ORCIÈRES-MERLETTE AND CYCLING
For cycling fans, Orcières-Merlette inevitably brings to mind the 1971 Tour de France and Luis Ocana's impressive solo ride, winning in the Hautes-Alpes ski resort six minutes ahead of Lucien Van Impe and nearly nine minutes ahead of Eddy Merckx. In a show of fair play, the great Eddy commented: "Today Ocana beat us just as El Cordobès beats his bulls in the bull ring." The duel between the two men was epic until the 14th stage, when several favourites fell on the descent from the Col de Menté. Merckx managed to get back on his bike, as did Joop Zoetemelk. But Ocana was forced to abandon the race. The next day, the Belgian champion refused to wear the Yellow Jersey. It would take his Spanish rival two more years, and the absence of the Cannibal, to win his only Tour de France. The Tour de France has returned to Orcières-Merlette four times since then, with stage victories for Lucien Van Impe (1972), Pascal Simon (1982), Steven Rooks in the time trial in 1989, and Primoz Roglic in 2020 for the race's most recent visit. On that day, the Tour, starting from Nice, tackled the mountains on the fourth stage, and the Jumbo team imposed their will to lead out their leader. Roglic converted the try by winning the sprint ahead of his young compatriot Tadej Pogacar, who two weeks later would deprive him of a seemingly certain victory in the final classification. Building on this cycling heritage, Orcières has created the Cyclosport area, comprising 11 circuits certified by the FFC (French Cycling Federation). The routes criss-cross the valley between charming landscapes and wild nature, with a wide variety of challenges from the rolling countryside to the Col du Noyer pass...
Station d’Orcières-Merlette 1850
History and characteristics : the first ski lift was inaugurated in 1952 by local merchants. The Merlette 1850 resort developed during the 1960s and 1970s, boosted by the 1964 “Plan Neige.” Today it offers 18,000 tourist beds and a ski area of 100 km of slopes (7 green, 14 blue, 17 red and 6 black) served by 28 lifts. The Nordic area includes 43 km of trails. The resort also features the longest zip line in Europe (1,870 m, reaching speeds up to 140 km/h) and, in summer, a mountain-biking area and hiking trails.
Parc national des Écrins
Characteristics : half of the commune’s territory lies within the park’s core zone. In summer, the preserved slopes are covered with rhododendrons and lilies. Local fauna includes chamois, roe deer, foxes and marmots. Above 3,000 m, glaciers and alpine meadows dominate. In winter, the park can be explored on snowshoes or ski touring.
Prapic
Characteristics and history : a typical village located at the foot of the Petit and Grand Pinier and Mourre Froid peaks, with cobbled lanes and stone houses. Placed under the protection of Sainte-Anne Church, it illustrates the harsh life of the Haut-Champsaur inhabitants, far from urban centers.
Vallées du Champsaur et de Valgaudemar
Characteristics : the area combines the gentle hedgerow landscapes of the Champsaur with the rugged terrain of the Valgaudemar. The Champoléon valley, crossed by the Drac Blanc river, provides access to numerous hikes within the national park, including itinerant routes linking Orcières, Champoléon, Valgaudemar, Freissinières and Vallouise.
