We have traveled tens of thousands of miles– more than 33,000 in France alone– in Europe,
mostly by car but also by bus, train, and boat. In those travels, we found a handful of special
places that we make a point of returning to whenever we are in the vicinity, the vicinity being
within 200 miles. The Oratoire Du Chazelet is one of these because it offers the most
spectacular view on the continent. This is great scenery in spades.
The Oratoire Du Chazelet (trans: the little chapel near the town of Chazelet) itself, an old dump
of small wayside chapel, is of no particular interest other than to mark the spot on the road where
you must stop and get out to look at the view of glacier clad La Meije (don’t wait. Global
warming will soon destroy the glaciers). Although the summit of La Meije is about six miles
away, it appears to loom over you from so close that a good wind could knock it over on top of
you. The Oratoire Du Chazelet sits on the edge of a plateau a few hundred feet above the
Romanche River Valley. This is the perfect spot for a picnic.
The Oratoire du Chazelet is pretty isolated as places in Europe go, accessible only by slow
mountain roads. Fortunately, the trip there and back is by scenic roads, including the Romanche
Valley, the Col (mountain pass) de la Croix de Fer, the Col du Lautaret, and the Col du Galibier,
a famous part of the Tour de France bicycle race. Also on the route is the famous road to L’Alpe
d’Huez where Lance Armstrong won a record number of Tour de France races; La Grav, les
Deux Alps; and Bourg d’Oisans. Allow at least two days to take in the Oratoire du Chazelet and
its surroundings.
Quick Tips:
The remoteness of the Oratoire Du Chazelet means you will need to spend at least one night in
the vicinity. We prefer the ski station, L’Alpe d’Huez in an attractive setting on a small high
Alpine plateau well above the tree line surrounded by higher peaks. Except during the Tour de
France, when it would be crazy to visit unless you are a bicycle racing fan, hotel prices are low
season outside of the winter ski season.
Obviously, a visit to the Oratoire du Chazelet must be made in good weather, and before noon or
late in the afternoon is the best time for visit since the view looks almost straight south– keep the
sun out of your eyes.
Best Way To Get Around:
A car is almost essential for the visit. There is a local bus to Chazoulet town, I assume from la
Grav, but I don’t know if it stops at the Oratoire du Chazelet. Oratoire du Chazelet is on D33
which turns off N91 just east of la Grav or about six miles west of the intersection of the road
over the Col du Galibier and N91.
I prefer arriving at Oratoire du Chazelet by the Col du Galibier and leaving via the Col de la Croix
de Fer (the pass with the iron cross-- look for the iron cross across the Alpine tundra at the
summit a few hundred feet from the road)