Auris, Mountain commune in Isère, France
Auris is a mountain commune in the Isère department, sitting at roughly 4,250 feet (about 1,300 meters) above sea level in the French Alps. The village is made up of a handful of small hamlets spread across a hillside plateau overlooking the Romanche valley below.
The settlement appears in written records as far back as 1076 and takes its name from Saint Julian, the patron saint of the parish. The village remained a small farming and herding community for centuries before the growth of ski tourism in the 20th century brought new activity to the area.
Auris is part of the Alpe d'Huez ski area, one of the most visited winter sport destinations in the French Alps. In winter, the village takes on the rhythm of a ski resort, with activity centered around the slopes just above the old stone houses.
The village is reached by winding mountain roads that can be difficult in winter, so checking road conditions before setting off is a good idea. Outside the ski season, the area is much quieter and several local services may be closed.
In the mid-1800s, nearly 800 people lived in Auris, and many of them spent winters travelling through France and beyond as door-to-door traders selling small goods. This seasonal migration away from the mountains was a common way for alpine villagers to earn money when farming was impossible.
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