Former refuge of the French Alpine Club (CAF) -Cultural Heritage and Environment centre
The chalet of Recoin in Chamrousse, former refuge of the French Alpine Club (CAF) and 1st guarded refuge of France since 1911, has been rehabilitated in the Environment and heritage Centre of Chamrousse with a reception and exhibition space.
At the end of the 1800s, Chamrousse did not yet exist, no buildings, no slopes and even less ski lifts. In 1911, in just 3 months, the French Alpine Club (CAF) refuge was built, one of the most important buildings 46 years after the creation of the "first house of Chamrousse", the famous Père Tasse hut.
It was home to many hikers for 56 years, before being replaced by a new refuge and falling into disuse, until its new conversion in 2018.
The town council financed the renovation work and the former CAF chalet has been given a new lease of life, as well as a new name: welcome to the Chamrousse Heritage and Environment Centre! Its inauguration took place on July, 8th 2018 on the occasion of the Transhumance festival.
Practical information
Equipments
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Free car park,
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Car park,
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Sustainable development,
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Waste management,
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Picnic area,
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Exhibition space,
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Toilets
Services
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Pets welcome,
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Booking obligatory,
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Wi-fi,
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Tour free of charge
Activities
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Temporary exhibition,
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Children's entertainment
Theme
Historic patrimony
Sustainable tourism
Raising public awareness and involving the public in environmental conservation.
Time schedule
From 01/01/26 to 12/31/26
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Monday :
Open
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Tuesday :
Open
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Wednesday :
Open
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Thursday :
Open
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Friday :
Open
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Saturday :
Open
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Sunday :
Open
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Jours fériés :
Closed
Buldging and layout can be seen from outside all year but inside visit only on Environment Centre opening hours.
Prices
Free of charge.
See more
Go there
Latitude : 45.123985
Longitude : 5.877473
Chamrousse 1650
38410 Chamrousse
Go there
Station road access from Grenoble: Rocade Sud > exit no. 2 "Uriage" > Route départementale 111 (RD 111) on the Seiglières side.
Public transport - Chamrousse 1650 - Recoin stop (+ approx. 5-minute walk):
- regular bus service all year round: N93 (to/from Grenoble), "Chamrousse 1650" stop (merger of former T87, Transaltitude, Destination neige Skibus / nature Estibus 707)
Good to know - another stop less than 500m away (Place de Belledonne, near the Tourist Office):
- transportation by reservation during the week, excluding public holidays: Flexo 57 (to/from Uriage), "Chamrousse - Le Recoin" stop (former TAD TouGo - line G701)
- winter and summer resort shuttle: "Télécabine (1650)" stop (to/from Chamrousse 1750 - Roche Béranger and Chamrousse 1600 - plateau de l'Arselle/nordic area).
Information updated on 27/08/2025
by Office du Tourisme de Chamrousse
