sites map sites BRIANÇONNAIS ÉCRINS NATURE AND major tourist tourist major REFERENCE LEGENDARY ECONOMY RECONCILED There is a wealth of things to discover in the The Barre des Écrins, at an altitude of 4.102 m, area. Briançon has the Town of Art and History is the highest peak in the Hautes-Alpes, and label and the Vauban fortifi cations are listed until 1860 was even the highest in France. Local as UNESCO World Heritage. The old town history is awash with the feats of pioneering with its church and gutter is nothing short of mountaineers. Vallouise, Pré de Madame Carle remarkable, as is the Cottian Alps Geopark and and Ailefroide are all mountain hotspots in the With limited human impact, the Lautaret Alpine Botanical Garden. Pays des Écrins, making it France’s second reasonable and well-managed The identity of the Briançonnais is also defi ned mountaineering site just behind Chamonix. development, this area may represent a blossoming model for a new alliance by its proximity to Italy, to major mountain A spectacular environment that quite naturally between the environment and the passes including the Galibier, Lautaret and led to the creation, in 1973, of the Écrins National population, reconciling economy and Izoard, and the high, untouched valleys such Park, France’s largest National Park. The Pays nature to a certain extent. as La Clarée. Renowned for its pure air and des Écrins has two ski resorts: Puy Saint- climate, the Briançon area is home to several Vincent and Pelvoux-Vallouise where numerous wellness centres including Les Grands Bains du activities are possible. With the melting snow Monêtier with its naturally warm spring water, comes the white water on the Durance where and Durancia in Montgenèvre close to two rafting and canoe-kayaking can be enjoyed. biotope lakes. The water sports base in L’Argentière-la- A wide range of sports activities can be enjoyed Bessée is one of the most popular in the world NATURE’S here, particularly in the area’s three main winter and is the stage for prestigious international sports resorts: Serre Chevalier is the most competitions. A fabulous conversion for a valley GUARDIAN well known, Montgenèvre is the oldest and La with an industrial and mining history that you Grave -La Meije is legendary. can learn about by visiting the Fournel silver mines, the hydroelectric museum in Les Claux, and the high valley villages. Home to the Écrins National Park, Baronnies Provençales and Queyras Regional Natural Parks, nature reserves and biodiversity zones, the Hautes-Alpes acts as a guardian for nature in troubled times. GUILLESTROIS-QUEYRAS SERRE-PONÇON GAPENÇAIS AUTHENTIC REFRESHING CAPITAL In 1977, the Queyras became a Regional Natural Amid wild creeks and turquoise waters, With its pastel-tinted façades, pedestrian, Park. At an altitude of 2.040 m, Saint-Véran is the Serre-Ponçon Lake is like a sea in the shopping streets, Gap, prefecture of the among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and mountains. Who could have imagined that the Hautes-Alpes is a combination of modernity becomes a village resort in winter as do Abriès, hydraulic dam, built in the 1950s to regulate and quality of life. Its geographical position is Aiguilles, Arvieux, Ceillac, Château-Ville-Vielle, the Durance River, would lead to the advent at the crossroads of major routes such as the Molines and Ristolas. Nearby are the international of one of the top tourist destinations of the Napoleon Road. resorts of Vars and Risoul, two resorts that Hautes-Alpes? All kinds of sailing activities are Gap has some wonderful facilities for a night out are known for their joint ski area: La Forêt possible here. including the Alp’Arena ice rink, La Passerelle ITALY Blanche. Down below, perched on a steep rock At the mouth of the lake, Embrun is well worth national stage, and the Quattro concert venue. between the Guil and Durance rivers, the Vauban a visit! Nicknamed the Nice of the Alps due to Major events such as the Tour de France, the fortifi cations in Mont-Dauphin, which are listed its mild climate, Embrun is listed as Town of Monte-Carlo Rallye, and the Rapaces de Gap’s as UNESCO World Heritage, overlook several Art and History due to its remarkable cultural ice hockey matches also honour the capital. remarkable sites such as the Fontaine Pétrifi ante heritage that includes the Notre-Dame du Nature lovers will appreciate the National Alpine in Réotier – a natural geological curiosity – or the Réal cathedral, one of the richest treasures Botanical Conservatory or Gap-Bayard’s 18- Plan de Phazy rotunda with its gushing, naturally of sacred art. For enthusiasts, the visit will hole summer golf course that gives way to the warm waters. be completed by a trip to Boscodon Abbey, a cross-country skiing trails in winter. This character-fi lled area o¦ ers hikes towards masterpiece of Romanesque art, or the church Further south, under the benevolent eye the altitude lakes and refuges or Mont Viso, in Savines-le-Lac, which, like its bridge, has of Céüze, a ski resort and world-renowned point-to-point hiking on the Great Alpine Route been classed as 20th Century Heritage. Serre- climbing site thanks to its 130 m high cli¦ , is via the impressive Guil gorges and the legendary Ponçon also boasts three ski resorts: Réallon, Tallard with its medieval castle dating back to Izoard and Agnel mountain passes, visits to the Crévoux and Les Orres. Les Orres, thanks to the 14th-16th centuries. Tallard is also known for Maison de l’Artisanat (Craftwork Centre) where its vast ski area, has been able to diversify its ........................... Marseille > 180 km GAP the wooden toys and sculpted objects reflect its airstrip, which is home to Europe’s leading Lyon > 205 km summer and winter activities. local traditions, astronomy at the observatory in centre for parachuting activities and combines BRIANÇON .......... Turin > 111 km Château-Renard, the lively centre of Guillestre. leisure, industry, and aviation training. Here, as Paris > 727 km along the Avance Valley, between the orchards and vineyards along the Durance, all outdoor activities are possible. The Gap area is also home to Notre-Dame du Laus, a major place of pilgrimage. www.hautes-alpes.net : Bertrand Bodin, Rogier Van Rijn, Jan Novak, Thibaut Durant, Thibaut Blais, Manu Molle, Eric Stern, Duncan MacArthur, Patrick Domeyne, Fabien Thibault, Rémi Thibault, Rémi Fabien Domeyne, Patrick Eric Stern, Duncan MacArthur, Molle, Manu Thibaut Blais, Thibaut Durant, Jan Novak, Rijn, Van : Bertrand Bodin, Rogier Credits N°81 - Edition Glénat. www.lenaturographe.fr L’Alpe Emmanuel Juppeaux. Revue CERPS Tallard, Zoom, Agence Fabrègue, and fragrances. and array of sumptuous flavours flavours sumptuous of array oil, from cows’ milk to goats’ milk. An An milk. goats’ to milk cows’ from oil, CHAMPSAUR-VALGAUDEMAR DÉVOLUY BUËCH to table, from lard and butter to olive olive to butter and lard from table, to LOCAL AREA BRIGHT CHARACTER across the Southern Alps. From table table From Alps. Southern the across A delicious ramble from dish to dish dish to dish from ramble delicious A While the Valgaudemar looks towards the The light and beauty of this massif’s landscape To the south of the Hautes-Alpes, the gentle high mountains with peaks close to 3.500 m in is impressive. Pic de Bure (one of IRAM’s most mountains of the Buëch reveal their secrets. The altitude (the most famous being the Olan and important astronomy observatories operates Baronnies Provençales Regional Natural Park is the Gioberney), the Champsaur is composed here), Obiou, Grand Ferrand and Faraud the main asset. Here apple and pear orchards of agricultural lands known as ‘bocages’. overlook vast untouched areas and agricultural and lavender fi elds reign. The hilltop villages Agriculture sets the pace across the seasons lands. In the Dévoluy, tourism and agriculture are full of character: Sisteron, Serres, Rosans, À TABLE À and there are many local fetes and culinary go hand-in-hand. Garde-Colombe and l’Epine have a distinctly specialities such as ‘tourtons and oreilles d’âne’. In winter, SuperDévoluy - the remarkably well- Provençal feel. The Champsaur is not only represented by its equipped resort town - and La Joue du Loup, with In summer, from the Méouge gorges to the ski resorts (the village resorts of Laye, Ancelle, its many chalets and beautiful residences, o¦ er Iscle Lake in Veynes or the Germanette Lake Chaillol, Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes and Serre- a 100 km ski area that peaks at an altitude of in Serres, refreshing sources of water abound. Eyraud, and the largest, Orcières Merlette 2.500 m, and many after-ski activities such as the Many outdoor pursuits such as climbing on 1850, which has changed considerably in the recently inaugurated O’dycéa wellness centre. Orpierre’s world-renowned cli¦ s, free flight over last few years and has further ambitions), but The Dévoluy is also home to natural treasures. The the Chabre Mountain, aviation at the Chevalet A character-building way of life. of way character-building A also by the historic villages such as Saint- most spectacular are no doubt the «chourums», and Bâtie-Montsaléon airstrips, not forgetting altitude, and the climate. climate. the and altitude, Bonnet and the many outdoor activities that natural cavities suited to speleology, and the mountain biking and hiking. together are the slopes, the relief, the the relief, the slopes, the are together can be enjoyed in summer. Gillardes resurgences. Those who are curious When the snow comes in winter, it is pleasant What brings the local populations populations local the brings What The Valgaudemar is defi ned by mountaineering will make the most of the visit to discover the to go snowshoeing and make the most of the vivacious culture, never withdrawn.