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
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
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.
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
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.
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
Sanctuaire ND-de-la-Vie (St-Martin-de-Belleville)
Descriptive
The church sanctuary, located between St Martin and the hamlet of St Marcel, remains today one of the major pilgrimage sites in Savoie. It was built between 1635 and 1680, with an original layout of a central hanging cupola with chapels radiating out from it.
The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Vie, isolated on a small berm in the high Les Belleville valley, is an emblematic monument in the commune. It boasts one of the oldest Baroque altarpieces in Tarentaise, and is also a testament to the artistic and religious renaissance witnessed in Savoie during the 17th century: all the richness and techniques of Baroque art are expressed here with brilliance. For this reason, it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1949.
Nicolas Deschamps, who also drafted the plans for the church in Villargarel, realised this structure designed around the shape of a Greek cross, with a hanging cupola topped by a lantern-turret.
This cupola was decorated in its entirety in 1679 with paintings of scenes from the Old Testament.
The altarpiece of the high altar features a proliferation of gold and sculpted decorations and clearly evokes the life of Mary. In the central panel, there is a discreet sliding door, adorned with a bas-relief of the Madonna and Child, that conventionally hides from view the niche containing a statue believed to be miraculous. The side panels are reserved for Mary's family, with King David in particular at the top-left.
The secondary altarpieces are simpler but the one on the right, dating from 1636, appears to be the oldest of the three and might even be the oldest in Savoie! Take a moment to admire the rich collection of ex-votos on display in the entrance: these bear witness to all the tribulations of life and the hopes of the mountain-dwellers of the 18th century!
Practical Information
Opening Times :
All year round, daily between 9 am and 6 pm.Can be seen partially through a grille.
Tariffs
04 79 00 20 00