Demoted by Mont-Blanc when Savoie was annexed to France, the Oisans range is the second highest massif in France, with some parts reaching over 4 000m. Wilder and more unspoilt than its more famous rival, it nonetheless attracts nature-lovers and climbers who appreciate its less tourist-oriented focus. With some 100km2 of glaciers and summits as mythical as that of Meije, it has a special place in the hearts of many mountaineers, and in the affections of lovers of flora and fauna.