Chartreuse Mountains


The Chartreuse Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern France, stretching from the city of Grenoble in the south to the Lac du Bourget in the north. They are part of the French Prealps, which continue as the Bauges to the north and the Vercors to the south.

Etymology

The name Chartreuse is derived from the village now known as Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, earlier Catorissium, Cantourisa, Caturissium, and Chatrousse. It appears to be of Gaulish origin; and is perhaps related to the name of the Caturiges tribe.

Geography

The mountain range rises between Grenoble, Chambéry, Voiron and Saint-Laurent-du-Pont and Grésivaudan

Main summits

Summits of the Chartreuse Mountains include:
  • Chamechaude,
  • Dent de Crolles,
  • Les Lances de Malissard
  • Grand Som,
  • Dôme de Bellefont
  • Piton de Bellefont
  • Mont Granier,
  • La Grande Sure,
  • Le Charmant Som
  • Sommet du Pinet ou le Truc
  • Rochers de Chalves
  • Rocher de Lorzier
  • Dent de l'Ours
  • Scia
  • Petit Som
  • Pinéa
  • Mont Outheran
  • Grands Crêts
  • Pointe de la Gorgeat
  • Écoutoux
  • mont Saint-Eynard
  • Néron
  • Rachais

    Main passes

Passes of the Chartreuse Mountains include :

With road

  • Col de la Charmette
  • Col de la Cluse
  • Col du Coq
  • Col du Cucheron
  • Col du Granier
  • Col de Porte
  • Col de Palaquit
  • Col de Vence
  • Col de la Placette

    Without road

  • Col de l'Alpe
  • Col de l'Alpette
  • Col des Ayes
  • Col de Charmille
  • Col des Émeindras
  • Col de la Faîta
  • Col de Bellefond
  • Col de Léchaud
  • Col de la Ruchère
  • Col de la Sure
  • Col de la Grande Vache
  • Col de la Petite Vache
  • Col du Baure

    Main canyons

Canyons of the Chartreuse Mountains include :
Plateaux of the Chartreuse Mountains include :
  • Plateau des Petites Roches
  • Plateau du Grand-Ratz

    Main Caves

The main caves in the Chartreuse include :
  • ,
long, deep.
Image:Grésivaudan panorama bis.JPG|thumb|center|upright=3.2|Panorama of the Grésivaudan Valley and the Chartreuse Mountains from Les Sept Laux.

Geology

The lithology is dominated by limestone, and several hundred kilometres of cave passages lie beneath the hills, including the world-famous 60 km long Dent de Crolles system.
Image:Double-arch.jpg|thumb|190px|right|The Tour Percée Double Arch, at the longest span in the Alps.

Winter sports resorts

Chartreuse winter sports resorts include :
The Chartreuse Mountains gave their name to the monastery of the Grande Chartreuse, the monastic Carthusian Order takes its name from these mountains, where its first hermitage was founded in 1084. Also derived from the mountain range's name is that of the alcoholic cordial Chartreuse produced by the monks since the 1740s, and of the chartreuse colour, greenish hue of the Chartreuse liqueur, named after the drink.