The Plateau d’Hauteville enjoys a unique location in the heart of the Ain department, in the historic Bugey region. Situated at an altitude of between 850 and 1234 m, this high plateau never ceases to amaze visitors with its exceptional quality of life, pure air, generous nature, beneficial climate, varied landscapes and unspoilt flora…
Here, you can breathe easier!
The Plateau d'Hauteville commune, which has been awarded the "Station Verte de vacances" and "Village de neige" labels, enjoys a mid-mountain climate and a special geographical position, which gives it its climatic virtues.
The pure, dry air is naturally invigorating. The limestone soil absorbs all the moisture, leaving no room for fog. The abundant forests, like a lung, provide a rich breath of oxygen. The Plateau is free from atmospheric pollution. And finally, pollination is shorter, later and less important than in many neighbouring regions.
Since 1998, expert chemical and biological analysis campaigns have been scientifically validating the quality of the air you breathe on the Plateau.
In the heart of the Bugey region, at the southern tip of the Jura Massif, the Plateau d’Hauteville rises between 850 and 1234 metres above sea level.
The tracks lead up to a mountain ridge at 1234 metres, Mont Planachat. The soil was formed by sedimentation and glaciation during the Mesozoic era. It is made up of limestone or marl-limestone layers 300 metres thick.
A health centre
The Plateau d’Hauteville is widely recognised for its technical level and quality in rehabilitation and physical medicine.
It boasts modern therapeutic services in a wide variety of fields and specialities: rehabilitation, physical medicine, sports traumatology, orthopaedics, neurology, cardiology, psychiatry, pneumology, treatment of infectious diseases, nephrology, geriatric medicine and a wide range of convalescent care…
Numerous specialised and well-equipped clinics and hospitals, both public and private, have made the Plateau d’Hauteville a centre of excellence in healthcare, covering a wide range of illnesses and providing a high-quality environment for patients.
It's impossible to get bored here!
While the Plateau d’Hauteville is best known for its ski resort, a whole range of activities are available the rest of the year. There’s swimming, biathlon and laser shooting all year round, tubing in summer, fishing at Lésine, slot machines and casino games, hiking, mountain biking, trottinherb, deval’kart and via ferrata…
At La Praille, treat yourself to a moment of comfort and warmth in the heart of the resort in the Swedish baths or sauna of the wellness area. Find out more here !
On the Plateau d’Hauteville, enjoy a variety of activities in two areas: downhill skiing at the Terre Ronde site and Nordic skiing at the La Praille site.
Downhill skiing at Terre Ronde
The Terre Ronde site is ideal for downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowboarding and snow skating.
This family-friendly high-altitude resort is ideal for all types of visitor, with a variety of slopes accessible to all. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’re sure to find the slope that suits you and have a great time.
The La Praille Nordic ski area, near the Col de la Rochette, offers lovers of nature and wide open spaces the chance to enjoy Nordic (cross-country) skiing in complete safety.
At La Praille, relax in the Swedish baths or sauna in the wellness area. And much more! View more !
Joseph CARRARA, cycle racer
No Plateau resident has forgotten Joseph Carrara, who was the star of the Hauteville Lompnes Cycling Club for over a decade.
Carrara was born in 1938. He loved cycling from an early age and soon became one of the leading riders at the Hauteville cycling club. Joseph began his impressive career with the club.
A few years later, Carrara established himself as a star, small in stature but big in talent. In March 1959, he presented his family with the winner’s jersey. On 22 May 1957, he won his first race at Beny. In 1957, he won 8 races and in 1958, 6 more victories were added to his list of achievements.
He was then called up for national service in Algeria, where he became pursuit champion of the province of Oran. On his return to France in 1960, Carrara won more races. He turned professional with the Liberia Grammont team. He won a stage in the Giro d’Italia and finished second in the mountain classification.
In 1964, he won 8 stages of the Volta a Catalunya and went on to win the Tour. He continued to add to his list of successes, winning the Antibes, Thizy and Auxerre races and finishing third in the Paris-Luxembourg. He retired from cycling in 1967.
Roger Pingeon, cycle racer
Roger Pingeon turned professional in 1965 and joined the Peugeot team. He was one of the major revelations of the 1965 Tour de France, finishing 12th. Due to his 8th place finish in the 1966 Tour de France and his form in the spring of 1967, Marcel Bidot, the French team selector, chose him as one of the three team leaders, alongside Lucien Aimar and Raymond Poulidor, for the 1967 Tour de France. After a long solo breakaway in the 5th stage between Roubaix and Jambes du Tour, Roger Pingeon took the yellow jersey.
He was again selected for the French team in 1968 and won two stages after solo breakaways. A few weeks later, Roger finished 2nd in the French road championships in Aubenas.
In 1969, after a mountain breakaway, Roger Pingeon won the Vuelta a España. In the 1969 Tour de France, he was Eddy Merckx’s most serious rival. He won the Chamonix stage and finished 2nd overall.
Roger Pingeon is remembered as a great cyclist, teeming with panache. He would study routes in detail, and had no hesitation in setting off on long breakaways, but could give in to discouragement.
Benoit CARRARA, cross-country skier
Benoit Carrara was born on 7 May 1926 in Hauteville-Lompnes. He took part in the Winter Olympics in 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960, and was the French flag-bearer at Squaw Valley.
Simon DESTHIEUX, World Champion
The biathlete from Plateau d’Hauteville, confirmed his potential by winning the gold medal in the individual 15 km at Nove Mesto.
It was no accident for this big hope of French biathlon to become world champion, since all his family is involved in the sport. His father, a doctor, is president of the Lompnes ski club. His mother also works at the club. Baptiste, Simon’s older brother, is the a national biathlon coach and Étienne, the youngest, is already a very promising junior.
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Natural riches
Stone
Fine limestone, with its amber appearance and fine texture, is very resistant and homogeneous. It is easy to carve and sculpt, and can be cut to make slabs and cladding.
The stone is extracted from a compact layer from one of the Neocomian stages, the Valanginian. It has been used by craftsmen and artists for many years, and exported all over the world. It has been used in buildings of international renown: the Empire State Building, the Capitol in Washington DC, the White House staircase, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the Escurial in Spain, the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, the altar in the underground Basilica of Lourdes and many others.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The quarries at Hauteville-Lompnes and Champdor have been in operation since 1840.
Woodland and agriculture
Forests cover around half of the Plateau’s surface area. It is an important resource for the local economy.
The timber sector plays a major role here, and sawmills now have advanced technology for every phase of the process, from felling trees, transport and sawing to planing.
Natural high-altitude meadows are found in the designated Comté area. This highly diverse flora is ideal for traditional cattle rearing and the production of a rich and highly prized Comté cheese.
