenoble · Art centre · Great for contemporary art
Musée de la Chaussure
In a former convent in Romans-sur-Isère, for centuries a shoe capital: the story of footwear from antiquity to today.
Romans-sur-Isère · Museum · Perfect for families
Château de Crussol
Medieval ruins on a ridge 15 minutes from Valence, with ramparts and a panorama over the Rhône valley and the Vercors. Worth the climb.
Saint-Péray · Castle ruins · Ideal for views
Côte-Rôtie tour
Every Saturday, a one-hour commented ride by little tourist train through the terraced vineyards of Côte-Rôtie, from Ampuis.
Ampuis · Vineyard tour · Made for wine lovers
Jean Louis le Saloon
A Wild West-themed bar, grill and dance restaurant in the Drôme, known for its unusual events. Yee-haw.
Drôme · Restaurant · Great for a festive night
La Cave Cliou
A natural wine shop and bar, with a terrace open from June to September.
Wine bar · Perfect for natural wine
Poterie de Cliousclat
A traditional pottery workshop listed as a historic monument, where glazed earthenware is still made from the village's own clay. Browse the shop, or join a taster course or guided tour.
Cliousclat, Drôme · Pottery workshop · Ideal for crafts
Distillerie du Vercors
In a former fortified farm at the foot of the Vercors, organic single malt whisky made with crystal-clear spring water. Guided tours run all year.
Royans valley · Whisky distillery · Perfect for a tasting
Restaurant Anne-Sophie Pic
Chef Anne-Sophie Pic's family restaurant in Valence, one of France's great tables: soft grey and powder-pink dining rooms, with nods to Japan.
Valence · Fine dining · Made for a special occasion
FAQ
Main roads to the resort villages are kept cleared, but smaller passes can close with snow. It's worth checking conditions before driving between valleys in winter.
Not necessarily — the sanctuary is the main draw, but the town's mountain setting and easy access to the wider Pyrenees make it a reasonable base regardless.
The Fort du Saint-Eynard in the Chartreuse looks over Grenoble, the Belledonne range and the Grésivaudan valley, 30 minutes from Hotel Mercure Grenoble Centre.
Yes. Les Caves de la Chartreuse in Voiron offer tours, tastings and cocktail classes, 25 minutes from central Grenoble.
Le Charmant Som in the Chartreuse has a gentle 30-minute walk through pastures to great views.
Where to Sleep in Mountains & Valleys
See our Mercure hotels across Mountains & Valleys, ideally placed to explore these picks.