France
17) Pra Loup
Pra Loup sits on a plateau overlooking the Ubaye valley on the North East side of the Alpes de Haute Provence, between Hautes-Alpes and the Mercantour and is linked to Italy.
It is a peaceful valley that enjoys the clear and warm sunny climate of the Mediterranean with the freshness that comes with the altitude.
High up on the surrounding peaks the graceful ibex can be spotted grazing between the rocks. The resort is split into two towns; Pra Loup 1500 or Les Molanes and 1600. It is best to stay in 1600, especially during the quieter summer months, as it is the busier town with more facilities though they are only 2km apart.
The nearest airport to Pra Loup is Toulouse, (transfer of 2.5 hours).
What does Pra Loup have to offer?
| Cross Country |
Intermediate |
| Downhill | Beginner & Intermediate |
| Freeride | Beginner & Intermediate |
| Cable Car |
YES |
| Gondola | NO |
| Chairlift | NO |
| Close to | - |
Pra Loup's is close to Val d'Allos as well as Les Orres and Montgenevre and really does open up some great possibilities for a tour of this area. The Ubaye valley is linked to the Mediterranean climate and an Alpine landscape with summit as high as 3300 metres. The weather is a bonus as Pra Loup boasts that is has 300 sunny days a year! The trails here are nearly always dry and deep in dust due to the good climate.
DOWNHILL
The resort has a racing pedigree, with the French National Downhill
Championships being held here back in 2001 on a
classic course with open flat out piste sections and steep technical
wooded runs - one that you can still ride. You can also ride the
current Masters World Championship course (Masters Worlds have been
held here in 2007, 2008 and 2009) - a more challenging
track taking a more direct line with plenty of off-cambers and short
technical wooded sections. There are six good trails available from the top of the Costebelle lift.
FREERIDE
The
bikepark in Pra Loup accessed from the Clapiers cablecar is designed by designed by Jean-Michel BAYLE (triple motocross world champion, nicknamed JMB 111) and has some good lines
throughout. It is graded from beginner to expert with lots of
man-made/northshore linking short sections of trails, jumps, gaps, drops and
see-saws.
Click here for a PDF of the PraLoupTrail Map
| Summer Lifts Open |
5th July until 31st August |
| Lift Opening Times | 09.30 - 16.30 (always check) |
| Lift Prices | Day pass 12.80 €/ /Week pass 54 € |
Directory:
Tourist Office: T+33 492 841004
Website: www.praloup.com