Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region
Departments: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Vaucluse.
Population: 5.2 million.
Prefecture: Marseille
Area: 31,400 km
Specialities: Mediterranean cuisine, pizza, pissaladière, panisses, chichis, bouillabaisse, petits farcis (stuffed vegetables), alouette sans tête (meat rolls), pieds et paquets marseillais (mutton feet), salade niçoise, pan bagnat (tuna sandwich), gardiane de taureau (bull stew), sea urchins, fish (sea bream, sea bass, red mullet, dentex, marbled seabream, pageots, pagres, sars), wines (rosés from Provence, Côtes de Provence, Côtes du Rhône, Palette, Bandol, etc.)
Sports clubs: Olympique Marseille, OGC Nice (football), Rugby Club Toulon. Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (swimming).
Competitions: Football World Cup, Euro 2016 football tournament, Rugby World Cup, rugby test matches, Tour de France cycling race, Paris-Nice, GP La Marseille, Classique Haribo, Tour du Haut-Var, Tour de la Provence, beach volleyball, beach football, rugby in Toulon. World pétanque championship in Marseille.
Tourist attractions: beaches and seaside resorts (Saint-Tropez, Nice, Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Cassis, Bandol, etc.), Palais des Papes in Avignon, Arles (arenas, Roman ruins), Marseille (Old Port, Panier, calanques, Château d'If, Mucem), Nice (Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice, Old Port), Mont Ventoux, Cannes, ski resorts in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-Maritimes (Serre-Chevalier, Le Sauze, Orcières-Merlette, Isola 2000), Briançon (citadel), Aix-en-Provence.
Economy: 7 pcof French GDP, 3rd largest region in France, 16th largest in Europe. Agriculture (wine and market gardening), tertiary sector (80 pc), universities (Aix-Marseille, France's leading university, Nice, Toulon), ports (Marseille, La Ciotat, Nice), petrochemicals (Fos), logistics, Nice and Marseille airports, tourism.
Festivals: Cannes Film Festival, Avignon Festival (theatre), Chorégies d'Orange, Aix-en-Provence Festival (opera), Jazz à Nice, Festival de Marseille (dance). Midem (Cannes), Marsatac (Marseille), Fiesta des Suds (Marseille), Plages électroniques (Cannes), Rencontres d'Arles (photography).
Website: www.maregionsud.fr
HAUTES-ALPES (05)Prefecture: Gap
Sub-prefecture: Briançon
Population: 143,467
Number of municipalities: 162
Area: 5,549 km²
Specialities: Tourtons (fritters), Oreilles d'âne (cream, lasagne and spinach gratin), honey (mountain, lavender, wildflower, etc.), wines (Tallard and Vallée de l'Avance), fruit (apples and pears from the Durance valley), cheese, etc.
Sport: Second department in France in terms of members per capita, with nearly 500 clubs and around 50 disciplines ranging from alpine skiing to ice hockey (Diables Rouges de Briançon and Rapaces de Gap), cycling (road cycling, mountain biking), team sports (football, rugby, handball, basketball), athletics, swimming, etc.
Economy: Tourism, agropastoralism, the timber industry, crafts, the departmental aeronautics industry, etc.
Competitions: European Cup Southern Region women's alpine skiing in Orcières, Speed Skiing World Cup in Vars, Embrunman Triathlon, Trail Gapen'cimes, Mondial de l'Escalade Briançon, Alps Epic Mountain Biking, French Windfoil and KiteFoil Championships in Serre-Ponçon.
Culture and heritage: Vauban fortifications in Briançon and Mont-Dauphin (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Lake Serre-Ponçon, Écrins Massif (Barre des Écrins and Meije), major mountain passes (Izoard, Lautaret, Galibier, Vars, Granon, Noyer, etc.). Departmental Museum in Gap. Lautaret Alpine Botanical Garden. Cultural sites of Notre-Dame du Laus and Boscodon. Villages of Saint-Véran (Queyras) and La Grave (Haute-Romanche), listed as some of the most beautiful villages in France. Embrun Cathedral. Plateau de Bure and Iram astrophysics observatory (Dévoluy). Charance Castle estate and park (Gap)
Festivals: Tous Dehors…Enfin Festival in Gap (May), Outdoormix Festival (Embrun), Trad'in Festival (Embrun), Chaillol Music Festival, Messiaen Festival (Haute-Romanche).
Websites: www.hautes-alpes.fr, www.hautes-alpes.net, www.phenomenalpes.com
Airbnb / Fondation du patrimoine
Every summer, the pack of cyclists passes by French heritage treasures that you would never suspect!
Millennia-old abbeys, restored barns, castles that are coming back to life, churches that have watched over their villages for a thousand years. Airbnb invites you to look up and open the door to these heritage treasures.
On the route of each 2026 Tour de France stage, discover a remarkable site—its history, its roots, and all the great reasons to stop there.
Built without mortar, by hand, at 4,300 feet, this barn is still standing—this is the Grange des Chaumettes, Oris-en-Rattier, a rural masterpiece!
Its history
Perched at 4,300 feet on the heights of Oris-en-Rattier, and already registered in the land registry in 1830, this vaulted dry-stone barn—built without mortar—is a masterpiece of traditional mountain architecture. Built by hand to store crops and tools on sloping terrain, it is now threatened by the collapse of its entrance. A meticulous restoration aims to recreate the vault exactly as it was.
Its roots
The last remnant of its kind in the area, isolated but visible during hikes, the barn offers sweeping panoramas of the Matheysin plateau and the Vercors cliffs. It embodies the memory of a high-altitude rural economy that has now disappeared.
Why stop there?
A modest but exceptional heritage property. The ongoing restoration, led by committed associations, also passes on dry-stone construction techniques—which are inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Just 50 kilometres away . . . The Domaine de Jarjayes, the castle of "Lady Oscar" in the Hautes-Alpes!
Its history
A few kilometres from Gap, overlooking the Durance Valley, the Château de Jarjayes is a 17th-century building that owes its worldwide notoriety to a historical figure: the knight Francis Auguste Reynier de Jarjayes, whose name inspired Riyoko Ikeda to create the manga The Rose of Versailles in 1972, adapted for the cinema by Jacques Demy, under the title Lady Oscar. Abandoned for many years, it received 270,000 euros in aid from the Loto du Patrimoine and additional support from Airbnb as part of the Patrimoine et Tourisme Local program. The goal: to secure and renovate the castle to make it a cultural and tourist centre open to the public.
Its roots
Jarjayes is a village of 465 inhabitants between Gap and Sisteron. The castle is both a striking visual landmark and strong symbol of local identity, a rare heritage site of this type in the Hautes-Alpes. Its reopening would contribute to the tourist appeal of the entire Gap area.
Why stop there?
A castle with a romantic destiny, somewhere between true history and global fiction. Combine it with a visit to Lake Serre-Ponçon and the Écrins National Park, which are within easy reach by car.
Discover the project and its progress on the Fondation du patrimoine website
This section is presented to you by Airbnb, an official partner of the Tour de France and a major sponsor of the Fondation du patrimoine. Since 2022, Airbnb has helped preserve more than 200 heritage treasures across France with more than €6 million in funding. From castles that come back to life to abbeys steeped in history, from restored barns to churches in the heart of villages, these places make up the richness and uniqueness of our regions. Each year, the Grand Prix du Patrimoine et Tourisme Local gives the public the power to choose which one will be restored as a priority.
Km 5.1
Col Bayard
Located on the Route Napoléon, this was the first Alpine pass crossed by the Tour de France in 1905. Julien Maitron was the first to reach the summit. Since then, riders have climbed its slopes 27 times, most recently in 2024, with Magnus Cort leading the way.
Julien Maitron deserves a mention, as this native of the Nièvre region, born in Dompierre in 1881, will forever remain the first winner of an Alpine pass in the history of the Tour. Champion of the Nièvre in 1900, he turned professional in 1904 with the Clement team. He competed in the Tour de France eight times between 1904 and 1912, finishing fifth in his first appearance and three times in the top ten. He also won a stage in Nice in 1910. He also won Paris-Calais in 1909, tied with Eugène Christophe. His career was interrupted by the war, during which he was wounded. He died in 1972.
Km 25.5
Col du Noyer
The Col du Noyer has already featured five times on the Tour de France route between 1970 (Raymond Delisle) and 2024, when Richard Carapaz was in the lead.
Km 30.2
Dévoluy
Since 2013, Dévoluy has comprised the municipalities of Agnières-en-Dévoluy, La Cluse, Saint- Disdier and Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy. It takes its name from the mountain range near which it is located, made famous by the resorts of Super Dévoluy and La Joue-du-Loup, now part of the Dévoluy ski area. In the village, the Gicons Chapel, known as the "Mother Church", has been listed as a historic monument since 1927. This small Romanesque church, whose date of construction is unknown (11th or 12th century), has a nave with three bays with semi-circular arches and a semi-circular apse, flanked by a side chapel surmounted by a bell tower and extended by an apsidiole. The building, which has been modified several times, was abandoned for a long time but has been restored by a local association.
However, the municipality is particularly proud of its natural sites, such as the spectacular Pic de Bure (2,709 m), which René Desmaison climbed in 1961. There is a large astronomical observatory on the plateau. At the foot of Pic de Bure is the resort of Super-Dévoluy, which has produced skiers such as Cyprien Sarrazin and also hosted the finish of a stage of the 2024 Tour de France, won by Richard Carapaz. The resort was also the finish line for the queen stage of the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné, won by Samuel Sanchez, where Chris Froome consolidated his lead. In 2016, the resort hosted the final stage of the Dauphiné, won by Steve Cummings, while Froome once again took the overall victory.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regionDepartments: Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Métropole de Lyon, Savoie, Haute-Savoie.
Population: 8.2 million inhabitants
Prefecture: Lyon
Area: 69,711 km²
Specialities: Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône and Savoie wines, Lyon specialities (quenelles, cervelles de canut, saucisson, etc.), Auvergne potée, Savoyard specialities (raclette, fondue, tartiflettes, diots, crozets), cheeses (Beaufort, Reblochon, Cantal, Bleu d'Auvergne, Salers, Saint-Nectaire, etc.), green lentils from Le Puy, waters (Evian, Thonon, Volvic), verbena, Chartreuse.
Sports clubs: Olympique Lyonnais, AS Saint-Etienne, Clermont Foot 63, Grenoble Foot 38 (football). ASM Clermont, Lyon OU, FC Grenoble, Stade Aurillacois, US Oyonnax (rugby), ASVEL Villeurbanne (basketball), Chambéry (handball), Brûleurs de loup Grenoble, Pionniers de Chamonix (ice hockey)
Competitions: Women's Football World Cup, skiing competitions (Critérium de la Première Neige in Val d'Isère), Tour de France mountain passes, Critérium du Dauphiné.
Economy: (8th European region) cutting-edge industries, automotive (Berliet), metallurgy, rubber, plastics, chemicals, electronics, agri-food, textiles, digital, banking, universities, government, viticulture. Tyres (Michelin). Design. New technologies (Inovallée). Winter and summer tourism.
Festivals: Festival of Lights in Lyon, Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon, Quais du Polar in Lyon, Design Biennial in Saint-Etienne, La Chaise-Dieu Classical Music Festival
Tourist attractions: Old Lyon and Croix-Rousse, Puy-en-Velay Cathedral, Lake Annecy, Chambéry Castle, winter sports in Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, Cantal, spa resorts, Auvergne volcanoes. Pont d'Arc Cave. Grignan Castle. Grenoble Bastille. Vulcania. Parc des Oiseaux.
Websites and social media: www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr
ISÈRE (38)Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Population: 1.3 million inhabitants (16 pc of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
Prefecture: Grenoble
Sub-prefectures: Vienne, La Tour du Pin
Number of municipalities: 521
Area: 7,431 km² (11% of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
Specialities: Grenoble walnuts (AOC), St Marcellin cheese (PGI), Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage cheese (PDO), ravioles, Chartreuse liqueur, Bonnat chocolates, antesite (drink). Wines: Coteaux du Grésivaudan, Balmes Dauphinoises, Collines Rhodaniennes (IGP wines), Vitis Vienna (Vienne wines). Vercors trout, alpine meats (beef, lamb), gratin dauphinois, Bourgoin brioche, murçon (charcuterie), etc.
Major sports clubs: FC Grenoble (rugby), Brûleurs de loups (ice hockey), GF38 (football), CSBJ (rugby), Ours de Villard (hockey), Rugby Sassenage Isère (women's rugby). Major competitions: Foulée Blanche in Autrans, UT4M (Ultra Tour des 4 Massifs), Passerelles du Monteynard Trail, Echappée Belle (Ultra Traversée de Belledonne), EuroNordicWalk Vercors, Grand Duc-Trail de Chartreuse, La Marmotte in Alpe d'Huez (gran fondo)
Festivals: Coupe Icare in St Hilaire du Touvet, Alpe d’Huez Film Festival (comedy film festival in Isère), Berlioz Festival in La Côte Saint-André, Jazz in Vienne Festival, Autrans mountain film festival, Vélo Vert Festival in Villard de Lans, Tomorrowland in Alpe d'Huez.
Economy: Industry, electronics, digital technology, micro and nanoelectronics, IT, research, health, hydroelectricity, chemistry and the environment, energy, thermal spas, tourism
Main tourist attractions: Domaine de Vizille, Grande Chartreuse monastery, Saint-Antoine l'Abbaye, Choroanche caves, Grenoble cable car, Grenoble Museum, Chartreuse cellars, Dauphinois Museum, St Hilaire du Touvet funicular railway, Crémieu, Vienne, Walibi Rhône-Alpes theme park, Europe's largest skiable glacier at Les Deux-Alpes
Websites and social media:www.alpesishere.com / www.cyclo-alpes.com / www.isere.fr
Km 112
Le Bourg d’Oisans
Once located on the shores of a lake that has since disappeared, the town is known to Tour enthusiasts as the starting point for the climb to Alpe d'Huez. Renowned for its slate, minerals and peddlers, it is an alpine resort and the birthplace of former slalom champion Fabienne Serrat and former Olympic snowboard champion Isabelle Blanc.
Bourg-d'Oisans has hosted the Tour de France twenty times, with nineteen starts and only one finish (1966). In 2018, the peloton set off from the town towards Valence, where Peter Sagan won.
Due to its location, Bourg d'Oisans is also the starting point for many gran fondos, some of which are among the most popular in the world.
Écrins National ParkThe Écrins National Park (91,800 hectares), created in 1973, stretches between the towns of Gap (12 km as the crow flies), Briançon (13 km) and Grenoble (23 km). It is bordered by the Romanche, Guisane, Durance and Drac valleys. The park project began in Oisans in 1913 with the purchase by the State of 4,000 hectares of mountain land above Saint-Christophe-d'Oisans. Écrins National Park is one of ten French national parks and has been designated a European High Mountain Park by the Council of Europe.
Km 117.1
La Garde-en-Oisans
La Garde-en-Oisans enjoys a particularly privileged location, exposure and environment above Bourg-d'Oisans, overlooking the vast plain. A historic village mentioned as early as the early Middle Ages and believed to have been the residence of the Gardier des Dauphins for centuries, La Garde-en-Oisans is now, thanks to its slopes and surroundings, an exceptional European site for all lovers of cycling. The commune has ten of the twenty-one hairpin bends that lead to Alpe d'Huez. After a few kilometres of unrivalled steepness, the gradient becomes less harsh from the bell tower of Saint-Pierre Church, a former priory in the Massif des Grandes Rousses.
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