34th Montgolfiades Internationales

34th Montgolfiades Internationales

With its ideal aerological conditions, the resort of Praz-sur-Arly has become, in just a few years, the spot for mountain aerostation in France. Hot-air balloon flights are possible all year round, thanks to Gérard Issartel and the Alpes Montgolfière team. And over the weekend, the village comes alive with a veritable aerostation festival, the Montgolfiades Internationales!

Why a hot-air balloon meeting in Praz sur Arly?

In 1990, a group of professional airshow organizers passed through Praz sur Arly and discovered a huge, undeveloped site at the entrance to the village. They saw it as an ideal location for a take-off site. A year later, the first meeting was held. 12 balloons were invited to the first event. The following year, the Tourist Office organized the event independently.

Over the course of more than 30 years, a number of emblematic men and women have succeeded one another, notably the flight directors: Guy Garcia, Daniel Dupuis aka "papy", Jo Roulet and Alain Paris. Flight director for several years, Jo Roulet, national trainer, is the French reference pilot for mountain flying. This year's flight director, Alain Paris, is also pilot of the Paris hot-air balloon (Observatoire Atmosphérique Générali) and flight director of the Lille meeting. 2004 saw the start of the Défi Transalpin, the aim of which was to cover the longest distance in the heart of the Mont-Blanc Massif in a single flight. In 2006, the TF1 team on board flew over Mont Blanc and landed in Italy! It has always been possible to inflate balloons during the week. Several French champions have flown during the Montgolfiades. In 2014, French champion Laure De Coligny was profiled on TF1's 8 o'clock news during a report shot in Praz sur Arly. Five times in 1993, 1999, 2015, 2018 and 2022, the aerostats were unable to take off on the weekend due to weather conditions.

2025 program in progress

Rendezvous January 11 and 12, 2025