Col de la Loze Challenge


See you on 19 July 2026
 Col de la Loze Challenge

Road biking

Brides-les-Bains, the perfect base camp for cyclists

Brides-les-Bains, the perfect base camp for cyclists

 

Nestled in the heart of the most stunning mountain scenery, Brides-les-Bains is the perfect base to explore the Alpine passes on a road bike.

With quality accommodation and facilities, this village in the Savoie region is the gateway to some truly legendary cycling routes.

Brides-les-Bains could just be the perfect place to stay if you’re looking to get (back) in the saddle

 

Road biking

Iconic Alpine Routes to Discover by Road Bike

Iconic Alpine Routes to Discover by Road Bike

Highly prized by professional cyclists, the Alpine circuits boast countless attractions to captivate road bike enthusiasts.

From Brides-les-Bains, the ascents to Col de la Loze and Col de la Madeleine rank among the must-do routes.
Starting from the village or nearby, several climbs let you pedal through stunning mountain landscapes: Méribel climb, Pradier climb, Prioux climb...

Extending the exploration around Brides-les-Bains, many other road bike routes cater to the most demanding cyclists, such as Cormet de Roselend or Col de l’Iseran.

To discover all the routes, check out the dedicated page: Cycling the Alpine passes on a road bike

Road biking

How do I choose my road-cycling route?

How do I choose my road-cycling route?

Although it’s accessible for beginners, road cycling still requires a certain level of fitness, especially in the mountain environment.

This is a physical activity that will develop your cardio fitness, test your speed and challenge your endurance, power and strength.

To take full advantage of the benefits and the pleasures of cycling, it's essential to choose the right route to suit your level of ability (and all the necessary protective kit!).

Short or long distances; riding time; difficulty; elevation; solo, with friends or in a team; leisure cycling or racing, etc.

There are so many things to consider when choosing an appropriate road cycling route.

Activities

Other activities at Brides-les-Bains

Other activities at Brides-les-Bains

As well as being a rewarding activity in itself, road cycling has the huge advantage of also being a mode of transport!

From Brides-les-Bains, you can explore some wonderful natural scenery on two wheels, opening up a whole range of other activities.

You can take a hike through valleys and peaks, wander in the mountains within the Parc de la Vanoise, discover local wildlife and cultural sites, play golf, try via ferrata or water-based activities.

Suitable for various types of roads and paths, mountain bikes can offer a pleasant alternative to a standard road bike.

There are many ways to combine cycling with other activities so you can enjoy changing things up.

Bikes in Brides-les-Bains: events and partnerships

Gran Fondo Col de la Loze

Col de la Loze Challenge

Col de la Loze Challenge

In the heart of the 3-Valleys area, the Col de la Loze links the resorts of Méribel and Courchevel.


At an altitude of 2,304 m, it's only accessible by bike or on foot.
Well known for its difficulty level, the ascent can be made via the slopes of Méribel or Courchevel (the more accessible option).


The Col de la Loze was the playground of cycling pros at the Tour de l’Avenir in 2019, a legendary stage at the 2020 Tour de France and seems to be on the bucket list of an ever-increasing number of cycling enthusiasts.


Departing from Brides-les-Bains, the route takes you just over 22 kilometres towards the Col de la Loze (featuring 1,715 metres of elevation with some sections having a 20% gradient!).

The local authority has held the “Col de la Loze Challenge” cycling sportive every summer since 2020.

Featuring various race formats, access to e-bikes and staggered start options for women, this extraordinary challenge combines a love of cycling with the most stunning scenery.

Road biking

How can I prepare for my Alpine mountain pass cycling trip?

How can I prepare for my Alpine mountain pass cycling trip?

Brides-les-Bains famously boasts a wide variety of winter and summer activities, while also being the perfect base camp from which to tackle the Alpine mountain passes on a bike.

Whether you're enjoying a weekend away, a short break or a longer holiday, this pleasant village has a range of amenities and specific services, such as group activities, bike storage and hire and places to eat.

All for your pedalling pleasure!

 

More info:  :  for bike hire and maintenance services in Brides-les-Bains, contact : Obiclou (06 79 45 74 17) in Brides-les-Bains, Veloland Mout'n bike in Moûtiers (04 79 40 16 35) and Espace VTT in Courchevel (06 18 08 18 41).

Cycling around Brides

Museum of Saint Martin, 150 years of a high valley's history

Descriptive

Situated in the heart of the village, in an old Bellevillois farm, the Saint Martin Museum retraces one hundred and fifty years of this high Savoyard valley's history.

From the height of the agricultural civilisation in the 19th Century to the tourist revolution in the 60s, passing by the industrial changes at the beginning of the 20th Century, discover the highlights that have marked this history.

Winter Life

In the old stables of the building, winter living quarters have been reconstructed. This is where the Bellevillois lived together with their animals during the coldest months. At this time, cattle rearing was the main activity in the commune, and the valley was well known for its huge high altitude pastures. Even the industrial progress at the beginning of the 20th Century didn't change the daily life of the inhabitants, still ruled by their ancestral traditions.

Life in the warmer months

Spring, summer and autumn were working months for the Bellevillois. Ploughing and sowing, taking the cattle up to the mountain pastures, transforming the milk, hay making, harvesting, kindling gathering … the jobs were never-ending leaving little time for rest. But the warmer months were short and everything had to be done in order to feed the men and animals during the winter.

A changing society

At the end of the World War I, the society started to change, due to the industrial revolution and technical progress. La Vallée des Belleville still kept its attachment to its traditional way of life, but was subject to huge emigration. The industrialisation of the close cities led many families to leave their villages. Tourism was born in the thermal towns and winter sports started to develop, first in Méribel then in Courchevel - a glimpse of what was to happen to La Vallée des Belleville.

Tourist development

The top level of the Museum shows the Vallée's tourist development and retraces the creation of Les Menuires in the 60s and Val Thorens from 1972 onwards. These scope of these projects, created to reply to the ever increasing demand for winter sports, over time have modified the Vallée's countryside and opened up the perspective of a new economic dynamism. In the 80s, the village resort of Saint Martin, built around the old village centre, concluded this development programme.

To make the visit more lively and attractive, the Museum is equipped with two video rooms : one of yesteryear traditions through images of today's Bellevillois showing what life was like before, and the other showing the development of Les Menuires and Val Thorens through eye witness accounts and authentic photos.

Headphones are available for English speaking visitors.

Opening Times :

Closed temporarily.

Languages spoken :

  • English
  • French

Services :

  • Educational visits
  • Guided tours
  • Pets welcome

Equipements :

  • Parking nearby
  • Public WC
  • Gratuit pour les moins de 18 ans.
    Gratuit - de 16 ans

    Payment methods

    Contact
    Téléphone

    04 79 00 70 75

    Address

    Place de l'église
    73440 Les Belleville