Refuge Napoléon, Izoard

Refuge Napoléon, Izoard is a mountain refuge situated at 2,280 metres above sea level in the Cottian Alps, within the commune of Cervières in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. It lies just below the Col d'Izoard, a celebrated Alpine pass. The refuge is one of six shelters in the Hautes-Alpes built at the behest of Napoleon Bonaparte, reportedly in gratitude for the welcome he received upon his return from the island of Elba. Today it operates as a commercial hospitality brand, offering accommodation and refreshments to hikers, cyclists, and travellers crossing the pass. Its official website is refuge-napoleon-col-izoard.fr. The refuge is a well-known stop on the Route des Grandes Alpes and is particularly popular with cyclists tackling the legendary Col d'Izoard climb. As a brand, it represents a blend of historical heritage and mountain tourism, with a name that directly references its Napoleonic origins and its geographic location at the Izoard pass.

The Refuge Napoléon at the Col d'Izoard is part of a group of six mountain refuges in the Hautes-Alpes department of France, constructed on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte. According to tradition, these refuges were built as a gesture of thanks for the hospitality Napoleon received during his return from exile on the island of Elba. The refuge is located at an altitude of 2,280 metres in the Cottian Alps, within the commune of Cervières, just below the Col d'Izoard. The pass itself has been a strategic and scenic route through the Alps for centuries. Over time, the refuge has served as a shelter for travellers, soldiers, and later tourists. In the modern era, it has become a popular stop for cyclists and hikers, particularly those tackling the Col d'Izoard, a legendary climb featured in the Tour de France. The refuge operates under the name Refuge Napoléon, Izoard, and maintains an official website. Its historical significance and dramatic location make it a notable landmark in the region.

• Construction of six Napoleonic refuges in Hautes-Alpes, including the one at Col d'Izoard, ordered by Napoleon Bonaparte.

• Refuge Napoléon at Col d'Izoard established at 2,280 m in Cervières.

Historic mountain refuge and hospitality stop on the Col d'Izoard, combining Napoleonic heritage with Alpine tourism.

• Refuge accommodation

  Overnight stays and meals for mountain travellers.

1. 1Refuge Napoléon, Izoard - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Refuge Napoléon - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websiterefuge-napoleon-col-izoard.fr