Grenoble -
Courchevel -
Briançon -
Digne-les-Bains -
Miramas -
Montpellier -
Agde -
Ax-3 Domaines -
Lézat-sur-Lèze -
Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet -
Mourenx -
Pau -
Revel -
Albi -
Mende -
Issoire -
Le Puy-en-Velay -
Saint-Etienne -
Corbeil-Essonnes -
Paris Champs-Élysées
Grenoble
First hosted a stage in 1905 (winner: Trousselier) and most recently in 1998 (winner: O'Grady).
Prefecture of the Isère and former capital of the Dauphiné, sits at the confluence of the Isère and the Drac. 160,000 inhabitants (including environs: 430,000 inhabitants).
Departure town for a time trial in 2001.
The Winter Olympic Games were held in Grenoble in 1968.
A major touring centre with its privileged setting in the heart of the Alps and the only large European town, along with Innsbruck, enclosed in a range of high mountains. This sporting city, whose name is linked to the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, re-launched track cycling in 1971, with the construction of a Winter velodrome. Birthplace of Stendhal.
• Web site of the town:
www.ville-grenoble.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.grenoble-isere-tourisme.com
Courchevel
First hosted a stage in 1997 (winner: Virenque) and most recently in 2000 (winner: Pantani).
1,950 inhabitants.
Created in 1946 in the Saint-Bon area, this Tarentaise “resort of the stars” is one of the most prestigious resorts in the world. Boosted by Emile Allais and the French School of Skiing, Courchevel hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1992.
• Web site of the town:
www.courchevel.com
Briançon
First Hosted A Stage In 1922 (Winner: Thys) And Most Recently In 2000 (Winner: Botero).
Borough Town And Health Resort Of The Hautes-Alpes, Situated At 1,320 Metres Altitude, Near To The Durance Spring. 11,300 inhabitants.
Fortified By Vauban, The Highest Sub-Prefecture In France Is A Legendary Alpine Stage, Where The Greatest Champions, Henri Pélissier, Merckx, Bartali, F. Coppi, L. Bobet, Gaul, Bahamontès and Gimondi Have Achieved Outstanding Results.
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.ot-briancon.fr
Digne-les-Bains
First hosted a stage in 1933 (winner: Speicher) and most recently in 1969 (winner: Merckx).
Prefecture of the Alpes de Haute-Provence. 18,000 inhabitants.
Situated on the Route Napoléon, at the foot of the Digne pre-Alps, this spa and tourist town, referred to as the “capital of the lavender Alps” has enjoyed a new development since its modernisation in 1982. Geology centre and museum.
• Web site of the town:
www.mairie-dignelesbains.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.ot-dignelesbains.fr
• Web site of Conseil Général:
www.cg04.fr
• Web site of Departmental committee of Tourism:
www.alpes-haute-provence.com
Miramas
Its first appearance as a stage town.
A town in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. 25,000 inhabitants.
Situated at the entrance to the Crau and near to l'étang de Berre, this town developed in the XIXth Century with the construction of the railway line and became a large marshalling yard. It houses the remains of a XIIth Century castle.
• Web site of the town:
www.miramas.org
Montpellier
First hosted a stage in 1930 (winner: Ch. Pélissier) and most recently in 1994 (winner: Sorensen).
Prefecture of the Hérault and county town of the Languedoc-Roussillon Septimanie. 230,000 inhabitants.
This big university town, famous for its Faculty of Medicine, combines the charm of the old Montpellier with the spectacular architecture of the many squares in the new part of the town. Cradle of the former Grand Prix Midi Libre.
• Web site of the town:
www.ville-montpellier.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.ot-montpellier.fr
Agde
Its first appearance as a stage town. Cap d'Agde hosted a stage in 1998 (winner: Steels).
District town of the Hérault, at the crossroads of the Méditerranée, the river Hérault and the Canal du Midi. 20,300 inhabitants.
Founded by the ancient Greeks 2,500 years earlier, Agde is built with the volcanic stones of the Mont Saint-Loup. Nearby (5 km), Le Cap d'Agde, seaside resort of international reputation / renowned.
• Web site of the town:
www.ville-agde.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.capdagde.com
Ax-3 Domaines
Hosted a stage in 2003 (winner: Sastre) and at the Plateau de Bonascre in 2001 (winner: Cardenas). 1 450 inhabitants.
A winter resort, attached to Ax-les-Thermes. Ax-3 Domaines (Plateau de Bonascre) is the largest forest skiing range in the Pyrénées.
• Web site of Vallées d'Ax:
www.vallees-ax.com
• Web site of Conseil Général:
www.cg09.fr
Lézat-sur-Lèze
2 200 Lézatois.
Its first appearance as a stage town.
Pleasant town in the Ariège region with beautifully preserved half-timbered medieval houses. Birthplace of the former Olympic and French champion, Jacques Dupont.
• Web site of the town:
www.lezat.fr
• Web site of Portail des communes de l'Ariège:
portaildescommunes.cg09.fr
• Web site of Conseil Général:
www.cg09.fr
Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pla-d'Adet)
First hosted a stage in 1974 (winner: Poulidor) and most recently in 2001 (winner: Armstrong).
Typical obstacle in the Hautes-Pyrénées. It is attached to the Winter sports resort of Saint-Lary-Soulan (1,100 inhabitants. Altitude: 830-2,450 metres).
• Web site of Station:
www.saintlary.com
• Web site of Conseil Général:
www.cg65.fr
Mourenx
Hosted a stage in 1969 (winner: Merckx) and in 1970 (winner: Ch. Raymond).
This town in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region (8.000 inhabitants), installed in the Lacq Gas operating zone, is part of the legend of the Tour with the memorable victory of Merckx in 1969.
• Web site of the town:
www.ville-de-mourenx.fr
• Web site of the Communauté de Communes:
www.cc-lacq.fr
Pau
First hosted a stage in 1930 (winner: Binda) and most recently in 2002 (winner: Halgand).
82,000 inhabitants (including environs: 150,000 inhabitants).
Prefecture of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, capital of the Bearn region. Sits on the Gave de Pau.
Homeland of King Henri IV and of the French Marshal of the Empire Bernardotte who later became King of Sweden. The most British of French towns: seduced by its environment and its climate, the English adopted it at the end of the 19th Century, introducing the South West of France to golf and rugby. Situated as it is at the foot of the Pyrénées, Pau is a traditional stage on the Tour de France.
• Web site of the town:
www.pau.fr
Revel
First hosted a stage in 1966 (winner: R. Altig) and most recently in 2000 (winner: Dekker).
District town of the Haute-Garonne.
9,000 inhabitants.
A former walled town, a pioneer in terms of town planning. Regional capital of furniture and wrought iron. The French Championship and the Critérium National were organised here in the 1960s.
Birthplace of the former French President, Vincent Auriol.
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.revel-lauragais.com
Albi
First hosted a stage in 1953 (winner: Darrigade) and most recently in 1999 (winner: Commesso).
Prefecture of the Tarn. Sits on the river Tarn. Historical capital of the Albigensian. 49,000 inhabitants.
It shares the name of rose red city with Toulouse. Cradle of the Carthare rebellion in the 13th Century. Gothic fortress cathedral (13th-15th Century). Birthplace of the painter Toulouse-Lautrec and of the novelist, Pierre Benoit.
• Web site of the town:
www.mairie-albi.fr
Mende
First hosted a stage in 1995 (winner: L. Jalabert).
Prefecture of the Lozère and former capital of the Gévaudan. 13,013 inhabitants.
In the past, its economy was based on local craft industries and wool weaving. It has since diversified and expanded its activities to the jewellery trade and printing. Mende was elected “Sports Town of France” in 1988 and 1998.
• Web site of the town:
www.mende.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.ot-mende.fr
• Web site of Conseil Général:
www.lozere.fr
Issoire
Hosted a stage in 1983 (winner: P. Le Bigaut).
Borough town of the Puy-de-Dôme. 14,780 inhabitants.
Situated in the rich plains of the Limagne, to the South of Clermont-Ferrand, this small industry orientated town houses one of the largest Romanesque churches in the Auvergne region (XIIth Century).
• Web site of the town:
www.issoire.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.sejours-issoire.com
• Web site of the Agence Départementale de Développement Touristique :
www.planetepuydedome.com
Le Puy-en-Velay
First hosted a stage in 1954 (winner: D. Forlini) and most recently in 1996 (winner: P. Richard).
Prefecture of the Haute-Loire and former capital of the Velay.
23,000 inhabitants.
A pilgrimage town dominated by the colossal statue of Notre Dame de France, situated in an exceptional environment. Its speciality: the green lentils.
• Web site of the town:
www.mairie-le-puy-en-velay.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.ot-lepuyenvelay.fr
• Web site of Conseil Général:
www.cg43.fr
Saint-Etienne
First hosted a stage in 1950 (winner: Geminiani) and most recently in 1999 (winner: Dierckxsens).
Prefecture of the Loire. 183,000 inhabitants (including environs: 400,000 inhabitants).
Altitude : 517 metres.
The capital of the cycling industry (and weapons). A major metallurgical and coalmining centre after the industrial revolution, Saint-Etienne today prospers from its electronics and precision engineering industries.
Birthplace of Massenet the composer and of the cycling champion Roger Rivière.
• Web site of the town:
www.mairie-st-etienne.fr
• Web site of the tourist office:
www.tourisme-st-etienne.com
• Web site of the Communauté d'Agglomération :
www.agglo-st-etienne.fr
Corbeil-Essonnes
Hosted the start of a stage in 2001.
County town of the Essonne, at the confluent of the Seine and the Essonne. 45,000 inhabitants.
Former sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Oise, Corbeil greatly expanded in the XVIIIth Century with the development of the flour-milling industry and the installation of large mills.
• Web site of the town:
www.corbeil-essonnes.com
Paris Champs-Elysées
Has hosted the climatic finish of the Tour since its creation in 1903. First rider to win in Paris: Garin (1903). Most recent rider to win in Paris: Boonen (2004).
The capital of France, former Prefecture of the Seine and a department (20 “arrondissements”) since 1964.
2,150,000 inhabitants (including environs: approximately 10 million inhabitants.
Finish of the Tour hosted on the Champs-Elysées since 1975.
• Web site of the town:
www.paris.fr
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