Our villages
BARATIER
There are ancient signs of human activity here: a dagger dating back to the bronze age found in le Pouzenc above the village, Roman villa (le Clapier des Monges). Over time, the village then grew along Les Vachères stream, whose whims have punctuated the daily life of Baratons.
- Surface area : 1,490 hectares | Altitude: 850 m | Post Code : 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Baratons / baratonnes
- Services : restaurants, hotels, campsites, furnished apartment lets, evening markets on Mondays and Thursdays in July and August
- Certifications : Land of Art and History, Tourist town
- Excursion ideas : La Mure Circuit and Champ Rambaud Circuit
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Le Clapier des Monges, La Ripisylve du Liou, the Saint-Chaffrey Church
CHÂTEAUROUX-LES-ALPES
The territory of the village stretches from the banks of the Durance to the summit of the Tête de Vautisse (3,156 m altitude). Mentioned in the 12th century, the establishment of the village has been organized over time around the layout of communication axes: from the Roman road to the National N94!
- Area : 9,284 hectares | Altitude : 990m | Postal Code : 05380
- Names of the inhabitants : Châteauroussins / Châteauroussines
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, markets in July-August on Tuesdays.
- Labels : Country of art and history, membership area of the Ecrins National Park
- Hiking ideas : The Pisse waterfall, the Tourettes pass
- ♡ Natural and cultural points of interest : The Pisse waterfall, the Rabioux wave, glacial moraine, Maison du Parc national des Ecrins
CHORGES
Chorges gets its name from the Caturiges, a Celtic tribe who took advantage of the strategic position of the village on a Roman road, la Via Domitia, to attract trade. Today, Chorges has maintained this privileged position and has been certified waypoint village.
- Surface area : 5,735 hectares | Altitude : 860m | Post Code : 05230
- Inhabitants are called : Les Caturiges
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, shops, Sunday market all year round, evening market on Wednesdays in July and August.
- Certifications : Waypoint village, Green Resort, Blue Flag, Town in bloom
- Excursion ideas : Les Curattes, Chorges > Baie St Michel link, Col de la Gardette
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Piolit – Pic de Chabrières (Natura 2000), the Chorges marshes, St Victor Church, Chanteloube Bridge
CRÉVOUX
A small mountain village, Crévoux was one of the Hautes-Alpes’ first ski resorts as early as 1937.
- Surface area : 5,626 hectares | Altitude : 1600m | Post Code : 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Crévolins / crévolines
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, local produce, craft trades, Alpine and Nordic ski resort
- Certifications : Land of Art and History
- Excursion ideas : Razis waterfall circuit, Crachet Lake
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : The Fairy Trail, the Razis waterfall, the Drac cave, the Parpaillon Tunnel, Cabane des Espagnols, Saint-Marcellin Church, La Chalp Chapel
CROTS
Originally called ‘Las Crôtas’ in the local dialect (vaulted cellars), the village of Crots still bears signs of its rich past: Boscodon Abbey, Picomtal Castle, delicatessen museum.
- Surface area : 5,669 hectares | Altitude: 790 m | Post Code: 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Crétorins / cretorines
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, fitness trail, evening markets on Mondays and Thursdays in July and August
- Certifications : Blue Flag, Exceptional Forest, Land of Art and History, Écrins National Park buffer zone
- Excursion ideas : The Grand Morgon, the Ant Trail, the Lauzerot Lake
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Boscodon Forest, Bragousse Cirque, Morgon Cirque, Boscodon Abbey, Pictomal Castle, delicatessen museum
EMBRUN
Atop its rock, this former archiepiscopal town has some remarkable architectural heritage. Due to its gentle climate, it earned the name ‘Little Nice of the Alps’. Since the creation of the nautical base on the lake, adjoining Serre-Ponçon, an array of outdoor activities is available to both locals and visitors.
- Surface area : 3,639 hectares | Altitude: 880 m | Post Code: 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Embrunais / Embrunaises
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays all year.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History, Blue Flag, Town in bloom, Écrins National Park buffer zone
- Excursion ideas : Mont Guillaume, Tour of the Roc plains
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Notre-Dame du Réal Cathedral, Tour Brune, the Embrun Rock, Embrun town centre, Embrun Lake.
LE SAUZE DU LAC
Le Sauze du Lac overlooks the junction between the Ubaye and Durance valleys just before the Serre-Ponçon dam. From here, the view of the dam is incredible !
- Surface area : 1,490 hectares | Altitude: 1050 m | Post Code: 05160
- Services : restaurants, accommodation.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History, Towns and villages in bloom, Blue Flag
- Excursion ideas : Trail overlooking the lake, Les Demoiselles Coiffées trail, Saint Pierre harbour trail
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Belvédère, Saint-Martin Chapel, Les Demoiselles Coiffées , Sainte-Martine Church.
LES ORRES
Located between 1550 m and 2720 m in altitude, Les Orres took advantage of the tourism boom: to the south (adret) is the original, traditional village and to the north (ubac) is the modern winter sports resort.
- Surface area : 7,479 hectares | Altitude: 1550 m | Post Code: 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Orrians / Orrianes
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, markets on Tuesdays in the summer.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History, 20th Century Heritage, Starry village, Famille+, Tourism resort
- ♡ Excursion ideas : Sainte-Marguerite Lake
PONTIS
Pontis, from the Occitan pountis, means bridge over a stream. Considering its geographical location, this name was predestined: Pontis is located on the main transport route between the Dauphiné and Provence. Today, Pontis is in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.
- Surface area : 1,411 hectares | Altitude: 1,11 5m | Post Code: 05160
- Inhabitants are called : Pontissois / pontissoises
- Services : accommodation.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History
- Excursion ideas : Tour of the Morgonnet, Tour of Pontis and its beech forest, cycle the Pontis Pass.
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Valley Museum, Ubac Church, Adroit Church, the beech forest, the Villard dolmen
PRUNIÈRES
Before the lake was created, the municipality of Prunières, was entirely agricultural. Today it is both a residential and tourist town. Prunières is also where the Hautes-Alpes’ most photographed feature is located: The Saint-Michel Chapel
- Surface area : 1,512 hectares | Altitude: 990 m | Post Code: 05230
- Inhabitants are called : Toupins / toupines
- Services : accommodation, evening market on Tuesdays in summer.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History, Écrins National Park buffer zone
- Excursion ideas : Saint-Michel Bay trail
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Saint-Michel Chapel
PUY-SANIÈRES
Village rural situé au pied du Mont Guillaume offrant une vue imprenable sur le lac de Serre-Ponçon.
- Superficie : 1 138 hectares
- Noms des habitants : Puisatins / Puisatines
- Services : hébergements.
- Labels : Pays d’art et d’histoire, aire d’adhésion du Parc national des Ecrins
- Idées randonnées : GR Tour du lac de Serre-Ponçon
- ♡ Points d’intérêts naturels et culturels : Le four banal au hameau du Serre, le four communal au hameau des Bouteils, l’église Saint-Pierre
PUY-SAINT EUSÈBE
As with the neighbouring village, ‘Les Puys’ denotes a high spot and in the case of Puy Sanières and Puy Saint Eusèbe, a hilltop village.
- Surface area : 1,131 hectares
- Services : accommodation.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History, Écrins National Park buffer zone
- Excursion ideas : Brun Lake, Reyssas Canal
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : The church with its 16th century (listed) stained-glass Pieta (note that the three stained glass windows on the south façade were made by three volunteers from the village), the communal ovens in the hamlets of l’Eglise and Villard.
RÉALLON
At the gateway to the Ecrins National Park, on the side slope of a valley where the eponymous torrent flows. The winter sports resort is located on the Pra Prunier pastures, at the foot of the Aiguilles de Chabrières (2403 m) and on the balcony of the Serre-Ponçon lake.
- Area : 714 hectares | Altitude : 1,400m | Postal Code : 05160
- Names of inhabitants : Réallonais / Réallonaises
- Services : restaurants, accommodation, alpine and Nordic ski resort
- Labels : Country of art and history, membership area of the Ecrins National Park
- Hiking ideas : The Chargés hut, the Coupa pass, the needles of Chabrières
- ♡ Natural and cultural points of interest: The Pot of the Giants, the Fort de Réallon, the Ecrins National Park
SAINT-APOLLINAIRE
Small rural town, Saint-Apollinaire has experienced a demographic expansion thanks to its location on the balcony of the lake, its residents enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Serre-Ponçon.
- Area : 754 hectares | Altitude : 1,250m | Postal Code : 05160
- Names of the inhabitants : Rocassins / Rocassines
- Services : restaurants, accommodation.
- Labels : Country of art and history, membership area of the Ecrins National Park
- Hiking ideas : Joubelle hut, Saint Apollinaire lake, GR 653D (St Jacques de Compostelle)(St Jacques de Compostelle)
- ♡ Natural and cultural points of interest: Lake Saint-Apollinaire, panorama from the village church.
SAVINES-LE-LAC
Following construction of the Serre-Ponçon dam, the village of Savines was destroyed, flooded when the lake was created, then rebuilt on the left bank to become Savines-le-Lac. Today, thanks to its central position on the lake, Savines-le-Lac is a genuine, varied tourist town that has obtained Green Resort status and a harbour for Serre-Ponçon.
- Surface area : 2,513 hectares | Altitude : 800 m | Post Code : 05160
- Inhabitants are called : Savinois / Savinoises
- Services: restaurants, accommodation, camper van service areas, markets on Tuesdays and Fridays in the summer.
- Certification Labels : Land of Art and History, 20th Century Heritage, Green Resort (natural tourist area), Fishing resort, Blue Flag, Écrins National Park buffer zone, Tourism resort
- Excursion ideas : Pierre Arnoux viewpoint, Pic du Morgon by Pierre Arnoux, La mère des fontaines.
- ♡ Natural and cultural points of interest : Saint-Florent Church, Pôle XXe, Serre-Ponçon Lake
SAINT-ANDRÉ D’EMBRUN
The village is made up of roughly 30 hamlets that bear witness to the agricultural organisation of yesteryear. The Siguret Lake, shaped by glaciers, is located above the village. It is a natural zone of ecological interest for its fauna and flora.
- Surface area : 3,863 hectares | Altitude: 940 m | Post Code: 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Saint-Andréens / saint-Andréennes
- Services : restaurants, accommodation.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History
- Excursion ideas : Tour of the Siguret Lake, Mont Orel
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Siguret Lake, Saluces Forest, Saint-Andé Cellars
SAINT-SAUVEUR
The Transfiguration Church has wonderful 15th century frescoes and an exceptional panorama from the forecourt. An ideal spot for a picnic !
- Surface area : 2,418 hectares | Altitude : 1,250 m | Post Code : 05200
- Inhabitants are called : Saint-savourins/ Saint-savourines
- Services : restaurants, accommodation.
- Certifications : Land of Art and History
- Excursion ideas : Le Méale
- ♡ Natural and Cultural points of interest : Transfiguration Church (frescoes)
