Hautes-Alpes

The French département Hautes-Alpes is marked by mountains and wild ranges. The tourist industry is largely dependent on skiing in winter. In summer the Alpine scenery and many outdoor activities attract visitors from across Europe (sailing, hiking, climbing and aerial sports such as gliding). The Tour de France passes through the department regularly. This draws many cycling fanatics to cycle the cols and watch the race.

Cities

• 1 Briançon — at an altitude of 1,326 m (4,350 ft), this is the highest town in France
• 2 Embrun — surrounded by mountains and unspoiled nature, it is close to the Écrins National Park, and to winter sports resorts
• 3 Gap — occupies a valley, at an altitude of over 700 m
• 4 Serres —
• 5 Veynes — a quiet town with a museum about the lives of railway workers

Other destinations

• 1 Orcières-Merlette — a ski resort with 100 km of marked slopes served by 28 ski lifts, and 43 km of cross-country skiing routes
• 2 Queyras — a regional park with hiking, especially along the Tour du Queyras long-distance hiking trails, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing, and ice climbing
• 3 Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy — includes the winter sports resorts of SuperDévoluy and the eastern part of La Joue du Loup
• 4 Risoul — one of the cheaper winter sports destinations and a popular pick among young people and families
• 5 Baronnies Provençales regional natural park, which the Hautes-Alpes shares with the Drôme, also offers opportunities for mid-mountain tourism (climbing in Orpierre, hang gliding, hiking) in the western part of the department.

Get in

By train

The Hautes-Alpes are easily reached by train from either the south (Marseille), the north (Grenoble) or the west (Valence). Valence and Grenoble have high-speed train connections with Paris. There are up to four train connections daily in all directions.

By plane

There is no large airport in the Hautes-Alpes. Fly to Marseille and take the train from there.

See

The department is home to:

• several historical sites such as the fortresses of Mont-Dauphin and Briançon, Fort Queyras, the castles of Montmaur, Picomtal and Tallard;
• archaeological sites such as the silver mines of Vallon du Fournel 8 in Argentière-la-Bessée;
• numerous historical monuments of religious heritage, such as the 12th century Notre-Dame de Boscodon abbey or the priory of Saint-André-de-Rosans;
• several cathedrals including the Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Arnoux cathedral in Gap and the old Notre-Dame d'Embrun cathedral; and
• typical mountain villages such as Saint-Véran, Névache or Dormillouse, a hamlet accessible only on foot in the central area of the Écrins national park.

Historically, the valleys were isolated for a long time, which gives each of them a particular heritage. The Hautes-Alpes also have many sundials and frescoes, some of which are several centuries old.

Do

• Canyoning around Saint-Clément-sur-Durance.
• The Durance River, its main tributaries and other torrents offer numerous possibilities for rafting or kayaking enthusiasts.
• Skiing at Serre-Chevalier

Eat

This department has many culinary specialties, such as tourtons and ravioles from Champsaur, donkey ears, crouzets from the Ubaye valley, boiled bread from Villar-d'Arêne, or the tarte des Alpes. Hunting and fishing provide game and freshwater fish.

Several cheeses are typical of certain valleys in the department, such as Queyras blue or Champsaur tome.

Drink

Génépi is a household liqueur using an herb of the same name. Farmers in this department produce wines, including Hautes-Alpes.