Le Monêtier-les-Bains

Le Monêtier-les-Bains is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Commune
Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Coat of arms
Location of Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Coordinates: 44°58′37″N 6°30′34″E
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentHautes-Alpes
ArrondissementBriançon
CantonBriançon-1
IntercommunalityBriançon
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Pierre Bouvier
Area
1
97.87 km2 (37.79 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
1,056
 • Density11/km2 (28/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
05079 /05220
Elevation1,397–3,659 m (4,583–12,005 ft)
(avg. 1,495 m or 4,905 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

Le Monêtier-les-Bains is the highest village of the French ski resort of Serre Chevalier at 1,500m. It is situated in the Guisane Valley. Le Monêtier-Les-Bains has two hot-water springs, one at 34°C and one at 38°C, and the village has been a thermal spa since Roman times. The village is on the periphery of the Ecrins National Park.

A map of the commune

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962734—    
1968806+9.8%
1975832+3.2%
1982970+16.6%
1990987+1.8%
19991,009+2.2%
20081,057+4.8%

Skiing

Monetier's slopes are a part of the extensive Serre Chevalier ski area. There are 7 chairlifts and 4 drag lifts with the highest skiing in the domain at 2760m.

Thermal baths
Les grands Bains in 2013

Warm water presence in the Monêtier area was already appreciated during the Roman Empire, when the village was known with the name of Stabatio (healing).[2] Between 1715 and the late 19th century Monêtier was renowned for its thermal pools and facilities, which declined during the following century. From 1999 the new thermal bath of Les grands Bains was opened and, thanks to the following improvement works, Le Monêtier-les-Bains became, again, a popular destination for spa tourism.

Tour de France

The village lies on the Col du Lautaret and is regularly used in the Tour de France. It has featured recently in the tours of 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. In the 2011 Tour it was also passed through with about 20km to go on the 18th stage.

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Le Monêtier les bains, www.alpes-guide.com
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