Top 6 of the most beautiful towns and villages to discover in the Hautes-Alpes
Photo: © T. Poinas - Villar d'Arène
Planning to spend a few days in Briançon? Why not take the opportunity to discover the beautiful towns and villages just a stone's throw away? All aboard for the Southern Alps, and more specifically France's highest department: Les Hautes-Alpes.
1. Briançon
Considered France's highest town at 1326 meters above sea level, Briançon is renowned for its exceptional sunshine (around 300 days of sunshine a year!) and medieval heritage.
Photo : © OT Serre Chevalier Vallée - The magnificent fortified town, 1326 metres high!
What to do in Briançon?
- The Cité Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its famous 17th-century Vauban fortifications.
- The Maison du Parc national des Ecrins, in the old town, offers exhibitions on local flora and fauna, as well as screenings and events.
- The Centre d'Art Contemporain, in the upper town.
For more details, see our article “What to do in and around Briançon?”.
2. Embrun
Around 35 minutes from Briançon by train or 1 hour by bus (Express 69 Marseille - Gap - Briançon), the town of Embrun is renowned for its sunny climate, natural beauty, historic heritage and charming old town. Also known as the “Nice of the Alps”, the town center overlooks the Durance valley and offers magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the Serre-Ponçon lake at its feet.
The perfect place for water sports enthusiasts!
What to do near Embrun?
- In winter, you can take advantage of nearby ski resorts: Les Orres (35 runs, 100 km of skiable terrain), Réallon, Crévoux... It's also the ideal place to discover snowshoeing and dog sledding at Crots-La Draye.
- In summer, you can enjoy water sports at the Club Nautique Alpin (CNA) Serre Ponçon, between Embrun and Lac de Serre Ponçon (THE ideal spot for sailing), or take a boat tour of the lake at Savines-le-Lac. You can also take advantage of the surrounding countryside for outdoor sports: hiking, climbing, mountain biking, rafting on the Durance, paragliding...
- If you prefer to explore the region's heritage, you can visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Réal (one of the most important religious monuments in the French Alps, listed as a “monument historique” since 1840) or the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Boscodon.
For more ideas, take a look at our Embrun guide, or read our selection of activites for a week-end in Embrun!
3. Cervières
Less than 15 minutes from Briançon by bus (line 17), Cervières is a village resort of 190 inhabitants nestled at an altitude of 1620 meters. The commune is part of the Hautes Vallées, a group of eight communes spread across the unspoilt valleys of the Briançon area. It deserves its place in this ranking above all for its natural beauty: crossed by the Cerveyrette torrent, it is close to the Col d'Izoard, as well as to peaks rising to over 3,000 meters, and the Bourget marsh (Natura 2000 zone).
Photo : © T. Poinas - The pretty alpine hamlets of Cervières in winter
Photo : © Thibaut Blais - The magnificent Lac de Gignoux
What to do near Cervières?
- Winter: if you like cross-country skiing, you can visit the Cervières cross-country ski resort (53 km of trails). If you like the mountains, you can also go Nordic skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing...
- Summer: nature walks (several itineraries to discover here), discovery of local flora and fauna, etc.
- In terms of culture and heritage, you can also visit the "Faure-Vincent-Dubois" House Museum, Saint-Michel Church or Saint-François d'Assise Church!
- On the agricultural side, you can discover local farms and products - such as cheese from the Lasseron farm - or wool processing at the La Maison des bêtes à laine educational farm.
4. Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Just 20 minutes by bus from Briançon (line 6 Briançon-Serre Chevalier), Monêtier-les-Bains is a small commune in the Hautes-Alpes known for its thermal waters, which have been exploited since 1715! Located within the Serre-Chevalier resort, it offers access to a vast ski area.
Photo : © OT Serre Chevalier Vallée - Les Grand bains de Monêtier-les-Bains
What to do near Monêtier-les-Bains?
- In winter, you can take advantage of the Serre-Chevalier ski area to hit the slopes. If you prefer cross-country or Nordic skiing, you're sure to find what you're looking for!
- In summer, many hiking trails start from the village (accessible to all levels). You can also climb or mountain bike in the mountains.
- If you'd rather explore the village's heritage, we recommend visiting the pretty historic churches (such as the Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, a historic monument with a remarkable organ), the Musée d'Art Sacré and the Rotonde (a historic building built in 1715 to house the thermal spring).
- Finally, if you prefer to relax, you can go to the Grands Bains du Monêtier, a thermo-ludic complex with naturally warm thermal waters.
5. Névache
Just 40 minutes from Briançon by bus (line 7 Briançon-Névache), the commune of Névache is located in the Clarée valley, also known as the “Enchanted Valley”. With over 20,000 hectares of unspoilt nature, the valley is a small paradise for mountain lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts!
Photo : © T. Poinas - The charm of Névache in winter...
Photo : © T. Poinas - … and summer!
What to do near Névache?
- In winter: ski touring or snowshoeing to the refuge de Buffère (for a 2-day micro-adventure with an overnight stay in a refuge, we recommend this article!) And to discover the best refuges near Névache, see our selection of refuges. But also Nordic skiing with over 42 km of cross-country trails between Plampinet and Laval.
- In summer: hiking, mountain biking, climbing, Via Ferrata, trail running (with a trail station in the Vallée Étroite)... There's no shortage of activities!
Photo : © Cédric Tempier - Tolt and his ski touring companions, near the Buffère refuge
6. Villar d'Arène
A 45-minute bus ride from Briançon (ligne ZOU LER 55), Villar-d'Arène is a picturesque commune in the Haut Oisans region, perched at an altitude of 1,650m. It's famous for its traditional houses, chapels, fountains and spectacular mountain scenery. If you go there in November, we recommend you try one of the canton's culinary specialties, like the « pain bouilli » (boiled bread) (prepared once a year in November).
Photo : ©alpesphotographies.com - Charming Villar-d'Arène in summer
What to do near Villar d'Arène?
- In summer, the village is an ideal starting point for hiking and mountaineering.
- In winter, you can also enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- If you like botany, we recommend a visit to the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret: nestled at an altitude of 2,100 meters in the Écrins massif, this 2-hectare garden boasts over 2,000 species of plants from mountains and cold regions all over the world, including a unique collection of mountain rosaceous plants!
So, have we convinced you to spend a weekend in the Hautes-Alpes? To find out more, take a look at :
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