Straight into the heart of the park: Le Sappey, then Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse and Saint-Hugues, mountain villages and bends through the forest. 52 km in one of the finest corners of the Alps, inside the 100 km included.
🏍️ Included in the €49 discovery deal. This loop is under 100 km, so it fits inside the mileage allowance of your half-day on a Triumph — from age 20 on an A2 licence.
The loop in detailGrenoble, Le Sappey, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Hugues52 kmapprox. 1 h 10
envie2rouler shop — Grenoble (La Tronche)start
Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse+12 km
Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse+13 km
Saint-Hugues-de-Chartreuse+2 km
Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse+2 km
envie2rouler shop — Grenoble+23 km
What you pass along the way
The Grande Chartreuse museum at La Correrie: nine centuries of Carthusian history, two kilometres from the monastery, which is closed to visitors.
Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse: the village resort at the centre of the massif, its terraces and its shops.
The church of Saint-Hugues-de-Chartreuse, decorated throughout by the painter Arcabas and now a county museum of contemporary sacred art.
Photo stops not to be missed
Six stops scouted along the 52 km of the loop.
1
Le Sappey-en-ChartreuseThe first village in the massif, with the Néron as a backdrop.
2
The Col de Porte, 1,326 mThe high point of the loop and its opening onto the ridges.
3
The hamlet of La CorrerieThe buildings of the Grande Chartreuse museum in their clearing, two kilometres from the monastery.
4
Saint-Pierre-de-ChartreuseThe village with the Grand Som behind it, best framed from the Cucheron exit.
5
The Arcabas church in Saint-HuguesDecorated throughout by the painter and now a county museum of contemporary sacred art. Very photogenic colours and light, free entry.
6
The forest roads at the heart of the massifBetween Saint-Pierre and Saint-Hugues, the road winds under the beeches. Beautiful filtered light in the middle of the day.
What you will see along the way
At the heart of the regional nature park
This loop leaves the highest passes aside and heads into the heart of the massif: Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, the Col de Palaquit, the Col de Porte (1,326 m), then Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse and Saint-Hugues. Mountain villages, forest roads and very quiet traffic as soon as you leave the main road.
The cradle of the Carthusians
Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse is the gateway to the Grande Chartreuse monastery, founded by Saint Bruno in 1084. The monastery is closed to visitors, but the Grande Chartreuse museum, housed at La Correrie two kilometres away, tells nine centuries of monastic life and sits a few minutes off the route.
The Grand Som, 2,026 m, standing over the Grande Chartreuse monastery. Photo: Chartreuse Tourisme
Saint-Hugues and its church
The hamlet of Saint-Hugues-de-Chartreuse holds a church decorated throughout by the painter Arcabas, now a county museum of contemporary sacred art. A short, unexpected stop in the middle of a motorcycle ride.
Saint-Hugues-de-Chartreuse at the foot of the Grand Som: the church and its contemporary sacred art are a hundred metres off the road. Photo: Chartreuse Tourisme
Good to know before you set off
52 km: the loop sits comfortably inside the 100 km included in the €49 discovery deal.
About 2 h of actual riding: this is the most contemplative of our discovery loops.
Best season: April to October.
Narrow, shaded roads at the heart of the massif: take care on damp surfaces in spring.
Regional nature park: herds and walkers are common at the roadside.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Grande Chartreuse monastery?
No, the monastery is closed to visitors: the monks live there in silence and solitude. The Grande Chartreuse museum at La Correrie, two kilometres away, is open to the public.
How does it differ from the short Col du Coq loop?
Same distance, 52 km, but a different spirit: this one favours the villages and forests at the heart of the massif, the other strings together three passes. Allow about 1 h 10 of riding here, against 1 h 25 for the pass loop.
What does the €49 discovery deal include?
A half-day rental with 100 km and insurance included, from Grenoble, on an A2 or a full A licence. Helmet and gloves are optional extras. The discovery deal is non-cancellable.
Is this ride suitable for a beginner?
Yes, there is no technical difficulty. The roads are narrower than on the pass loop, which simply invites you to ride at the pace of the landscape.
Ready to ride for €49?
The Triumph Trident 660 (A2) is waiting for you in Grenoble, prepared and insured. Book your discovery half-day, pick your date and your slot, and set off on this loop.
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