Saint-Hilaire du Touvet

Saint-Hilaire du Touvet is the spiritual home of free flight. Perched on the cliffs of the Chartreuse above the Grésivaudan valley, it every September hosts the Coupe Icare, the largest free-flight festival in the world, when tens of thousands of pilots and spectators fill the plateau. The site's distinctive ramped launch and reliable valley thermals have made it a training ground for generations of French pilots, with a broad landing at Lumbin far below.

Launch & conditions

A famous inclined take-off ramp that accepts a wide range of wind directions. The valley delivers dependable thermals; conditions can become strong on classic summer XC days.

Getting there & local rules

The historic funicular and mountain roads serve the plateau. Fly with awareness of the busy air and respect local briefing, especially around the Coupe Icare period.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Saint-Hilaire du Touvet, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Saint-Hilaire du Touvet with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.