An unmissable event for the people of Grenoble

We knew that 12 August would be no ordinary day.
So, rather than simply waiting for people to look up at the sky, we wanted to create a real event centred around the eclipse and offer a complete experience to everyone who chose Chamrousse to witness this exceptional occasion.

From 4 pm, the family show ‘Astrono-Mágico’ kicked off this celestial interlude. Combining astronomy, poetry and magic, young and old alike were able to begin their journey through the solar system, the stars and the galaxies. At 6.30 pm, everyone gathered at the foot of the Croix cable car for a welcome drink and the distribution of solar viewing glasses to the first 300 participants.

Then it was off to the peaks (via the Croix cable car, which was exceptionally open in the evening for the occasion), with a talk and a workshop dedicated to observing the Sun at the Croix de Chamrousse.
But very quickly, we realised that this day was going to take on a scale we had never experienced before. By mid-afternoon, there was a buzz of excitement everywhere. With rucksacks on their shoulders and eclipse glasses in hand, visitors flocked to the resort. Some chose the cable car, whilst others set off on foot in search of the perfect vantage point. As the hours passed, the paths and hills of Chamrousse filled up.

More than 20,000 people gathered to experience this unique moment in the mountains.

Then, after all that excitement, it was time for the show

At La Croix de Chamrousse, everyone had eventually found their spot. On the grass, on the rocks, along the paths, or simply standing facing the mountain ranges.

Then the light began to change. Conversations grew quieter. Sunglasses were pulled down over faces. And almost naturally, thousands of people looked up at the very same moment. At an altitude of 2,250 metres, time seemed to stand still above Chamrousse. The sun and the moon met before our very eyes. All around us: awestruck smiles, amazement, joy, and patience too… conversations between strangers, families reunited, enthusiasts sharing their knowledge and that rare feeling of experiencing something together.

But above all, it was an immense collective and contemplative moment, suspended above the valley.

An evening Chamrousse won’t forget in a hurry ❤️

We’ll have the photographs, videos and images from the day to look back on. But above all, we’ll have the memory of this mountain filled with people who had simply come to gaze at the sky.

An evening that truly lived up to Chamrousse’s exceptional setting.
Thank you for making the journey.
Thank you for your enthusiasm.
Thank you for your patience and your sense of wonder.

And above all, thank you for choosing Chamrousse to experience this timeless moment with us.

Behind the scenes

Behind this exceptional moment, an entire resort pulled together

🤝 A huge collective effort

For several weeks, the teams at the Chamrousse Tourist Office planned and prepared for this special day: organising the programme of events, preparing the welcome, providing information to visitors, handling communications, coordinating all those involved and organising the various highlights.

Working alongside them, the lift operators played a vital role in enabling thousands of people to head up the mountain and reach the Croix de Chamrousse.

Faced with this exceptional turnout, it was necessary to manage rotations, guide visitors, control footfall and keep the cable car running until late in the evening.
This effort continued well after the eclipse, until the last visitors had left.
This day will therefore be remembered as much for an exceptional astronomical phenomenon as for a collective effort across the whole resort.
Our teams’ ability to adapt, welcome and assist such a large crowd helped transform this astronomical event into a truly memorable experience in Chamrousse.

To all the teams at the Tourist Office, the ski lift management and everyone who helped out that evening: thank you.

📸 They captured and recounted the day

That evening lives on today through the photographs, reports and accounts of those who were there.

A big thank you to the photographers Chloé Halot, Dominique Fleury and Jean-Baptiste Bornier for their perspectives and their photographs, which allow us to relive the very special atmosphere of 12 August.

Thank you also to the media outlets that covered the event and helped put Chamrousse and this exceptional evening in the spotlight: France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Le Dauphiné Libéré, Actu.fr and MesInfos.fr...