GRANIT 2014

Practical Information

The workshop will take place in Les Houches. General information about L'Ecole des Houches could be found on the web site :
Ecole de Physique des Houches
La Côte des Chavants
FRANCE - 74310 Les Houches
Phone: +33 4 50 54 40 69 (from Monday to Friday at office hours)
Fax: +33 4 50 55 53 25
E-mail: secretariat.houches@ujf-grenoble.fr




The conference fee will be about 490 euros ; it includes all living expenses (3 meals per day, room and facilities available in Les Houches) as well as Workshop proceedings (as previously, we plan to publish several summarizing articles in a special issue of a refereed journal). The maximum number of participants is limited by facilities available in Les Houches. Participation of students is strongly encouraged. The Workshop language is English.

Your Stay

Meals are taken at the school dining room. Drinks are not included.
Coffee, tea (free!) and liqueurs are available at the cafeteria.
Breakfast: 7:45 am to 8:45 am ; Lunch: 12:30 am ; Dinner: 7:30 pm
Accompanying persons who have registered can take their meals at the restaurant (15 euros per meal).

Participants are housed in "chalets" in individual bedrooms (electricity: AC, 50Hz, 220V).
A flashlight is handy at night ; the school chalets are scattered on the mountainside and outside lights may be poor (power failures, storms,...).

Access

By plane: Geneva Airport is 1 hour drive from les Houches.

The simplest way is to use a shuttle service (approximately 40 euros up to the school, book at least three days in advance). If you already have your return date, we would recommend to book a return trip.  Click here for a complete view of the different companies. Beware: We do not recommend the Alpybus company.

 There is also a regular bus service between Geneva and Les Houches (only once or twice a day): http://www.coach-station.com. One should then take a taxi for the last 5 kms from the Les Houches village to the school (the total cost is similar to that of the limousine). One can also travel from Geneva to Les Houches by train (+ taxi from the train station to the School), but it is quite complicated (3 connections) and long (go through Annemasse on the French side or through Martigny on the Swiss side).

By train: arrival at the Les Houches station, with one change at Saint-Gervais (from France), or at Martigny (from Switzerland). There are about 10 trains per day between St Gervais and Les Houches (schedules, 20mn trip). Then we strongly advise you to take a taxi (tel. +33 (0) 6.12.35.30.72 or +33 -4-50 54 41 09) to go up to the school (5km).

By road: Les Houches are easily accessible from France (A41 highway), from Switzerland (Martigny and Col des Montets) and from Italy through the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

From Geneva and Le Fayet: 8km before Chamonix, 300 m after passing under the tunnel, bear right by the first road out for "Les Houches Bellevue". When arriving at the cable car station "Bellevue", turn right and continue upwards (roughly 2 km starting from the teleferic). 500m after the cable car station "Prarion", turn left and follow small arrows at crossroads. Continue up to the end of Route de la Côte des Chavants. Here you are! From Chamonix: bear right for "Les Houches-Chef-Lieu", turn right in Les Houches, go ahead at the cable car station "Bellevue". Then proceed as above.

Cars may be rented from Geneva and from Chamonix, it is useful to make a reservation.
 

Weather

The altitude of the school is 1150 m. Temperature may range from -15 to 5°C in winter and from 5 to 25°C in summer. Sport clothes are preferable. Warm sweater(s), rain gear, good walking shoes and home shoes are necessary.

What to do in Les Houches and in the valley?

see for example: Les Houches tourist office or Chamonix tourist office