Discovery & heritage

Abbaye de Boscodon, Fort of Montdauphin, Embrun Cathedral...

"The demoiselles coiffées"

On the way to le Sauze du Lac, you can make a stop to discover "les demoiselles coiffées". This geological phenomenon is spectacular : a hundred of natural columns protected to erosion by a rock. Then continue your trip and go to the magnificient point of view on the lake...

Animal Park of Serre-Ponçon in le Sauze du Lac

Animal eco park, fauna museum in mountain, this nature reserve is a good place for families. There is a very nice view on the lake and bird of prey shows are impressive.

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Serre-Ponçon Dam and lake Museum in Rousset

The Museum explains the history of the construction of the biggest earth dam in Europe from the beginning to nowadays. The Museum brings back to life the collective memory of submerged villages, and shows the department's development. A visual and sound staged has been mounted for a playful visit adapted to all the family.

From the panoramic viewpoint, you can have a look on the biggest earth dam in Europe.

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Apiland Nature

Guided by Lionel and Sandrine, come into the bees world. This 600m2 museum is a very funny and interesting visit adapted to all the family.

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Embrun, archiepiscopal place

Above the Durance and perched on his rock, which had always protected Embrunese people, the old city of Embrun is hiding the past behind its olds small courtyards and alleys.

The Notre Dame du Réal Cathedral

The first Embrun cathedral has been constructed with Charlemagne's help between 810 and 826, before being destructed by Saracen people. It has been reconstructed during the eleventh and twelfth century, when roman style moved on to gothic.

The Cathedral's treasure is constituted by around 500 objects. It is considered as one of the most beautiful treasures in France, with sacerdotal vestments from fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, reliquaries, statuettes, precious fabrics, paints...

The Brown Tower

Old Archbishop Donjon, safety "box", arsenal or jail, it's now a museum concerning the Ecrins National Park. You can find there all the information about the Park, and a lot of documentation on Park's fauna and flora. At the very top of the Tower, you will have a panoramic view on Embrun from high up.

La Maison de Pays

You can visit this place and discover the local handicraft.

Le petit Musée du grand chocolat : The smal museum of the great chocolate

Reserved for food lovers only ;)

And so much more : The Cordeliers chapel, the governor of Dauphiné's house, the Chanonges's house

The Boscodon Abbey

The Abbey has been listed historical monument in 1974. With its forest, it's one of the less polluted place in France !

Built in 1130 by Guillaume de Montmirail, it has been 12 years later affiliated to the Chalais en Chartreuse Order et became the most important abbey of this order, as the instigation of the abbot Guigues de Revel.

The Boscodon abbey is now a masterpiece of monastic religious art, with a very pure roman style, close to the primitive cistercian art.

With pine trees and larchs this forest extends on 850 hectares located between 980 and 2400 altitude meters. Protected by the climate, she is at the top of the purest forest in France. She just get a new label : "Forêt d'exception" which means exceptional forest. This label is going to permit her to develop a sustainable management in forest heritage. This forest wealth is remarkable and invite you to discover it !

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The Picomtal Castel

Built during the thirteenth century, this remarkable castel is now a guesthouse. It's possible to visit this place as well as its formal gardens.

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Designated in 2008 a UNESCO World heritage.

Vauban has built ex-nihilo from 1693 this extraordinary stronghold in high mountain on a plateau above the Guil and Durance's confluence, at the end Queyras valley and Vars pass.

The fortification, combining civils and military elements, has been supposed to receive 2000 persons in a small garrison town.

Remarkable place totally preserved, Mont-Dauphin is the archetype of a mountain stronghold, with an  arsenal, 2 powder shops, barracks, ramparts, a church, stay unfinished.

You will find in Mont-Dauphin some local handicraft shops and a lot of spectacles : Information at the camping reception.

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At 1326 meters high, Briançon is one of the highest city in Europe.

The top of the city was fortified by Vauban (designated a UNESCO World heritage in 2008)

Walk around in the town will allow you to discover its architectural and historical wealths and its numerous museums.

Saint-Véran

This is the highest village in Europe, at 2040 meters high with its sundials, wooden chalets, traditional fountains in Larchs. Its preserved achitecture ( even from cars !) is a live museum of the territory, and contributes to continue the tradition.

Don't miss the Houses-Museums !

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Ceillac

Don't miss the Chabrand house : Unique farm listed historical monument in the Hautes-Alpes, as well as Time Museum.

Molines

People continue the handmade and rural tradition.

Aiguilles

You will find there numerous architectural wealths inspired by south american emigration.

Chateau Ville Vieille

There are some pretty hamlets located in huges larchs forests that you can discover around Chateau-ville-vieille; you can also discover :

- The Handycraft house, which groups more than 30 craftmans and Queyras Farmers together, offer you theirs creations and products in direct.

- Les frissons de la terre : a geological area wich means "Earth thrills". This museum is composed of fifteenth units which present every period of Alps birth. More of a half part of the equipment is interactive. It makes an appeal to tactile, olfactory and auditive senses of visitors.

Abriès 

Small yesterday's museum which is worth a visit. Don't miss traditional activities and local products from the Costumes House.

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